Go-Go Boots Discussion Thread

[Smitty]

The Thanksgiving Filter
Grandmother’s wheelchair is sitting in the corner
We all sure love her, but the little ones avoid her
Cause she’s gray-haired and wrinkled and her burden looks heavy
Ninety years of survival can look awful scary

Papa’s building something and has since history
But what he’s building is still a mystery
It’s big and it’s twisting and shaped convoluted
It don’t have a function but you better salute it
And it will never be finished but I guess that’s the point
It just gives him a filter and psychological ointment
He woke up real early but he’s late for his appointment
And I sure wish that I had smoked me a joint

It’s Thanksgiving and Jesus, I’m thankful
For abundance and bounty and a big tall stiff drinkful
And the love of your mother and the love of mine too
Thanksgiving’s almost over and Christmas is soon

Mama is trying to live in the present
Don’t let him have a heart attack before I pay off the presents
Granddaddy’s gone but she still feels his presence
He tried to call but he didn’t leave a message

It’s Thanksgiving and Jesus I’m thankful
For abundance and bounty and a big tall stiff drinkful
And the love of your mother and the love of mine too
Thanksgiving’s almost over and Christmas is soon

So put the food on the table and Papa says a blessing
They’re cutting up some turkey and gobbling some dressing
My Aunt’s praising Cheney and my niece loves Obama
My uncle came to dinner wearing his pajamas
Thank God for the filter that enables me some distance
From the screaming and crying and the needs of assistance
You wonder why I drink and curse the holidays
Blessed be my family from 300 miles away

It’s Thanksgiving and Jesus I’m thankful…
Patterson Hood – November 27 2006 (office in kitchen, Athens GA)

[Smitty]

Pulaski

She was fresh out of college,
first one in her family to go.
And California seemed like Heaven.
Pulaski, Tennessee was her home.

She worked on losing her Southern accent
and turned her back on her Baptist ways.
She bought some clothes that barely covered her.
Her fair-skinned body went to Nashville and caught a plane.

Well the clouds they rushed beneath her
as the LA smog filled the air.
She smiled when the airlock opened
and the Pacific breeze blew through her hair.

She thought about the boys from Alabama.
Who came into town every Friday night
and drank beer out of great big glass quart bottles.
And left a trail of blood and tears behind.

She thought the men in California would be different.
She'd grown up watching them on her TV.
But the men she came to know in California
left her longing for Pulaski, Tennessee.

Good ideas always start with a full glass,
and just breathing here can make a girl's nose bleed.
Dreams here live and die just like a stray dog
on a dirt road somewhere in Tennessee.

Well the storefronts are all filled up with eyeballs
As the policemen clear out all the streets
For a line of cars with their headlights burnin'
drivin' slow through Pulaski, Tennessee.

[Smitty]

Rays Automatic Weapon
Ray, I gotta tell ya
You gotta take that gun back
Cuz these things that I been shooting at
Are getting much too real
Don't wanna hurt nobody
But I keep on aiming closer
I don't think that I can keep it
Feeling like I feel

Ray I know I told ya
That I'd keep it for ya
I know I said I trusted me
A lil bit more than you
But something happened last night
That made me reconsider
And I need you to drive out here
And relieve me of it too

Figured after 40 years
That I wouldn't still be having nightmares
I figured that once we were older
The war would finally be over

But Ray I'm in my sixties
and the nights ain't getting shorter
Only my paycheck and short broken fuse
My patience too

Ray, I gotta tell ya
I don't think I can keep it
Feeling like I feel

[Smitty]

I Do Believe

I do believe, I do believe, I do believe
I saw you standing there
Sunlight in your hair, reflecting in your eyes
I do believe, I do believe, I do believe
I saw you standing there
Sunlight in your hair, reflecting in your eyes
I was only five years old riding in your top down Mustang
Taking me out to the beach
Your eyes matched the skies

I believe I saw your shadow looking like 1967
Percy Sledge on the radio or maybe Spanish songs
All my troubles swept away
The ocean on my scraped up knees
You could never stand to be away from me too long

I do believe I do believe I know that you would never leave me
When you slipped the earthly binds, you still live in my mind
to be continued

[Iowan]

Interesting artwork Smitty! Where'd you find that? I take it we'll be hearing some studio stuff very soon.

[Teiz]

I''m not Smitty, but this cover is available with the single I do believe that is available on iTunes (in the Netherlands at least).

[Iowan]

I''m not Smitty, but this cover is available with the single I do believe that is available on iTunes (in the Netherlands at least).

Could someone get an MP3 of that for those of us who aren't in Europe?

[ScottyG]

Here is a link where you can hear it...

http://boomkat.com/downloads/358106-dri ... do-believe

[Duke Silver]

Mercy Buckets

When all your good days keep getting shorter, count on me
When you're about 20 cents shy of a quarter, count on me
When you just need a place to hide out for a while
I'll help you hide the bodies in a little while

I will bring you buckets of mercy
Hold your hand when you're crossing the street
Play a song if you want it

When you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, call on me
When you're feeling that freight train running through your head, call on me
If you just need a friend to talk to
Maybe not talk at all

I will bring you buckets of mercy
Put a smile back on your pretty face
Bring a shovel if you want it
Carry your secrets to my grave

When you're down and out
Pick you up down at the station
Put your hard times on vacation
Get you headed on your way

I will bring you buckets of mercy
Hold your hand when you're crossing the street
Pay your bail if you need it
I will be your saving grace
I will be your saving grace
I will be your saving grace

[Zip City]

Go-Go Boots

He packed a big ass church out near Rogersville
He drove the Cadillac, and she drove the Oldsmobile
On Friday, shacking up with the mistress
Doing things he never did with the missus
Who was back at home cooking dinner for him

They had a son, he never had the calling
He went all over town drinking and a-balling'
Got some girl pregnant when he was still a teen
Working at McDonald's or pumping gasoline
Driving that Camaro fast with all his friends

Daddy's been preaching the word since he was twelve
All about the merciful savior and the fires of hell
I know he meant it, but what's a little straying?
Got everybody singing and a-praying
The Devil better not come back down here again

Missy (?) wore them go-go boots and did something for him
Made him thing his wife back home was homely and boring
He met these guys who didn't mind getting dirty
He was a killer and his alibi was sturdy
It only took a little bit of cash and the deed was done

Stained glass windows, Jesus looking down
Organ playing music to the middle-aged crowd
Wife's in the ground, Devil's in his head
Go-go boots are underneath the bed
It's a small town and the word gets around

Gossip is a-flying, and the son gets to thinking
He sees daddy's new wife driving 'round in a Lincoln
There's a lot he'd like to ask if he could get the chance
But he's scared he might kill the old man
He wonders what the Lord would say, and he weighs it all out

It's a small town
Go-go boots

[Duke Silver]

Organ playing music to the middle-aged crowd
????????????????????????????

Wife's in the ground, ? in his head

[Zip City]

Organ playing music to the middle-aged crowd
????????????????????????????

Wife's in the ground, ? in his head

Devil's in his head?

[Duke Silver]

Dancing Ricky

Ricky boy, oh Ricky boy
You've got something left to deal with
What you gonna do about the merchandise?

Ricky boy, ?
You've got something left do do
What you gonna do about wrong and right?

Your shirt's too damn small for your body
You've got your freedom out in the open

You've got to figure out how to quit all your dancing
Go and check (take?) out the ?sway?

Ricky boy, oh dancing Ricky
You've got plenty moves left to do
Hey Ricky, don't let your diabetes get to you

Hey Ricky, dancing Ricky
???
What you gonna do about acting right?

Your shirt's too damn small for your body
You've got your freedom out in the open

You've got to figure out how to quit all your dancing
Go and check (take?) out the ?sway?

Ricky boy, oh dancing Ricky
Hey Ricky, you know you're out of sight

[Iowan]

I really like Dancing Ricky, but I don't have a damn clue what in the hell that song is about. It's catchy though.

[Duke Silver]

I really like Dancing Ricky, but I don't have a damn clue what in the hell that song is about. It's catchy though.

Yeah, me neither. I'm picturing a fat guy in a little coat taking out the merch table at a show. Possibly because his blood sugar was low. It is damn catchy, though. Probably my favorite Shonna song.

[Lurleen McQueen]

I really like Dancing Ricky, but I don't have a damn clue what in the hell that song is about. It's catchy though.

Seems as if I remember that there was someone who worked at the 40 Watt who was actually named Dancy Ricky - skinny dude with long, dark hair. Maybe a local can give us better info.

[Duke Silver]

Organ playing music to the middle-aged crowd
????????????????????????????

Wife's in the ground, ? in his head

Devil's in his head?

Sounds right to me.

[Duke Silver]

The Weakest Man

It's a shame for you to do me the way you did, babe
Making me put you down before I was through
You tempted me and tried me, and I kept you right beside me
You ruined me for everyone but you

It's easy to love a thing so warm and soothing
That gets you through the night so tenderly
But after all these nights with you all I remember
Is forgetting just how cold your heart could be

Leaving you won't be any harder
Than walking out the door and leaving town
But I'll be leaving knowing surviving you won't make me stronger
Than the weakest man who's ever turned you down

Your body in that pretty dress you wore, dear
Fit my shaking hands just like a glove
Trembling's for the fearful, old and crying
Getting old and sad and scared ain't worth your love

So will you let me go just like I came, babe
? clear your mind and free to see
Clear enough to see the others like you
And mindful my will breaks so easily

Leaving you won't be any harder
Than walking out the door and leaving town
But I'll be leaving knowing surviving you won't make me stronger
Than the weakest man who's ever turned you down

[Iowan]

I really like Dancing Ricky, but I don't have a damn clue what in the hell that song is about. It's catchy though.

Yeah, me neither. I'm picturing a fat guy in a little coat taking out the merch table at a show. Possibly because his blood sugar was low. It is damn catchy, though. Probably my favorite Shonna song.

I think it's my favorite Shonna song, too. I've said it in other threads lately, but on BTCD there feels like such a drop off between her songs and Patterson and Cooleys. That gap has really narrowed. I love the last 3 original songs she's put on an album, and "Where's Eddie" is a phenomenal vocal performance out of her.

[beantownbubba]

I have no idea what dancing ricky's about either, but i thought this was funny: The merch table suggestion came out of left field for me, not because it's a bad suggestion, just that i hadn't thought of it that way at all. As soon as i heard the word "merchandise" i immediately thought of hot (as in stolen) goods. Could be electronics, could be suits, could be drugs, but it's one of those terms i associate w/ 2d level hoods, the kind joe pesci often plays in the movies. Does it work in context? No, not really, but like i said, i don't really know what the song's about anyway, 'cept for the part about the guy who outgrew his shirt a while ago.

[Duke Silver]

I have no idea what dancing ricky's about either, but i thought this was funny: The merch table suggestion came out of left field for me, not because it's a bad suggestion, just that i hadn't thought of it that way at all. As soon as i heard the word "merchandise" i immediately thought of hot (as in stolen) goods. Could be electronics, could be suits, could be drugs, but it's one of those terms i associate w/ 2d level hoods, the kind joe pesci often plays in the movies. Does it work in context? No, not really, but like i said, i don't really know what the song's about anyway, 'cept for the part about the guy who outgrew his shirt a while ago.

I didn't really mean that as a serious suggestion. Just throwing something out there that pulled together all the random elements (merchandise? diabetes? tiny tees?).

[Zip City]

I might have an idea what Dancing Ricky was about if I could understand half of what she's singing

[Duke Silver]

I might have an idea what Dancing Ricky was about if I could understand half of what she's singing

There are moments on The Secret to a Happy Ending (and the webisodes) when I wish she had subtitles. Like a dang ol female .

[CooleyGirl]

I really like Dancing Ricky, but I don't have a damn clue what in the hell that song is about. It's catchy though.

Seems as if I remember that there was someone who worked at the 40 Watt who was actually named Dancy Ricky - skinny dude with long, dark hair. Maybe a local can give us better info.

Yes, she dedicated the song to him when she played it last year in Athens, saying don't forget to tip your bartender, Ricky Possey. (not sure of spelling) You can hear her say that on the live version from the show last year.

[CooleyGirl]

In Pulaski, does the girl die in a plane crash? UR and I were discussing this the other day.
He thought we don't know how she dies, I thought the bit about the airlock opening was her dying. It doesn't matter, either way, just curious.
I listened to the live version and got a hint of Arlo Guthrie when I heard it, is that just me?

[Late4Church]

The first thing i think that she may have died from was drugs or, something to do with the men she came to know in california.
The line about just breathing here can make a girls nose bleed makes me think of an overdose.

[Clams]

In Pulaski, does the girl die in a plane crash? UR and I were discussing this the other day.
He thought we don't know how she dies, I thought the bit about the airlock opening was her dying. It doesn't matter, either way, just curious.
I listened to the live version and got a hint of Arlo Guthrie when I heard it, is that just me?

I'd agree that drugs did her in but the song doesn't say. I think it's a typical Cooley song where he doesn't really come right out and say stuff - everything's pretty much up to the listener to decide.

[Zip City]

song reminds me of Will Kimbrough's "Philadephia, Mississippi", only with a more tragic ending. same basic premise (girl gets fed up with country living and moves to the big city, only in Kimbrough's song, she realizes that the south is home and decides to go back0

[Smitty]

I always thought she died at the hands of a man in California - possibly a drunken beating.

[Iowan]

I've always thought it was a suicide.