DBT tracks #47, "Hell No I Ain't Happy"

[rockreid]

Sorry for doing this one a little early, but I won't be near a computer on Monday.

Sticking with 'Decoration Day'---let's back up 1 song to "Hell No I Ain't Happy"---

This song may have as much weight as any of theirs. Straight rocker from start to finish. I love the "overnight sensation" line. Really dig the shout out to one of our fellow board members. Also, love the "interstate 10 line". Patterson described at solo gig, that they passed a car, going the wrong way on I-10, at about 3 a.m. and were amazed that car didn't cause a head on collision.

I've seen many variations of this song, but really enjoy the way they do it now. The extended jam at the end is great. They've taken an almost 5 minute rocker and turned into an at least 8 minute gem.

Finally, if (and I'm sure you do because you're reading this) you love DBT as much as I do, the irony in this song, compared to when it was written as to where they are now, is nothing short of wonderful and very fucking satisfying. At the sake of sounding condescending, not only am I happy (for them), but very proud of them.

Hell No I Ain't Happy

There's a lot of bad wood underneath the veneer.
She's an overnight sensation after twenty-five years.
Sharp fast curves, power steering.
Unroll that twenty and buy me some beer.
Ain't too bad, too bad at all, pick up the phone if I ever call.

Hell no, I ain't happy.
Hell no, I ain't happy.
Hell no, I ain't happy.

There's a pretty little girl outside the van window.
'bout 80 cities down, 800 to go.
Six crammed in, we ain't never alone.
Never homesick, ain't got no home.
Check my mail if you would please, Jenn.
Collect my things when I'm in town again.

Hell no, I ain't happy.
Hell no, I ain't happy.
Hell no, I ain't happy.
But I get a little closer everyday.
Gonna be a long while 'fore I'm back your way.

And I've seen just how much I can stand.
One night in Kansas City, I thought about killing a man.
Seen my number fly by on Interstate 10.
Seen the mountains of Montana at seven AM.
And I keep it all together for the sake of the kids.
Got your fine-ass self on the back of my lids.

Hell no, I ain't happy.
Hell no, I ain't happy.
Hell no, I ain't happy.

But I ain't too crappy,
no I ain't too crappy, too crappy at all.
No, no.

Not too crappy at all. Indeed.

[bovine knievel]

Great song and was one that after it seeing performed live, quickly became one of my favs. I agree the way they are performing it lately is incredible and the use of the lighting, illumination of the crowd singin' Hell No I Ain't Happy, adds another layer of intensity.

[Rocky]

Great fuckin' song! I can't believe it hasn't been the song of the week before.

Here is a version from the Richmond Halloween show that absolutley kicks ass and melts faces. A stand out song from a stand out performance.

http://www.archive.org/download/dbt2010 ... -30t22.mp3

[Clams]

Love love love this song. From the beer can popping open at the beginning to the ray of light at the end ("...but I ain't too crappy, too crappy at all..."). This one's yet another that instantly ramps up the rock show crowd. Did I mention that I love it?

[Clams]

Great song and was one that after it seeing performed live, quickly became one of my favs. I agree the way they are performing it lately is incredible and the use of the lighting, illumination of the crowd singin' Hell No I Ain't Happy, adds another layer of intensity.

Yeah they've been tearing this song up lately. Patterson especially. I specifically remember a great version at the Recher last year.
btw - here's what Hell No looks like to a fifth grader...

[Smitty]

in some of Pattersons solo shows, during "Hell No" he used to throw in some lines to (I assume) some other song that goes
"don't try to act like you don't know what you see when you're looking at a motherfucker just like me" (there's more but I can't make it out)
Any idea on where it's from>?

[GuitarManUpstairs]

Great song and was one that after it seeing performed live, quickly became one of my favs. I agree the way they are performing it lately is incredible and the use of the lighting, illumination of the crowd singin' Hell No I Ain't Happy, adds another layer of intensity.

Yeah they've been tearing this song up lately. Patterson especially. I specifically remember a great version at the Recher last year.
btw - here's what Hell No looks like to a fifth grader...

Boy better watch out - he's gonna get his face melted!

[bovine knievel]

One night in Kansas City, I thought about killing a man.

In SF, BillinCT and I were talking about this line... both of us are curious if it is true

[GuitarManUpstairs]

One night in Kansas City, I thought about killing a man.

In SF, BillinCT and I were talking about this line... both of us are curious if it is true

The thought crosses my mind almost everytime i get in the car!!!

[Duke Silver]

Is it only recently that they've started using this is a main set closer? Seems like such a perfect spot for it.

[Iowan]

This song has become epic live recently.

Not in my Top 15 DBT songs, but man, it's one of those DBT songs that makes you wonder how in the hell this band isn't more commercially successful.

[ariedl]

in some of Pattersons solo shows, during "Hell No" he used to throw in some lines to (I assume) some other song that goes
"don't try to act like you don't know what you see when you're looking at a motherfucker just like me" (there's more but I can't make it out)
Any idea on where it's from>?

It's from a song by N.E.R.D. called "The Provider". Sometimes he would sing a line or two, sometimes a bit more.

[Smitty]

in some of Pattersons solo shows, during "Hell No" he used to throw in some lines to (I assume) some other song that goes
"don't try to act like you don't know what you see when you're looking at a motherfucker just like me" (there's more but I can't make it out)
Any idea on where it's from>?

It's from a song by N.E.R.D. called "The Provider". Sometimes he would sing a line or two, sometimes a bit more.

Awesome, thanks, I been trying to figure that out for years. Bad ass - if I ain't mistaken the first time I saw a proper "Rock show" Patterson threw some lines from Kanye West's "We Don't Care" into some song...

[mhc]

Great song and was one that after it seeing performed live, quickly became one of my favs. I agree the way they are performing it lately is incredible and the use of the lighting, illumination of the crowd singin' Hell No I Ain't Happy, adds another layer of intensity.

Yeah they've been tearing this song up lately. Patterson especially. I specifically remember a great version at the Recher last year.
btw - here's what Hell No looks like to a fifth grader...

And he will remember that for the rest of his life. God, I love moments like that!!!!

[mhc]

One night in Kansas City, I thought about killing a man.

In SF, BillinCT and I were talking about this line... both of us are curious if it is true

The thought crosses my mind almost everytime i get in the car!!!

Now don't quote me but I thought I read where that line was about a club owner or promoter that did something to them in Kansas City.

[Smitty]

One night in Kansas City, I thought about killing a man.

In SF, BillinCT and I were talking about this line... both of us are curious if it is true

The thought crosses my mind almost everytime i get in the car!!!

Now don't quote me but I thought I read where that line was about a club owner or promoter that did something to them in Kansas City.

Patterson tells a story about it during one of his solo shows on archive.

[njMark]

I thought I heard it was about somebody stealing a book of new material or somesuch from them in KC, can't remember where I heard it from.

[ariedl]

I thought I heard it was about somebody stealing a book of new material or somesuch from them in KC, can't remember where I heard it from.

I think that incident was actually in NYC. Somebody broke into the van and stole a bag of Patterson's that had all of his notebooks, including all of his songs for "Decoration Day". They were later tossed aside, and some nice soul found them and called Patterson and made sure he got them back.

[rockreid]

in some of Pattersons solo shows, during "Hell No" he used to throw in some lines to (I assume) some other song that goes
"don't try to act like you don't know what you see when you're looking at a motherfucker just like me" (there's more but I can't make it out)
Any idea on where it's from>?

It's from a song by N.E.R.D. called "The Provider". Sometimes he would sing a line or two, sometimes a bit more.

check this link out:

http://www.archive.org/details/dbt2003-09-12.flac16

[Smitty]

According to this last new years eve show, apparently David Hood is fond of this one....

[mark lynn]

Unroll that twenty!

[zoid]

One night in Kansas City, I thought about killing a man.

In SF, BillinCT and I were talking about this line... both of us are curious if it is true

I have a theory. If you look when the played Kansas City it might hold some clues. A few dates stand out:

Oct 30, 2001
Nov 3, 2001

They also change the lyrics to "One night in Amsterdam I thought about killing a man" for a couple of shows. And these dates stand out:

Dec 10, 2003
Dec 22, 2003

Again, just a theory, I could be wrong....

[Clams]

the mountains of Montana at 7:00AM:











taken two hours ago in Whitefish and Columbia Falls.

[Sterling Big Mouth]

Great pictures, Clams!

[Fool No Where]

got yer fine-ass self on the back of my lids!

[Smarty Jones]

Beautiful pics, Clams! That's prime wild horse country there! Didn't see any by any chance, did you?

I didn't see the mountains of Montana, but I did listen to this song for 450 miles straight on the way home. It perfectly described my mood by the end of the trip. I'm just so over the whole family vacation thing...

[jimmyjack]

Love this one, but it was a grower for me. DD is probably my favorite album of all time, but this one and Careless were my least favorites back when I used to listen to this album every day. I always disliked the 'ain't too crappy' part, found it a frivolous way to end the song. But the more I saw it performed at the Rock Show, and the more familiar I got with the lyrics (I love the line about Jenn), the more it's risen in the ranks.

"Unroll that twenty and buy me some beer" = a critique of the coke-dicks?

[beantownbubba]

"Unroll that twenty and buy me some beer" = a critique of the coke-dicks?

A reference to coke, yes, but i think it's directed at the "she" earlier in the verse.

I've also had an on/off relationship w/ the "crappy" line. In the end, tho, I think Patterson pulls it off by sheer will and commitment, especially live.

[dime in the gutter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DFU9wKhnBk&NR=1

great performance on the kilborne show. could not get the utubes to post up regular-like.

[Smitty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DFU9wKhnBk&NR=1

great performance on the kilborne show. could not get the utubes to post up regular-like.

Wow, never saw that! The picture video sucks, but still amazing. Sometimes I miss those days...