Pronouncing Ramon

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perezoso
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Pronouncing Ramon

Post by perezoso »

I already have a tortured 'relationship' with Cooley, since that time in Austin when I drunkenly had him sign the back of some other band's poster so that I could send it to my metal band friends in Chilean Patagonia (see earlier posts).

Cooley hates me, but I have to speak up. Who the hell is going to break wind and tell him how to pronounce Ramon?

It ain't "Ray-moan", it's "Rah-moan".

Now, perhaps in the ancient 1990s one might have gotten away with Ray-moan as a Southernism or affectation, but I'm afraid we cain't do that no more. I just don't want to deliver the news.
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Clams
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Clams »

I can see why cooley hates you. No offense.
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LBRod
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by LBRod »


Yamaha. It's called poetic license.
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perezoso
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by perezoso »

The clams in Philadelphia will kill you, all full of Delaware Bay petrochemical gunk and all that.

And god bless Vic Chesnutt and all that, but he ain't got a goddamn thing to do with this.

If you're from Texas you can sorta get around mispronouncing Spanish as long as you do it in the traditional way - people from there will know what I mean. Nueces. Manchaca. Etc.

But this doesn't apply to people from Alabama, and I'll fully and confess the truth here that my momma's father was a deacon in a Church of Christ not but an hour from Zip City, so don't go calling me snooty. [The truth.]

In all seriousness, I just think that it would help the reach of the message to get the name right.
Making money you can't spend ain't what being dead's about.

Swamp
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Swamp »

perezoso wrote:The clams in Philadelphia will kill you, all full of Delaware Bay petrochemical gunk and all that.

.
Are you saying clams is full of engine cleaner?
Also I have problems pronouncing my favorite mexican dish, chile relleno (not the slice of bell pepper, the pablano)
and the rest as they say is uh er uh, well somebodies history somewhere?

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Rocky
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Rocky »

Clams wrote:I can see why cooley hates you. No offense.
:lol:

Agree with the earlier post. It's poetic license baby.
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RolanK
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by RolanK »

I once got compliments from the waiter for my pronunciation of Huevos Rancheros at a Diner somewhere downtown Manhattan.
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Beaverdam
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Beaverdam »

I may need to to listen with a closer ear, but I think Cooley’s pronunciation of “Ramon” may evolve (or devolve, as the case may be) as the song progresses. The only time I hear the distinct “Ray—mon” is in the line “Ramon still ain’t dead enough,” but here think Cooley is trying to espouse the character of a bigot. I wonder if the “Alabama Spanish” pronunciation is purposeful???

I’ve had a little Spanish but not enough to make the call, but i do wonder if the pronunciation of the name changes when spoken by the narrator (Cooley himself) as opposed to one of the song’s characters.

I’m pretty sure Cooley would tell me I’m overthining this anyway, or is this a thesis in the making (cue Professor Simon from Secret to a Happy Ending)????

Zip Up to Michigan
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Zip Up to Michigan »

You’re not alone. Cooley hates me too. Refused to shake my hand at the Chicago shows this year. Snuck up on him behind the bus at one of the wheels of soul shows. He clearly didn’t like that. I asked for Loaded Gun in the Closet the next night. Was not played. I think I’m on good terms with Patterson, Jay, and EZB, though. Haven’t met Matt.

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bovine knievel
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by bovine knievel »

Clams wrote:I can see why cooley hates you. No offense.
This is some funny shit!!

Cooley gives zero fucks.
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Tequila Cowboy
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Tequila Cowboy »

I urge anyone who wants to go argue with Cooley over this subject to do it. Make your case motherfuckers. Please just allow me to watch.
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phungi
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by phungi »

Tequila Cowboy wrote:I urge anyone who wants to go argue with Cooley over this subject to do it. Make your case motherfuckers. Please just allow me to watch.
Polite request: when doing so, please begin your statement with "excuse me, Michael?"
We got messed up minds for these messed up times...

Mr. B
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Mr. B »

phungi wrote:
Tequila Cowboy wrote:I urge anyone who wants to go argue with Cooley over this subject to do it. Make your case motherfuckers. Please just allow me to watch.
Polite request: when doing so, please begin your statement with "excuse me, Michael?"
Even better, start with asking him if his name is pronounced Michael or Michelle.

Swamp
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Swamp »

Years ago I ran into Cooley at a Tampa show. I said "hey Mike" and he shook my hand.
and the rest as they say is uh er uh, well somebodies history somewhere?

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Flea
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Flea »

Tequila Cowboy wrote:I urge anyone who wants to go argue with Cooley over this subject to do it. Make your case motherfuckers. Please just allow me to watch.
Put that fucker on PPV, I'd buy it!
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dime in the gutter
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by dime in the gutter »

Image
always love to post this.

and a few more for good measure.
Image
Image

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pearlbeer
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by pearlbeer »

I suppose I can jump in here, and take the opportunity to tell one of my favorite DBT stories. First off, I am from Texas, and speak a bit of border Spanish. IMO, the proper pronunciation would be 'Rah-moan'. However, also IMO, if you write a song of the caliber of Ramon Casiano, you can pronounce it however the fuck you want to. So, Cooley's pronunciation is correct however you look at it.

Ok, the story:

October 2016 I went on a kayak fishing trip with a few buddies, one who brought along his cousin Casey who doesn't live too far away. I hadn't met Casey before the trip but got to know him on the 7 hour drive to the Devil's River. Most of you will recall that American Band had released the month prior, so for the drive I got a CD for both vehicles and jammed them in there and turned it up. Casey wasn't terribly familiar with the DBTs, but, he graciously put up with a number of consecutive plays of the album (as he was trapped in the truck with me). The album turned over again and Ramon Casiano cued up. I told him the brief story of Harlon Carter and the NRA, and Casey said. "Casiano" - you know that is my name right?

Huh?

Well, you wouldn't know from looking at him, but Casey is half hispanic. Casiano is a family name, and thus the shortened version in the States became 'Casey'. I thought it was a weird coincidence and pretty cool. A few minutes later Casey said, "Hey what was that guy's name in the song again?". I replied "Ramon Casiano". Then Casey said, "Ramon is my middle name."

No way. But, yep; he pulled out his drivers license and showed me. Casey's legal name was, in fact, Casiano Ramon.

A few months later Cooley came for a few solo shows at the Cactus Cafe here in Austin. I bought a ticket for Casey and invited him to a show. At the end of the show Cooley was hanging around chatting and signing a few autographs. We waited for everything to clear out and I talked to Cooley for a little bit and eventually said, "Casey - show him your drivers license." Cooley kind of shifted and rolled his eyes in anticipation for whatever stupid fan shit he was about to be sucked into. He kind of gave a quick glance and said "Casiano..ha!", then he did a double take when he saw Ramon right behind it. We chatted for a lot longer and he told us a bit more about how he wrote the song. It was awesome. What are the odds??
Last edited by pearlbeer on Tue Aug 14, 2018 3:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Rocky
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Rocky »

^^^ Very fuckin' cool Pearl. :!:
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And you'll be right where they fall the rest of your life

Zip City
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Zip City »

He’s cheating the meter of the song. He’s saying RAY-mon instead of Ruh-MOAN because it fits the rhythm of the song better. It’s inelegant but that’s what’s happening
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Mundane Mayhem
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Mundane Mayhem »

Zip City wrote:He’s cheating the meter of the song. He’s saying RAY-mon instead of Ruh-MOAN because it fits the rhythm of the song better. It’s inelegant but that’s what’s happening
This has always been my interpretation as well.
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ledward2
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by ledward2 »

pearlbeer wrote:I suppose I can jump in here, and take the opportunity to tell one of my favorite DBT stories. First off, I am from Texas, and speak a bit of boarder Spanish. IMO, the proper pronunciation would be 'Rah-moan'. However, also IMO, if you write a song of the caliber of Ramon Casiano, you can pronounce it however the fuck you want to. So, Cooley's pronunciation is correct however you look at it.

Ok, the story:

October 2016 I went on a kayak fishing trip with a few buddies, one who brought along his cousin Casey who doesn't live too far away. I hadn't met Casey before the trip but got to know him on the 7 hour drive to the Devil's River. Most of you will recall that American Band had released the month prior, so for the drive I got a CD for both vehicles and jammed them in there and turned it up. Casey wasn't terribly familiar with the DBTs, but, he graciously put up with a number of consecutive plays of the album (as he was trapped in the truck with me). The album turned over again and Ramon Casiano cued up. I told him the brief story of Harlon Carter and the NRA, and Casey said. "Casiano" - you know that is my name right?

Huh?

Well, you wouldn't know from looking at him, but Casey is half hispanic. Casiano is a family name, and thus the shortened version in the States became 'Casey'. I thought it was a weird coincidence and pretty cool. A few minutes later Casey said, "Hey what was that guy's name in the song again?". I replied "Ramon Casiano". Then Casey said, "Ramon is my middle name."

No way. But, yep; he pulled out is drivers license and showed me. Casey's legal name was, in fact, Casiano Ramon.

A few months later Cooley came for a few solo shows at the Cactus Cafe here in Austin. I bought a ticket for Casey and invited him to a show. At the end of the show Cooley was hanging around chatting and signing a few autographs. We waited for everything to clear out and I talked to Cooley for a little bit and eventually said, "Casey - show him your drivers license." Cooley kind of shifted and rolled his eyes in anticipation for whatever stupid fan shit he was about to be sucked into. He kind of gave a quick glance and said "Casiano..ha!", then he did a double take when he saw Ramon right behind it. We chatted for a lot longer and he told us a bit more about how he wrote the song. It was awesome. What are the odds??
Great story. Do you recall what Cooley said regarding how he wrote the song?
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pearlbeer
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by pearlbeer »

[quote="ledward2"}

Great story. Do you recall what Cooley said regarding how he wrote the song?[/quote]

Yeah, somewhat. I asked him where he learned about Harlon Carter and Ramon Casiano. He essentially said something like, "once you go down that rabbit hole...". Sounds like he was curious about the history of the NRA and kept reading until he got to the beginning. The song was born from there.

Actually, Ramon Casiano was a really obscure (and intentionally buried) story in 2016. It took me a little while to Google all the way to the beginning. And, like Cooley says...it all started and the border. And...that's still where it is today.

Wonder what Cooley will do with the recent Russian/NRA connections?
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Flea
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Flea »

Mundane Mayhem wrote:
Zip City wrote:He’s cheating the meter of the song. He’s saying RAY-mon instead of Ruh-MOAN because it fits the rhythm of the song better. It’s inelegant but that’s what’s happening
This has always been my interpretation as well.
He could have achieved the same effect by trilling the "R". Just saying.
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LBRod
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by LBRod »

This thread is almost as much fun as the time Cooley got a haircut. :roll:
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Cole Younger
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Cole Younger »

I don't care that much because I just don't and also because, Lord knows I butcher some words with my accent even though I know how they are supposed to be pronounced. But I admit to kind of cringing when I hear him pronounce it like "Raymond". And this is coming from a guy who pronounces this word; can't as "caint",opts for britches rather than pants, and turns the word dog too "dawg" among innumerable others.
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Cole Younger
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Cole Younger »

phungi wrote:
Tequila Cowboy wrote:I urge anyone who wants to go argue with Cooley over this subject to do it. Make your case motherfuckers. Please just allow me to watch.
Polite request: when doing so, please begin your statement with "excuse me, Michael?"
This cracked me up.
A single shot rifle and a one eyed dog.

Iowan
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by Iowan »

Cooley is a cool guy in person, as long as, you know, you aren't a fucking lunatic.

We ran into him and Patterson getting coffee before a show in Madison a few years back. I wanted to leave them alone, but my buddy and his wife wanted pictures. They were more than glad, and asked if I wanted one too. I just said "naw, thanks for everything and kick some ass tonight". They both chuckled appreciatively, and then played a scorching show that included "Your Daddy Hates Me".

perezoso
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by perezoso »

Wow, thanks guys. Honestly, I expected to log in here and find myself pummeled beyond recognition with fists and flaming arrows from all quarters. :-)
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sactochris
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by sactochris »

He can pronounce it however the fuck he wants to as far as I'm concerned. Hell, I don't even complain about Patterson getting the words to People Who Died wrong.
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Re: Pronouncing Ramon

Post by whatwouldcooleydo? »

perezoso wrote:Wow, thanks guys. Honestly, I expected to log in here and find myself pummeled beyond recognition with fists and flaming arrows from all quarters. :-)
There’s still plenty of time for a good pummelin’ :lol:
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