Lyr Req: Badly Bent

Subject: Badly bent
From:
Date: 08 Oct 98 - 07:26 PM

I'm looking for a country song I heard on the radio sometime in the last forty years. It was a group, I think, with one of those high Kentucky tenors doing the lead. It was a kind of comic blues, and the last line of each verse, or the last lineof the chorus, was

"I'm not broke, but I'm badly bent."

Anyone know the rest of the lyrics, who recorded it and who wrrote it? It doesn't seem to be in any of the lyrics sites I've found.

Stoo Ball in Vancouver

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: Chet W.
Date: 08 Oct 98 - 07:56 PM

It was Ricky Skaggs. I thought it was on a JD Crowe and the New South album, but I just looked at the ones I have and it's not on there. But the singer was definitely Skaggs.

"I'm going back to the country I can't pay no rent, I may not be exactly broke but brother I'm badly bent, I can't understand where my money went, I ain't broke but I'm badly bent."

If I can remember what record the song was on I'll write back.

Chet W.

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: Dave T
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 07:08 AM

There's a different version on a Rounder CD called Bluegrass 1990 (I think that's the title). It might be Jerry Garcia from the "Old and in the Way" album but I wouldn't swear to it. I'll check it out and post back to this thread if I can find out more.

Dave T

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: Ken S
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 09:09 PM

One rendition can be found on Rounder's "25 Years of Bluegrass" (1995). The original album is Rounder 0069 "The David Grisman Rounder Compact Disc"

Although listed under David Grisman, the liner notes attribute the vocals to "a young Ricky Skaggs" with Tony Rice, Vassar Clements, and others supporting Grisman.

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: stoo
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 09:18 PM

All right, guys! You know, I think it must be Skaggs, cuz every time I think of this song, I think of Highway 40 Blues!

If you can track it further, let me know. I'll try some country sites and see if I can find it.

Thanx!!

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: stoo
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 09:28 PM

Right, I found the lyrics at http://www.interlog.com/~hanran/lyrics.htm filed under I - "I ain't broke but I'm badly bent."

Now to track down the recording and learn the tune. Thanks again for all your help.

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: malena
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 08:57 AM

Yes, it´s on the "Old and in the Way"-Album, called "That High and Lonesome Sound - Live Recordings, Vol.1".

Daniel

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From:
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 03:03 PM

Daniel from Malena: What is this "Old and In the Way"? I have one album by that name, Garcia, Rowan, Clements, Grisman and Kahn - and this song is definitely not on there. Was there more than one album by this bunch? If so, I definitely am on the hunt. Stoo

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: malena
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 03:28 PM

Hi Stoo, "Old and in the way" is the name of the band, the 5 guys you mentioned, I think they played from 1967-1973, and I know two albums. One has "Land of the Navajo", "White Horses", "Panama Red" ... maybe that´s the one you have. The one I mentioned is more strictily bluegrass, it has a superb version of "Orange Blossom Special" on it, and, well, among others "Badly Bent". I gave you the name above, now lets look for details: yeah, it in the "Acoustic Archive Series", the adress is: Acoustic Disc, P.O.Box 4143, San Rafeal, CA 94913. Go for it, it´s worth it! If you have RealAudio, I could send you send you the OBS- or the Bandly-Bent-version, you know RealAudio isn´t quite CD-quality, but it´s better than nothing...

Daniel

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Oct 98 - 02:46 AM

I've e-mailed the David Grisman-Ricky Skaggs RealAudio to Stoo.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: malena
Date: 11 Oct 98 - 11:11 AM

Good idea, if anyone wants the "Old-and-in-the-Way"-version on RealAudio, let me know,

Daniel

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: stoo
Date: 13 Oct 98 - 12:13 AM

I have the RealAudio of the song, thanks, Daniel; I'll let you know if I need to install the software; I may reinstall a large chunk of my hard drive before I do that. Also thanks for the info on Old and In the Way, I'll order a copy of that second album. I loved the first one. Thanks again! STOO

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From: Terry in San Diego
Date: 13 Oct 98 - 01:31 AM

There's a third Old & In The Way CD, called "Breakdown", also on the Acoustic Archive Series, produced by David Grisman. This one was recorded live in San Francisco in October, 1973, and has some of the same tunes as the original album plus many more great ones. Check out Grisman's website at www.dawgnet.com.

Terry

Subject: RE: Badly bent
From:
Date: 14 Oct 98 - 12:56 AM

Hi Ya'll

I first heard this song at a Lonestar Steakhouse and _had_ to learn it. The version I heard there was done by the Tractors.

Stephen/TheHallett

Subject: Lyr Add: BADLY BENT
From:
Date: 15 Oct 98 - 12:55 PM

There's a Canadian blues harp player named Richard Newell (a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy) he recorded this song some time in the 70's with Crowbar as his backup band. It's VERY upbeat:

BADLY BENT
Out on the street late last night
I had three hundred dollars I was feeling alright
Looked in my pocket about 13 after 3
All I had was a nickel and a key

CHORUS:
Where did my money go
Lord, I don't know
But my green is lean and my coin is spent
I ain't busted but I'm badly bent

I had a big bank account with a five figure sum
Now I can't afford to buy a package of gum
Once had a home with a fine Cadillac
Now I'm as flat as a nickel on a railroad track
(chorus)

If trouble was money I'd be the richest man around
If bad luck was music I'd have the hottest band in town
Now my money's gone I'm not feeling well
Sitting down here in the ((SOMETHING)) hotel
(chorus)

Paul.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Badly Bent
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 08:08 AM

king biscuit boy's version says the addison hotel i thing
another paul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Badly Bent
From: meself
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 09:51 AM

I always took it as "the Heartsick Hotel" a la Elvis ....