Lyr Req: Number One Gravy Band (Charles Gearhart)

Subject: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From:
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:41 PM

Hello, I'm new to this forum and am hoping fellow folkies can help me find the lyrics to: "(I'm gonna be a) Rock and Roll Star". I'm not at all sure it was done by Nitty Gritty but that's what ancient memories are insisting. It had a funny and unique chorus that ended with "I'll do anything 'cept cut off my peter, I'm gonna be a rock and roll star." I apologize if the lyrics offend anyone,but this is a legitimate song from the very early 1970's. It even got limited air play. Thanks. Pekay O'Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:19 PM

I thought it was a Dr Hook tune. Hmmmm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: GUEST,pekay
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 03:03 PM

EJ, Dr Hook sounds more like it. I tried their website but its not there as I'm Gonna Be a Rock and Roll Star or Rock Star. Do you remember it being titled differently? 30 years is too long for my brain to retain anything! pk

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 03:07 PM

I remember it went

I have always been a leader
I aint never been no back-seater
I'll do anything but cut off my peter
Cos I wanna be a rock n roll star

And now I'm thinking David Allan Coe

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 05:54 PM

I couldn't find it a DAC sites, either. In fact, I can't find anything with any of those phrases in it. Metallica did a Rock Star song, but not those lyrics. AC/DC did a Rock Star song, but not those lyrics.........hmmmmmm.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: GUEST,pekay
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 06:53 PM

Well, thanks for trying. I've chased this song on and off for more than 15 years. Leavin' for a gig in 10 min. hoped to do the song.... maybe in 2015! Thanks again, pk

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 11:43 AM

These lines were quoted at http://www.ink19.com/issues/december2000/liveInk/gooseCreekSymphony.html

I think I'll grow my hair long. I think I'll grow a beard.
I think I'll go out an' smoke some pot and start actin' kinda weird,
'Cause I've always been a leader,
And I ain't never been no back-seater.
I'd do anything but cut off my peter.
Just to be a rock n' roll star.

The song title is "Number One Gravy Band." It was written by Charles Gearhart, who apparently is (or was) a member of Goose Creek Symphony, who recorded it on "Head for the Hills," Goose CD #1076, 1998. (Originally released as an LP in 1976.) There is a description of the album at the band's web site: Click here. Yahoo has a sound sample (Click here) from which I transcribed this:

Sometimes I can't play music and I don't know how to use it,
But someday I'm gonna steal the show.
I don't need no purple pants and a flashy shiny shirt.
I can't stand them high-heeled shoes, the kind that make you hurt,
But I've always been a leader,
And I ain't never been no back-seater...

But I can't find any other lyrics online.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 11:32 PM

The expression "nitty gritty" was in the news in UK a couple of months ago. It was reported that the police and other groups had been told to avoid it because it had racial overtones. Anyone back this up?
Back seater Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: Gary T
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 11:30 AM

Hmmm. Don't know the origin of the phrase, but I'm in the U.S. and I don't remember ever hearing any intimation that it had racial connotations. "Getting down to the nitty gritty" is akin to "getting down to brass tacks" or "getting down to business." It does seem to have an earthier sense to it, but nothing racial I've ever heard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Early Nitty Gritty(?) lyrics
From: Snuffy
Date: 16 Jul 02 - 07:57 PM

I always thought it was Italian - nitti gritti! Though I s'pose you can be racist against Eyeties.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Number One Gravy Band (Charles Gearhart)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 09:38 PM

It's by a band called goose creek symphony on the album Goose Creek! I loved and lived this song in 1976. I hope this helps. Goose Creek symphony has a web site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Number One Gravy Band (Charles Gearhart)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 11:11 PM

The Goose Creek Symphony
Mitchell Plaza, Rome, GA October 6, 2000

by David Whited

"I think I'll grow my hair long, I think I'll grow a beard/I think I'll go out an' smoke some pot and start actin' kinda weird/'Cause I've always been a leader, and I ain't never been no back-seater/I'd do anything but cut off my peter/Just to be a rock n' roll star." from "#1 Gravy Band."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Number One Gravy Band (Charles Gearhart)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 11:15 PM

AND, then there's Youtube.

Here's the song and most the lyrics are dicernable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRx7x3QXKSA

Subject: Lyr Add: NUMBER ONE GRAVY BAND (Charles Gearhart)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 06:30 PM

Two versions are on Spotify:

NUMBER ONE GRAVY BAND
As recorded by Goose Creek Symphony on "Head for the Hills" (1976)

Think I'll let my hair grow long. I think I'll grow a beard.
Think I'll go out, smoke some pot, start actin' weird,

'Cause I've always been a leader,
And I ain't never been no back-seater.
I'd do anything but cut off my peter
'Cause I want to be a rock-'n' roll star.

Now I've got some friends and they can't tell where I've been,
And I don't think they really want to know.
Sometimes I can't play music and I don't know how to use it,
But someday I'm gonna steal the show.

I don't need no purple pants and a flashy, shiny shirt.
I can't stand them high-heel shoes, the kind that make ya hurt.

But I've always been a leader,
And I ain't never been no back-seater.
I'll do anything but cut off my peter
'Cause I want to be a rock-'n'-roll star. §

Wake up, world; now it's about time that you listened to some down-home music.
Y'all got rhythm and y'all got soul; now it's about time you used it.
To hell with class; get off o' your ass; you can start by clappin' your hands,
'Cause happiness is brought to you by the Number One Gravy Band.

Aah, just play music.
Ooh, people let me tell you, it's a wonderful thing.

If you want to hear music,
You got to come on down.
If you want to hear music,
You gotta get it while it's still around.

[The album "Charlie Gearhart's Home Recordings" (2010) contains a shorter version of this song which ends at "§" above. Although the album is labeled as by "Goose Creek Symphony" all the cuts I have listened to consist of only one voice and guitar, presumably those of Charlie Gearhart. The long version on "Head for Hills" is performed by a full band.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Number One Gravy Band (Charles Gearhart)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 15 - 09:19 AM

Hi, new here, does anyone have the chords to Number One Gravy Band?