Subject: Lyr Req: 'The Hustler' (E. Andersen) From: louie louie Date: 02 Aug 06 - 11:59 PM From "Bout Changes and Things" (1966). I've tried to transcribe from my CD, but I don't trust what I'm hearing. On some level, I know it's a dig on Dylan and the folk (folk-rock) scene, circa 65-66. Does anyone know if anything specific prompted it (besides general jealousies and resentment at Dylan's put-downs), what reactions the Greenwich Village regulars had (if any)? I know producer Tom Wilson was fired by Dylan in August 65, and Wilson thereafter did work with Andersen. Any backstory there? Thanks. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE HUSTLER (Eric Andersen) From: GUEST,Casey Graham Date: 23 Sep 10 - 03:44 PM This is two years late, but here is what I've transcribed: THE HUSTLER (Eric Andersen) Oh, you can try to run me down But you can't try me underground When you're not there I'll be around To haunt you, I won't make a sound To track you, I don't need a hound You think you're lost, I've got you found You're surrounded, though you think that they can't see. Your castle walls, they all will fall You'll be surprised that all-in-all Nobody really cares at all You won't believe the beggar's gall That can bite your heels when you crawl That pain can come from those so small Ignore you when you kick the stall Go cry wolf, or better, you should scream! Though you're not on top, you think you're first The surgeon's scalpel, steal the nurse Who can let others feel the hurt When you're the driver of the hearse So you'll feel bad, but they'll worse Without you, where would the doctor be? I'm watching you, but not quite like before I will find you, you're the one I'm a-lookin' for And when it's over don't say sorry anymore A brushless painter runnin' down Into the night to paint the town While putting everybody on Blowing smoke rings for the clown You brag to those you've been around They listen to your silly sounds Disciples pass your bread around The cross is hidden in your gown They think that they're on holy ground Not knowing Judas watches from the trees! While posing as the saint of need Godfather to the one who's weak By using words like "sad defeat" You laugh that you've got a losing beat The girls all giggle at your feet Squealing people that you meet You might get made, but be discreet Don't take your mask off, trick or treat As you get the stars down on their knees But do you really think you have fortune beat? Believing in the magic noose That trips the egg, the golden goose And with it, you can never lose While fairy tales are still the truth Don't let go, hey, don't let loose For the goose is flapping on the roof And without its wings, how can you be free? I'm watching you, but not quite like before Hey, hey! You're the one I'm a-lookin' for And when it's over don't say sorry anymore. Lone Ranger, he just rides along Protecting those that don't belong In the land where there's no right or wrong Tonto, he just loads his gun For killing outlaws one by one And shooting in-laws just for fun While the jungle laws are on the run Step out before you get stepped on You say this with your war paint on Afraid if you're in the dark too long Because you know the jungle's no place for the meek! You say life is absurdity A carnival for melodies You eye the big-time bitterly Set the stage so faithfully The hawk for forlorn mystery (?) While marching so religiously As the army that has paid to see The choirboy of reality Laugh at all authority You smile oh-so-cynically The sole possessor of his key But it's sad to know that's all you'll ever be. Though you said keep on the sunny side That life is just a rainbow ride A silver-studded surfboard glide On the wine of waves to keep you high Don't hit the moon if you fly too wide It'll bring you down below the tide Where no one keeps their tears inside The waters hide them if you cry For in the waves, there are no mysteries. I'm watching you, but not quite like before I will find you, you're the one I'm a-lookin' for And when it's over, don't say sorry anymore. The key on "Bout Changes and Things" is F#, and it follows a pretty standard pattern. (I)Oh, you can try to (Imaj7)run me down But (IV)you can't try me (I)underground When (IV)you're not there I'll (I)be around To (IV)haunt you, I won't (I)make a sound To (IV)track you, I don't (I)need a hound You (IV)think you're lost, I've (I)got you found You're (vi)surrounded, though you think that they can't (V)see. I'm (IV)watching you, but (I)not quite like before (IV)I will find you, you're the (V) one I'm a-lookin' for And when it's (I) over, don't say (V)sorry anymore. As for the meaning of the song, I've just generally classified it in the same realm as "Violets of Dawn" - not really about anything, almost psychedelic in its absurdity and the playfulness of its rhymes. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hustler (Eric Andersen) From: GUEST,jtflash49 Date: 03 Feb 11 - 12:49 PM Good transcription. As for the meaning, there are just too many Dylan references to be coincidence. I don't know too much about Eric's relationship in the early days with Dylan but it is no secret that Bob alienated a lot of other performers who were coming up at the same time he did in New York. He reportedly was merciless in his criticism of Phil Ochs and surrounded himself with a small band of loyal running partners that protected and encouraged his rants. With this in mind, its not hard to go through the lyric and see many clever observations and putdowns, often using stinging references to Bob's own lyrics. Anyone who is a fan of Eric's should make it a point to find out where he's playing and get out and see him. He's an American treasure. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE HUSTLER (Eric Andersen) From: GUEST,Morgana Date: 03 Feb 11 - 07:36 PM The following is transcribed from the back of my "Changes 'n' Things" record. I don't hold that LP's are better than CD's, but this would make a nice piece of evidence about the superiority of their liner notes. :D THE HUSTLER (Eric Andersen) Oh, you can try to run me down But you can't drive me underground When you're not there I'll be around To haunt you, I won't make a sound To track you, I don't need a hound You think you're lost, I've got you found You're surrounded, though you think that they can't see. Your castle walls, they all will fall You'll be surprised that all-in-all Nobody really cares at all You won't believe the beggar's gall That can bite your heels when you crawl That pain can come from those so small Ignore you when you kick the stall Go cry wolf, or better, you should scream! Though you're not on top, you think you're first Some surgeon's scalpel stealin' nurse Who can let others feel the hurt When you're the driver of the hearse So you'll feel bad but they'll feel worse Without you what would the doctor be? I'm watching you, but not quite like before I will find you, you're the one I'm a-lookin' for And when it's over don't say sorry anymore A brushless painter runnin' down Into the night to paint the town While putting everybody on Blowing smoke rings for the clowns You brag of those you've been around They listen to your silly sounds Disciples pass your bread around While the cross is hidden in your gown They think that they're on holy ground Not knowing Judas watches from the trees! While posing as the saint of need Godfather to the one who's weak By using words like "sad defeat" You laugh that you've got losing beat The girls all giggle at your feet The squealing people that you meet You might get made, but be discreet Don't take your mask off, trick or treat As you get the stars down on their knees But do you really think you have fortune beat? Believing in the magic noose That trips the egg, the golden goose And with it, you can never lose While fairy tales are still the truth But don't let go, hey, don't let loose For the goose is flapping on the roof And without its wings, how can you be free? I'm watching you, but not quite like before Hey, hey! You're the one I'm a-lookin' for And when it's over don't say sorry anymore. Lone Ranger, he just rides along Protecting those that don't belong In the land where there's no right or wrong As tonto, you just load his gun For killing outlaws one by one And shooting inlaws just for fun While the jungle laws are on the run Step out before you get stepped on You say this with your war paint on Afraid if you're in the dark too long 'Cause you know the jungle's no place for the meek! You say life is absurdity A carnival for melodies You eye the big-time bitterly And set the stage so faithfully The hawker for lord mystery While marching so religiously As the army that has paid to see The choirboy of reality Laugh at all authority You smile oh-so-cynically The sole possessor of his key But it's sad to know that's all you'll ever be. You said keep on the sunny side That life was just a rainbow ride A silver-studded surfboard glide On the wine of waves to keep you high Don't hit the moon if you fly too wide It'll bring you down below the tide Where no one keeps their tears inside The waters hide them if you cry For in the waves, there are no mysteries. I'm watching you, but not quite like before I will find you, you're the one I'm a-lookin' for And when it's over, don't say sorry anymore. I added a few minor corrections to these, but overall the previous transcription is pretty accurate. An impressive feat, as this is such a long song. I could never venture a guess as to exactly what these lyrics mean; since it's such a diverse combination of common images, I might call it somewhat of a stream of consciousness. Luckily, this is also on the album: "The Hustler" is about people who hustle fame. We are most familiar with the money variety. It's about those who try to rub shoulders with God then sell you a piece of his cloud. It's about those who hustle cigarettes from Joan Baez even though they know show doesn't smoke." -- Eric Anderson |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hustler (Eric Andersen) From: GUEST,Morgana Date: 03 Feb 11 - 10:14 PM Sorry, about the typos; the quote should read this. "The Hustler is about people who hustle fame. We are most familiar with the money variety. It's about those who try to rub shoulders with God then sell you a piece of his cloud. It's about those who hustle cigarettes from Joan Baez even though they know she doesn't smoke." -- Eric Anderson |
Subject: RE: ADD: The Hustler (Eric Andersen) From: GUEST,hal davis Date: 28 Jan 25 - 05:40 PM David Browne, in TALKIN’ GREENWICH VILLAGE (Hachette Books © 2024) p. 158, suggests it's about Bob Neuwirth, who was part of Dylan's posse at the Kettle of Fish. |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |