Origins: I've Been Down Harder, Baby

02 Oct 02 - 01:02 AM (#795267)
Subject: Origins: 'i've been down harder, baby'
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

Kay, I'm really freaking out because I can't figure out the title or artist of a late eighties early nineties song that has an apparent sampling of a 60's-ish song in it with the lyrics "I've been down harder, baby" (sung by an older black man, I believe) The only help I can give is another line of the song that is something like "Ma Theresa's joined the mob and happy with her full time job". The lead singer sounds like a young, white, late eighties boy.    Help, it's driving me crazy. e-mail [e-mail]

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02 Oct 02 - 07:37 AM (#795384)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'i've been down harder, baby'
From: Dave Bryant

A remark made by Monica Lewinsky to Bill Clinton ?

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02 Oct 02 - 09:29 AM (#795414)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'i've been down harder, baby'
From: GUEST,Sorcha

I didn't find anything with the "been down harder" phrase, but I did find this, Click here, with the "ma teresa's joined the mob" phrase. Looks like it might be 2 different songs you are looking for.

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10 Jul 08 - 02:54 PM (#2385934)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'i've been down harder, baby'
From: GUEST

well this thread is an age old, but for all, like me, who's in search.

check this link to listen:

http://www.last.fm/music/Primitive+Radio+Gods/?autostart=1

the band: Primitive Radio Gods
the song: Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand

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11 Jul 08 - 10:07 AM (#2386556)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'i've been down harder, baby'
From: GUEST,Whistle Stop

I'm not a regular poster around here any more, but I drop by occasionally. I couldn't have told you who did the song, but the sample was from B.B. King's Live At The Regal album (one of the greatest live blues albums ever, in my opinion). The song was "How Blue Can You Get," and the line is "I've been downhearted baby."

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27 Jan 09 - 01:08 PM (#2550261)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'i've been down harder, baby'
From: GUEST

its the song Standing Outside a Broken Phonebooth With Money in my Hand by the Primitive Radio Gods

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02 Sep 09 - 03:15 AM (#2714326)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'i've been down harder, baby'
From: GUEST

thanks everyone <3

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02 Sep 09 - 01:45 PM (#2714738)
Subject: RE: Origins: I've Been Down Harder, Baby
From: PoppaGator

When I saw the thread title, my first reaction was the same as Whistle Stop's: what the singer has been is "downhearted," not "down harder," as expressed in the opening line of BB King's very-well-known "How Blue Can You Get."

An obvious "mondegreen."

After opening and actually reading the thread, I learn that things are more complicated than that. It would seem that a group of white punks on dope (presumably ~ I know nothing about the Primitive Radio Gods and never heard, or heard of, their song) misheard the original lyric and then built a whole new song around the altered phrase. Interesting ~ a whole new avenue for inspiration in songwriting!

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