Who's heard Little Richard sing "Shake a Hand"?

A Tex/Mex group out of Texas. I came across them around twenty years ago on NPR.
A lovely young voice was reviewing them and their first album. Every word she spoke deepen my appreciation and understanding of their music.

Then she hit me with "angel" And I never saw more clearly into a life not my own.




He drew tatoos for his friends
They'd sit around and get real stoned
And he fought with guys twice his size
So he wouldn't feel so alone

Angel
They said it was a shame
Angel
They loved him just the same
Angel
They shut him out
They said you had a mean streak in your heart

He had the virgin on his back
And one that said I love you
And he never learned to read or write
I guess he figured what's the use

Angel
They said it was a shame
Angel
They loved him just the same
Angel
They shut him out
They said you had a mean streak in your heart

Well I'd rather die standing
Than to live on my knees
And with the way things go
I might not make seventeen

Angel
They said it was a shame
Angel
They loved him just the same
Angel
They shut him out
They said you had a mean streak in your heart

[repeat]
 
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Another kind of love one lived in in a loveless world of harsh realities.



My girlfriend has a job down at the local cafe
Serving hotcakes 'n coffee 'n fried eggs every day
Some people are cool but some are rude
They do nothing but complain
Then my baby comes home and she drives me insane

My girlfriend is a waitress
My girlfriend is a waitress
Treat her right
My girlfriend is a waitress
My girlfriend is a waitress
I love her and I'm gonna pick her up from work tonight

The money that she makes doesn't go too far
She's got to split it up with the guy behind the bar
The regulars get on her nerves
They treat her like a slave
The kitchen's always yellin' at her baby come and get this plate

My girlfriend is a waitress
My girlfriend is a waitress
Treat her right
My girlfriend is a waitress
My girlfriend is a waitress
I love her and I'm gonna pick her up from work tonight

If I had a million dollars I tell you just what I'd do
I'd buy a '66 Fury in your favorite color baby blue
I'd tell your boss that you quit your job
I'd tell him where to go
And then we'd drive south honey and we'd head down to Mexico

My girlfriend is a waitress
My girlfriend is a waitress
Treat her right
My girlfriend is a waitress
My girlfriend is a waitress
I love her and I'm gonna pick her up from work tonight
 
If your into Saxophone, this one is for you.



He walked the street to the corner liquor store
Got some cigarettes and wine and he backed out the door
It didn't work out quite like he thought it would
Now he's back page news down in the neighborhood

And it's boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
Boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long

She's up late staring at the TV all alone
Got the front light on for a man who ain't coming home
Baby in the bedroom starts to cry
The sound of the street is her only lullaby

And it's boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
Boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long

Downtown, Uptown, cruisin' for a thrill
Nothin' to lose and a whole lotta time to kill
She's up late staring at the TV all alone
Got the front light on for a man who ain't coming home

And it's boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
Boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
 
The first I heard of or from John. I felt like i watching a man in a street fight, trying to stop the violence.




Perfectly Good Guitar
John Hiatt
Well, he threw one down from the top of the stairs
Beautiful women were standing everywhere
They all got wet when he smashed that thing
But off in the dark you could hear somebody sing:
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
It started back in 1963
His momma wouldn't buy him that new red Harmony
He settled for a sun-burnt with a crack
But he's still trying to break his mama's back
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
He loved that guitar just like a girlfriend
But every good thing comes to an end
Now he just sits in his room all day
Whistling every note he used to play
There ought to be a law with no bail
Smash a guitar, and you go to jail
With no chance for early parole
You don't get out till you get some soul
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
Late at night, the end of the road
He wished he still had the old guitar to hold
He'd rock it like a baby in his arms
Never let it come to any harm
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Hiatt
Perfectly Good Guitar lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
 
Daniel~ said:
If your into Saxophone, this one is for you.



He walked the street to the corner liquor store
Got some cigarettes and wine and he backed out the door
It didn't work out quite like he thought it would
Now he's back page news down in the neighborhood

And it's boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
Boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long

She's up late staring at the TV all alone
Got the front light on for a man who ain't coming home
Baby in the bedroom starts to cry
The sound of the street is her only lullaby

And it's boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
Boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long

Downtown, Uptown, cruisin' for a thrill
Nothin' to lose and a whole lotta time to kill
She's up late staring at the TV all alone
Got the front light on for a man who ain't coming home

And it's boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
Boom boom boom
Boom boom boom
Boom boom all night long
Click to expand...


Who knew a group named "The Iguanas" could be so good. It's been many decades since boom boom boom all night long
Featured in my life. Nice while it lasted!
 
Daniel~ said:
The first I heard of or from John. I felt like i watching a man in a street fight, trying to stop the violence.




Perfectly Good Guitar
John Hiatt
Well, he threw one down from the top of the stairs
Beautiful women were standing everywhere
They all got wet when he smashed that thing
But off in the dark you could hear somebody sing:
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
It started back in 1963
His momma wouldn't buy him that new red Harmony
He settled for a sun-burnt with a crack
But he's still trying to break his mama's back
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
He loved that guitar just like a girlfriend
But every good thing comes to an end
Now he just sits in his room all day
Whistling every note he used to play
There ought to be a law with no bail
Smash a guitar, and you go to jail
With no chance for early parole
You don't get out till you get some soul
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
Late at night, the end of the road
He wished he still had the old guitar to hold
He'd rock it like a baby in his arms
Never let it come to any harm
Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don't know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Hiatt
Perfectly Good Guitar lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Click to expand...



Great Song! Thank you for introducing me to this one!
 
Daniel~ said:
A Tex/Mex group out of Texas. I came across them around twenty years ago on NPR.
A lovely young voice was reviewing them and their first album. Every word she spoke deepen my appreciation and understanding of their music.

Then she hit me with "angel" And I never saw more clearly into a life not my own.




He drew tatoos for his friends
They'd sit around and get real stoned
And he fought with guys twice his size
So he wouldn't feel so alone

Angel
They said it was a shame
Angel
They loved him just the same
Angel
They shut him out
They said you had a mean streak in your heart

He had the virgin on his back
And one that said I love you
And he never learned to read or write
I guess he figured what's the use

Angel
They said it was a shame
Angel
They loved him just the same
Angel
They shut him out
They said you had a mean streak in your heart

Well I'd rather die standing
Than to live on my knees
And with the way things go
I might not make seventeen

Angel
They said it was a shame
Angel
They loved him just the same
Angel
They shut him out
They said you had a mean streak in your heart

[repeat]
Click to expand...


Quite a song. Oh for the days when NPR lived up to its name. They later started to starve it of money so the fat (is evil necessary to say?) cats slowly took it over and it became useless, at least to this non fat cat worshiper.
 
ThunderRd said:
Daniel, 'Perfectly Good Guitar' is one of my favorite John Hiatt tunes. Great choice!

We had a chat about Hiatt some time ago:
https://www.gamersonlinux.com/forum...hard-sing-shake-a-hand.2460/page-2#post-18739
Click to expand...
I remember! ":O}
If music is going to fight for anything...Music should fight for it's own instrumentality, The means by which Music reaches out to us.

But I have a confession to make, I was trying to lure you back into posting. Say! Your friends with Gizmo, maybe you could get him to post as well.

I appreciate that Kaitian can't post here as the English don't like music. But Thai's have a long history of producing some of this world's most amazing sounds...Gamalon...Did I get that right?

There! I hit three birds on one note!
 
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porporme said:
Thanks Daniel for explaining to me the error of my ways!

For you Heart fans (or Led Zeppelin fans) Here is one I listian to often. Warning-you will want to crank it up! It is just extraordinary.
Click to expand...

They rocked the house!
A house made for prestige,
men dressed in ribbons whose dignity forbade
outward shows of exaltation.
laughed as children do when their mothers sing. and their fathers dance.

Por por you have enriched us.
 
I saw her almost to drunk to stand in San Diego
she sang like a tortured angel
and burned in her own light.

 
I know she's your main squeeze por por, but I just had to see her again!
forgive me Bro ":O}

And look they her backup whistle! The little boy in me rejoices.
 
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The first few notes kinda leave me cold. Then that singular and amazing voice infuses those same notes with musical meaning. And yes this is an entire Album, you don't have to listen you can go outside and play! ":O}

 
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Pamela Kay or PK as we lovingly called her told me she wasn't altogether sure she knew what this song was saying, but it sure tied up a lot of loose ends for her. I concur

 
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