Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
On your lovin'
I want a girl with extensions in her hair
Bamboo earrings, at least two pair
A Fendi bag and a bad attitude
That's all I need to get me in a good mood
She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang
I love it when a woman ain't scared to do her thing
Standin' at the bus stop, suckin' on a lollipop
When she gets pumpin', it's hard to make the hottie stop
She likes to dance to the rap jam
She's sweet as brown sugar with the candied yams
Honey-coated complexion, using Camay
Let's hear it for the girl, she's from around the way
I need an around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me (she's the only one for me)
I need that an around the way girl
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Silky, milky, her smile is like sunshine
That's why I had to dedicate at least one rhyme
To all the cuties in the neighborhood
'Cause if I didn't tell you, then another brother would
You're sweet like sugar with your gangsta talk
Wanna eat you like a cookie when I see you walk
With your rayon, silk, or maybe even denim
It really doesn't matter as long as your in 'em (in 'em)
You can break hearts and manipulate minds
Or surrender, act tender, be gentle and kind
You always know what to say and do
Cold flip when you think your man is playing you
No cheap or petty, you're ready for loving
You're real independent, so your parents be buggin'
But if you ever need a place to stay
Come around my way
I need an around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me (she's the only one for me)
I need that an around the way girl
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Perm in your hair, or even a curly weave
With your New Edition Bobby Brown button on your sleeve
I tell you come here, you say, "Meet me halfway"
'Cause brothers been poppin' that yang all day
Around the way, you're like neighborhood jewel
All the homeboys sweat ya, so you're crazy cool
Wear your gold in the summer with your biking shorts
While your watchin' all the brothers on the basketball court
Goin' to the movies with your homegirl's crew
While the businessmen in suits be hawkin' you
Baby hair pumpin', lip gloss a-shinin'
I think you're in the mood for whinin' and dinin'
So we can go out and eat somewhere
We got a lot of private jokes to share
Lisa, Angela, Pamela, Renee
I love you, you're from around the way
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me (She's all I ever need)
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
Fine as can be (She's all I ever need)
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me she's the only one)
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
Fine as can be
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
On your lovin'
I want a girl with extensions in her hair
Bamboo earrings, at least two pair
A Fendi bag and a bad attitude
That's all I need to get me in a good mood
She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang
I love it when a woman ain't scared to do her thing
Standin' at the bus stop, suckin' on a lollipop
When she gets pumpin', it's hard to make the hottie stop
She likes to dance to the rap jam
She's sweet as brown sugar with the candied yams
Honey-coated complexion, using Camay
Let's hear it for the girl, she's from around the way
I need an around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me (she's the only one for me)
I need that an around the way girl
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Silky, milky, her smile is like sunshine
That's why I had to dedicate at least one rhyme
To all the cuties in the neighborhood
'Cause if I didn't tell you, then another brother would
You're sweet like sugar with your gangsta talk
Wanna eat you like a cookie when I see you walk
With your rayon, silk, or maybe even denim
It really doesn't matter as long as your in 'em (in 'em)
You can break hearts and manipulate minds
Or surrender, act tender, be gentle and kind
You always know what to say and do
Cold flip when you think your man is playing you
No cheap or petty, you're ready for loving
You're real independent, so your parents be buggin'
But if you ever need a place to stay
Come around my way
I need an around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me (she's the only one for me)
I need that an around the way girl
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Perm in your hair, or even a curly weave
With your New Edition Bobby Brown button on your sleeve
I tell you come here, you say, "Meet me halfway"
'Cause brothers been poppin' that yang all day
Around the way, you're like neighborhood jewel
All the homeboys sweat ya, so you're crazy cool
Wear your gold in the summer with your biking shorts
While your watchin' all the brothers on the basketball court
Goin' to the movies with your homegirl's crew
While the businessmen in suits be hawkin' you
Baby hair pumpin', lip gloss a-shinin'
I think you're in the mood for whinin' and dinin'
So we can go out and eat somewhere
We got a lot of private jokes to share
Lisa, Angela, Pamela, Renee
I love you, you're from around the way
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me (She's all I ever need)
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
Fine as can be (She's all I ever need)
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
That's the one for me she's the only one)
I need that around the way girl (around the way girl)
Fine as can be
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
Ya gotta shook up, shook down, shook up
You got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your lovin'
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
ABSOLUTELY his best. He used to do Old School of course. "Dear Yvette" and "Rock the Bells." Pretty Hard. If you read between the lines of RTWG-it's actually pretty Hard, too in it's own way.