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Riot Act Lyrics
Forever doesn't mean forever anymore
I said forever
But it doesn't look like I'm gonna be around much anymore
When the heat gets sub-tropical
And the talk gets so topical
Riot act - you can read me the riot act
You can make me a matter of fact
Or a villain in a million
A slip of the tongue is gonna keep me civilian
Why do you talk such stupid nonsense
When my mind could rest much easier
Instead of all this dumb dumb insolence
I would be happier with amnesia
They say forget her
Now it looks like you're either gonna be for me or against me
I got your letter
Now they say I don't care for the colour that it paints me
Trying to be so bad is bad enough
Don't make me laugh by talking tough
Don't put your heart out on your sleeve
When your remarks are off the cuff
Chorus
I said forever
But it doesn't look like I'm gonna be around much anymore
When the heat gets sub-tropical
And the talk gets so topical
Riot act - you can read me the riot act
You can make me a matter of fact
Or a villain in a million
A slip of the tongue is gonna keep me civilian
When my mind could rest much easier
Instead of all this dumb dumb insolence
I would be happier with amnesia
Now it looks like you're either gonna be for me or against me
I got your letter
Now they say I don't care for the colour that it paints me
Trying to be so bad is bad enough
Don't make me laugh by talking tough
Don't put your heart out on your sleeve
When your remarks are off the cuff
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the song refers to the incident in which Elvis drunkenly called Ray Charles a "blind, ignorant nigger" while fighting with Stephen Stills and his entourage. That "slip of the tongue" cast him as a "villain," unfairly to some extent. Ray accepted his apology so I'm pretty sure it's all good. Plus it inspired Elvis to record an album full of soul-driven songs like this one, so +1
@chowfun18 Fantastic finish to a superb album.
@chowfun18 Fantastic finish to a superb album.
This song is about a bad argument.
When the heat gets subtropical When the talk gets so topical
the heat is getting hot and the talk is getting hot too.
When you listen, be sure to keep a historical take on the concept of a "riot act" in mind.
The context is one of civil discord where elites just pull legal rank on aggrieved lower-class parties. Those parties feel driven to the expedient of violent revolt, and the elites just effectively say, "OK, now you're just breaking the law. Disperse."
A "riot act" is an intense concept! Imagine how intense it feels when it's living history for you!