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Garden Party Lyrics
I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same
CHORUS
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
'n' over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise
CHORUS
lott-in-dah-dah-dah, lot-in-dah-dah-dah
Played them all the old songs, thought that's why they came
No one heard the music, we didn't look the same
I said hello to "Mary Lou", she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave
CHORUS
lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
lot-in-dah-dah-dah
Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck
CHORUS
lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
lot-in-dah-dah-dah
'n' it's all right now, learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
'n' over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise
No one heard the music, we didn't look the same
I said hello to "Mary Lou", she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave
lot-in-dah-dah-dah
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck
lot-in-dah-dah-dah
You see, ya can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself
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Yeah. It's about the time when he was at an oldies revival at Madison Square Gardens. He thought he got booed off the stage for Bob Dylan songs, but according to the guiatarist, two idiots in the audience got drunk, started a fight, and the audience was booing the drunks.
The "Garden Party" was a rock 'n roll revival in October of 1971 Rick was invited to participate in along with other '50's legends like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino - held at New York's Madison Square Garden. Rick's hair was shoulder-length and the audience did not recognize him ("No one recognized me - I didn't look the same"). Instead of doing "true" versions of his oldies hits, he did country/rock flavored remakes of them (Garden Party mentions "Hello Mary Lou") along with his new material from that time. This led to him being booed off the stage during his cover version of the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman", ("when I sang about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave"). Two former Beatles, John Lennon
I've liked this song for a long time (since it debuted). But it seems to me the lyrics are contradictory in two key places and that muddles the intended meaning. It begins by saying he went to "reminisce... share old memories and play our songs again" and ends by saying "if memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck." So, what, exactly, is his beef -- not being appreciated for playing his old songs or being expected to play them? Just doesn't make sense to me.
@stonesroller
@stonesroller
This has always bothered me also. I might finally understand though. He went to the concert to play the old songs, but the crowd wasn't buying it because he "didn't look the same." It didn't feel the same. So he played some new stuff and they didn't like that either. So at the end he's saying good-bye to the old songs. Tried playing them and it didn't work, so moving on. Maybe?
This has always bothered me also. I might finally understand though. He went to the concert to play the old songs, but the crowd wasn't buying it because he "didn't look the same." It didn't feel the same. So he played some new stuff and they didn't like that either. So at the end he's saying good-bye to the old songs. Tried playing them and it didn't work, so moving on. Maybe?
Yeah. It's about the time when he was at an oldies revival at Madison Square Gardens. He thought he got booed off the stage for Bob Dylan songs, but according to the guiatarist, two idiots in the audience got drunk, started a fight, and the audience was booing the drunks.
I like how this song makes reference to Howard Hughes, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono. In addition, I read that the crowd’s booing was at some police action in the rear of the crowd.
Actually, the Mr. Hughes reference isn't to Howard Hughes at all. "Mr. Hughes" was a name often used by Rick's good friend and neighbor, George Harrison. Harrison, also close friends with Bob Dylan, himself a lifelong fan of Nelson's, attended the concert wearing his customary disguise that, on the evening in question, included a borrowed pair of Bob Dylan's shoes.
A great song no matter how it's sliced and diced.
Actually, the Mr. Hughes reference isn't to Howard Hughes at all. "Mr. Hughes" was a name often used by Rick's good friend and neighbor, George Harrison. Harrison, also close friends with Bob Dylan, himself a lifelong fan of Nelson's, attended the concert wearing his customary disguise that, on the evening in question, included a borrowed pair of Bob Dylan's shoes.
A great song no matter how it's sliced and diced.
He got a jab at Elvis at the end of the song.
Lyric: If "Memories" were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck.
As - if Elvis couldn't record the cool rockabilly stuff, he should go back to driving a truck (as he did before hitting the big-time.)
Pretty good song. I've heard it a few times and I hear it has some hidden meanings like American Pie. Does anyone know them?
Someone told me that Ricky Nelson had become a long-haired hippy freak during the 70's and got into hard rock music. A look and music that didn't really fit him. He played a concert (Madison Square Garden?) where he mixed his new hard rock music in with his past music and the crowd didn't buy into it, they only wanted to hear his hits. He DID get booed and he was shook by it. This song was in response to this traumatic event in his life.
Someone told me that Ricky Nelson had become a long-haired hippy freak during the 70's and got into hard rock music. A look and music that didn't really fit him. He played a concert (Madison Square Garden?) where he mixed his new hard rock music in with his past music and the crowd didn't buy into it, they only wanted to hear his hits. He DID get booed and he was shook by it. This song was in response to this traumatic event in his life.
Pretty good song. I've heard it a few times and I hear it has some hidden meanings like American Pie. Does anyone know them?
One other thing... I swear I remember hearing a long time ago (in the 70s) that Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" is about Ricky Nelson and somewhat of a response to Garden Party. But I don't find anything online about that. Thoughts?
@stonesroller No - Warren Beatty was the target for that....
@stonesroller No - Warren Beatty was the target for that....
@stonesroller
@stonesroller
@stonesroller I heard James Taylor was the target
@stonesroller I heard James Taylor was the target
@stonesroller You're So Vain was about James Taylor. He was living with Carly & he dumped her. Thus the line, 'you gave away the things you loved And one of them was me.'
@stonesroller You're So Vain was about James Taylor. He was living with Carly & he dumped her. Thus the line, 'you gave away the things you loved And one of them was me.'
The "Garden Party" was a rock 'n roll revival in October of 1971 Rick was invited to participate in along with other '50's legends like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino - held at New York's Madison Square Garden. Rick's hair was shoulder-length and the audience did not recognize him ("No one recognized me - I didn't look the same"). Instead of doing "true" versions of his oldies hits, he did country/rock flavored remakes of them (Garden Party mentions "Hello Mary Lou") along with his new material from that time. This led to him being booed off the stage during his cover version of the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman", ("when I sang about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave"). Two former Beatles, John Lennon and George Harrison who was Nelson
s neighbor when he refers to Mr Hughes it was about George who was going to do a cover of Dylan songs and when he says Yoko brought her walrus it was John Lennon and at the end when he refers to driving a truck thats how Elvis was discovered driving a truck he was meaning going to drive a truck I found an interview where he explains it all he said if they cant listen to the new stuff he did`nt want to play the old ones