Down On The Corner Lyrics
Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind.
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up.
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp.
Willy and the Poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.
Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while.
Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his kalamazoo.
Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo.
Willy and the Poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.
Willy and the Poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down?
Over on the corner there's a happy noise.
People come from all around to watch the magic boy.
Willy and the Poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.
Willy and the Poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.
Willy and the Poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.
Don't know what's supposedly going on in the courthouse, but I don't think that matters. In small American towns the Courthouse is usally the center of the community. Often times an outdoor concert for social gathering takes place on the courthouse steps. If you live in a city of more than say... 30,000 this notion might seem upsurd, but in rural America this is commonplace.
Like much of CCR this song exemplifies small town America and it's just local boys playing music over by the courthouse. A small crowd gathers and listens. That's all. It's not random lyrics... CCR is describing the scene and mood. Great song.
@defunct Hi fella... I am a brazilian CCRs follower and I have some dificults to understand some words. Ex. Whats a Kalamazzo ? I think is a kind of musical instrument.. Am I right ?
@defunct Hi fella... I am a brazilian CCRs follower and I have some dificults to understand some words. Ex. Whats a Kalamazzo ? I think is a kind of musical instrument.. Am I right ?
@defunct It’s probably a somewhat veiled reference to what actually might be a harmonica, since I highly doubt that CCR would playing a kazoo (which is more akin to a childhood toy than an actual musical instrument). If I’m not mistaken I believe Fogerty can be heard playing a harmonica somewhere in the middle of the song, Graveyard Train. So he clearly knows how to play one. Maybe the work ‘Kalamazoo’ just happened to fit better metrically or rhythmically in this song (DotC), than the word, ‘harmonica’.
@defunct It’s probably a somewhat veiled reference to what actually might be a harmonica, since I highly doubt that CCR would playing a kazoo (which is more akin to a childhood toy than an actual musical instrument). If I’m not mistaken I believe Fogerty can be heard playing a harmonica somewhere in the middle of the song, Graveyard Train. So he clearly knows how to play one. Maybe the work ‘Kalamazoo’ just happened to fit better metrically or rhythmically in this song (DotC), than the word, ‘harmonica’.
have to agree with everyone elses love of the song anyone every thought about the lines "Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind. Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up."? to me it always seemed like something just happened to someone in the courthouse wether they deserived it or not people are sad because of it and the band is trying to bring up peoples spirts. the whole song seems like they are trying to forget or to just get over what happened in the courthouse keep in mind all of the segregation and supreme court desisions that just happened when this song was writtin.
The Courthouse is only a place...The Band was playng near the Courthouse, I guess...
The Courthouse is only a place...The Band was playng near the Courthouse, I guess...
The Courthouse is only a place...The Band was playng near the Courthouse, I guess...
The Courthouse is only a place...The Band was playng near the Courthouse, I guess...
@jdog40 In a smaller town the courthouse is usually at the center of town. I'm picturing these kids playing at the courthouse square.
@jdog40 In a smaller town the courthouse is usually at the center of town. I'm picturing these kids playing at the courthouse square.
I don't really know what this song's about, but I love CCR's random, crazy lyrics...this song and Lookin' Out My Backdoor are my favorite CCR songs. I love the opening to this song too.
I think Down On The Corner is a simple but groovy good-time-music-song. I guess the meaning of this song is just "going back to the musical roots", because CCR were often playing Skiffle music before the time they got successful. And you can match the fictional musicians in the songtext to the Creedence musicians (Willy=John Fogerty, Poorboy=Tom Fogerty, Blinky=Stu Cook, Rooster=Doug Clifford)
Yes, Down on the Corner is nothing more than a "feel good" song built out of bullshit forced, artificial nostalgia. Gosh golly! remember the good ol' days when a penny or a nickel was actually worth something! And folks would make their own fun by just singing on the street corners! Guess what assholes - you never lived that and 99.9% of the people who love this song have never lived that so FUCK YOU old fogerty and your forced nostalgic BS.
Yes, Down on the Corner is nothing more than a "feel good" song built out of bullshit forced, artificial nostalgia. Gosh golly! remember the good ol' days when a penny or a nickel was actually worth something! And folks would make their own fun by just singing on the street corners! Guess what assholes - you never lived that and 99.9% of the people who love this song have never lived that so FUCK YOU old fogerty and your forced nostalgic BS.
This is my favorite CCR song of all time. :)
its a great song, i must agree
its a great song, i must agree
But what is it about? Is it just about a particular street musician group, nothing more?
Bring a nickel. A nickle refers to a nickle bag. Back in the 60's pot used to come in little match box covers. It cost $5.00 to buy.You don't need a penny(song really says-pinhead-) just to hang around. Besides rolling joints, people used to smoke reefer in a pipe with aluminum foil over the bowl and pin holes in the foil to allow the smoke to come through. Actually these lyrics aren't right
Bring a nickel. A nickle refers to a nickle bag. Back in the 60's pot used to come in little match box covers. It cost $5.00 to buy.You don't need a penny(song really says-pinhead-) just to hang around. Besides rolling joints, people used to smoke reefer in a pipe with aluminum foil over the bowl and pin holes in the foil to allow the smoke to come through. Actually these lyrics aren't right
vibgor8888
vibgor8888
THIS THE ABSOLUTE BEST CCR SONG aND ILL FIGHT YA IF YA THINK DIFFERENT
Ohhhh... you've really scared me!!
Ohhhh... you've really scared me!!
Creedence is fucking awesome.