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Fat Man In The Bathtub Lyrics
Spotcheck Billy got down on his hands and knees
He said "Hey momma, hey let me check your oil all right?"
She said "No, no honey, not tonight
Comeback Monday, comeback Tuesday, then I might."
I said Juanita, my sweet Juanita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
I said Juanita, my sweet chiquita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
Don't want nobody who won't dive for dimes
Don't want no speedballs 'cause I might die tryin'
Throw me a line, throw me a line
'Cause there's a fat man in the bathtub with the blues
I hear you moan, I hear you moan, I hear you moan
Billy got so sad, dejected, put on his hat and start to run
Runnin' down the street yellin' at the top of his lungs
All I want in this life of mine is some good clean fun
All I want in this life and time is some hit and run
I said Juanita, my sweet Juanita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
I said Juanita, my sweet chiquita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
Put my money in your meter baby so it won't run down
But you caught me in the squeeze play on the cheesy side of town
Throw me a lime, throw me a line
'Cause there's a fat man in the bathtub with the blues
I hear you moan, I hear you moan, I hear you moan
He said "Hey momma, hey let me check your oil all right?"
She said "No, no honey, not tonight
Comeback Monday, comeback Tuesday, then I might."
I said Juanita, my sweet Juanita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
I said Juanita, my sweet chiquita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
Don't want nobody who won't dive for dimes
Don't want no speedballs 'cause I might die tryin'
Throw me a line, throw me a line
'Cause there's a fat man in the bathtub with the blues
I hear you moan, I hear you moan, I hear you moan
Billy got so sad, dejected, put on his hat and start to run
Runnin' down the street yellin' at the top of his lungs
All I want in this life of mine is some good clean fun
All I want in this life and time is some hit and run
I said Juanita, my sweet Juanita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
I said Juanita, my sweet chiquita, what are you up to?
My Juanita
Put my money in your meter baby so it won't run down
But you caught me in the squeeze play on the cheesy side of town
Throw me a lime, throw me a line
'Cause there's a fat man in the bathtub with the blues
I hear you moan, I hear you moan, I hear you moan
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Spotcheck Billy's a junkie who's in love with a prostitute - he's in a "squeeze play" on the "cheesy side of town" (i.e. he's in the quarter where the prostitutes and drug dealers ply their trade, and he only has enough cash in his pocket for one or the other.)
He'd rather spend his money on his favorite girl, who goes by the name "Juanita" - not only because he loves her, but also because he's concerned that his use of speedballs (a combination of heroin and cocaine) is endangering his life (regular use of speedballs often results in cardiac arrest).
"Juanita", however has another client this evening -- literally, an overweight man soaking in the bathtub of her rented-by-the-hour room.
One can imagine Billy standing in the hallway, "Juanita" with the door just cracked open, and telling him to go away, come back Monday or Tuesday (presumably the "slow nights" in the trade), she has a high-paying client with a bathing fetish and she doesn't need him hanging around, acting crazy and scaring him off.
Since Billy can't get time with his "Juanita" tonight he wants to save his money for Monday or Tuesday -- knowing that otherwise he'll just run out and blow it on speedballs that might just as likely kill him -- he's begging her to throw him a "dime" (a bag of weed) or a "line" of cocaine -- just enough to keep the monkey off his back for the night.
For me the killer line is "I hear you moan, I hear you moan, I hear you moan." That's Billy with his ear against the door listening to Juanita servicing her client for the evening.
Sexual jealousy, addiction, longing and love .. one of my all-time favorite songs and one of Little Feat's best.. check out the live version on "Waiting for Columbus". No doubt Lowell George was writing from personal experience .. what a talent. R.I.P.
@jivetolkin Wonderfully thorough explanation of both the story (which I already basically got) and all the terminology, which was a mystery to me. I loved Little Feat, and this is my favorite album.
@jivetolkin Wonderfully thorough explanation of both the story (which I already basically got) and all the terminology, which was a mystery to me. I loved Little Feat, and this is my favorite album.
In short, the tune is the ultimate ode to sexual frustration. The girl keeps putting him off and the tension builds. Definitely some drug stuff going on, too. George often referred to cocaine and 'dimes' seems to be one of his names for it. 'Don't want no speedballs' is also a drug reference indicating the protagonist prefers cocaine without concurrent heroin use. I'm pretty sure he deals it and Juanita is a prostitute. Best line: "All I want in this life and time is some hit and run!"
I first heard Little Feat when I was maybe 12 years old. I'm almost 40 now . . . and a couple of weeks ago I was singing along to this song and I realized this song is hysterically dirty!!!!!
'Let me check your oil, all right' is a euphemism for sex. As is 'putting money in your meter.'
"Fat man in a bathtub with the blues" is a really creative way to describe a woman's anatomy.
And "I hear you moan"; man, this song, especially with their female singer is just about as sultry as any song I've ever heard.
Questions:
What does dive for dimes mean?--Is that also sex? And a taquita?
no speedballs is refference to certain drugs he doesnt want to deal with.
no speedballs is refference to certain drugs he doesnt want to deal with.
through me a line through me a dime.
through me a line through me a dime.
a dime of weed clearly. he just wants a dime lol
a dime of weed clearly. he just wants a dime lol
diving for dimes im not quite sure. maybe hes just talking bout chipping in for a dime
diving for dimes im not quite sure. maybe hes just talking bout chipping in for a dime
im pretty sure dive for dimes means the girl bends over for rear insertion just like "check your oil" is another way of sayin let me use my $%@# like a dipstick on an engine
im pretty sure dive for dimes means the girl bends over for rear insertion just like "check your oil" is another way of sayin let me use my $%@# like a dipstick on an engine
I have a totally different first impression. This song is about jonesing during heroin detox. I have volunteered in a few rehabs while exploring if I wanted to get into psychiatry in med school (did biochem instead)
I have a totally different first impression. This song is about jonesing during heroin detox. I have volunteered in a few rehabs while exploring if I wanted to get into psychiatry in med school (did biochem instead)
Dime bag also can be a dime of heroin. He would like his girl to get him one. Speedballs are coke taken IV and can be mixed with heroin. But are much riskier. Hence not wanting to do it. Lowell was well known for his love of speedballs died at 34 of likely due to his addiction's toll on his body. http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2000/aug/30/artsfeatures...
Dime bag also can be a dime of heroin. He would like his girl to get him one. Speedballs are coke taken IV and can be mixed with heroin. But are much riskier. Hence not wanting to do it. Lowell was well known for his love of speedballs died at 34 of likely due to his addiction's toll on his body. http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2000/aug/30/artsfeatures
Addicts on heroin often refer to their drug as a beautiful woman they cannot resist and describe the attraction similarly to being horny, and to being high on heroin similar to orgasm.
Running down the street... also not uncommon for addicts who are detoxing and hallucinating.
There is a mix between referring to his drug partner as Juanita and his addiction as Juanita. The clever reference to oil and dipsticks could just as easily be blood and syringes. Heroin was a very popular theme of lyricists in the '70s and needed to be slightly disguised in allusions to avoid censorship on the radio, plus it was 'cool' to be creative in talking about it.
The bathtub or toilet is often where H addicts detox when they are broke or cannot get more and involuntarily detox. While detoxing H addicts often hallucinate of sexy women while "horny" for H. Moaning while detoxing is normal.
Toward the end Billy seems to be mixing references again, either Juanita wouldn't buy another dime bag because she wanted him to get clean, and was disappointied to find him in a shooting gallery "on the cheesy side of town" or she actually joined him on Tuesday after she did speedballs on her own on Monday.
Sex drugs and rock and roll. there seem to be more parts I can interpret easily as drugs than as referring to sex.
@dogmanstar well, i remember the expression "muff-diving" was very popular in my teen years, the 1970\'s...muff-diving means performing oral on a girl (diving down into her muff, get it?).....but in this context, its him, the singer, who is male, so the expression still works, \'cuz he wants her to dive (go down on him) for a dime- or dime-bag.....prolly coke, not weed....because then he says to "throw me a line, throw me a line"\r\n
@dogmanstar well, i remember the expression "muff-diving" was very popular in my teen years, the 1970\'s...muff-diving means performing oral on a girl (diving down into her muff, get it?).....but in this context, its him, the singer, who is male, so the expression still works, \'cuz he wants her to dive (go down on him) for a dime- or dime-bag.....prolly coke, not weed....because then he says to "throw me a line, throw me a line"\r\n
@dogmanstar well, i remember the expression "muff-diving" was very popular in my teen years, the 1970\'s...muff-diving means performing oral on a girl (diving down into her muff, get it?).....but in this context, its him, the singer, who is male, so the expression still works, \'cuz he wants her to dive (go down on him) for a dime- or dime-bag.....prolly coke, not weed....because then he says to "throw me a line, throw me a line"\r\n
@dogmanstar well, i remember the expression "muff-diving" was very popular in my teen years, the 1970\'s...muff-diving means performing oral on a girl (diving down into her muff, get it?).....but in this context, its him, the singer, who is male, so the expression still works, \'cuz he wants her to dive (go down on him) for a dime- or dime-bag.....prolly coke, not weed....because then he says to "throw me a line, throw me a line"\r\n
IMHO I find skidds intuitive reply very convincing. I would hope he/she will provide interpretation of othe rparts of the song. "Fat" is one. On line searches for its meaning with respect to drug addiction are ellusive.
"Fat Man In the Bathtub" is slang for a woman's clitoris.
Where did you hear or read this? I think that's a ludicrous statement.
Where did you hear or read this? I think that's a ludicrous statement.
This is information relayed directly to me from the band.
This is information relayed directly to me from the band.
First up I always heard it as chiquita - what does taquito mean and where did this come from?
I reckon it is possible to drop the drug references. I see the story like this: Billy is busy. He's in a hurry. He's pressed for time, squeezed between this spotcheck on Juanita and playing the cheesy side of town. He begs her for a quickie and is prepared to pay for the full time.
She says no; she doesn't like men who waste money like that. She says rushed sessions kill her, and asks him to come back when he has more time. She says she understands how Billy feels because she's ready too.
Billy sadly gets the message and has to rush off. As he does, he moans about how he just wanted a quick bit of fun with her and that he'd paid for the full time, he wanted was her to give him a break, especially as she was all ready.
This is cobbled from: Spotcheck meaning a person who pops up, quick etc. "But you caught me in the squeeze playin the cheesy side of town" shows he's trying to be in two place at the same time - he's caught in a hurry. He wanted some "Hit and Run".
"I put my money in your meter baby so it won't run down" - means he's paid her the full session, but she says she doesn't want anyone who "won't dive for dimes" (wastes money, even pennies), she likes to give her money's worth and she doesn't want any speed balls (quick parties) because she might die trying (perhaps if she's caught by her pimp or perhaps she'd have too many clients in one day, or perhaps quickies would bring her to an early grave etc), so he'd be better coming back Monday or Tuesday.
The fat man in the bathtub means both Billy sad in a tub at the end, and the reference to a ready clitoris as suggested elsewhere.
I do think it is about prostitution (money in meter, spotchecks etc), but I think it is NOT about drugs (all he wants is some good clean fun). What do y'all reckon to this?
Since Lowell George wrote many songs based upon his personal experiences (he was a drinker and cocaine user), your premise that this song is free from any drug references is simply not accurate. "Dimes" are ten dollar bags of any drug, and in the 1970s a dime of cocaine or heroin was enough to keep a person high for a while. As for speedballs, they are a mixture of cocaine and heroin, heated in a spoon, and injected intravenously. They were very popular in the 70s and early 80s and caused a great many drug deaths, including John Belushi's. Lowell...
Since Lowell George wrote many songs based upon his personal experiences (he was a drinker and cocaine user), your premise that this song is free from any drug references is simply not accurate. "Dimes" are ten dollar bags of any drug, and in the 1970s a dime of cocaine or heroin was enough to keep a person high for a while. As for speedballs, they are a mixture of cocaine and heroin, heated in a spoon, and injected intravenously. They were very popular in the 70s and early 80s and caused a great many drug deaths, including John Belushi's. Lowell George himself died from a mixture of alcohol and cocaine, with the alcohol being the depressant (as heroin is) and the coke being the stimulant--and so, sadly and ironically, Lowell did not heed Spotcheck Billy's words about not wanting to die from speedballs.
@PaulCarlaw Chaquita is a hip way to say "a sexy girl"....comes from the chaquita banana sticker, they still have on chiquita bananas........lowell grew up in 1950\'s, thats when that sticker started appearing on bananas.
@PaulCarlaw Chaquita is a hip way to say "a sexy girl"....comes from the chaquita banana sticker, they still have on chiquita bananas........lowell grew up in 1950\'s, thats when that sticker started appearing on bananas.
shes on the rag fat man in the bathtub dive for dimes is oral on a woman don't get me messed up speedball I might die tryin
Rambling and simplistic, this interpretation leaves much to be desired.
Rambling and simplistic, this interpretation leaves much to be desired.
Taquito="Little taco." Another reference to the vagina.
Although technically I think it's "Taquita" which preserves both the rhyme and the gender.
Although technically I think it's "Taquita" which preserves both the rhyme and the gender.
@Shapokliyak It's "chiquita", not "taquita". "My sweet chiquita", as in "my sweet little girl".
@Shapokliyak It's "chiquita", not "taquita". "My sweet chiquita", as in "my sweet little girl".
@Shapokliyak there is no such word in the spanish language as taquita. The word is chiquita which is a term of endearment meaning a small figured girl.
@Shapokliyak there is no such word in the spanish language as taquita. The word is chiquita which is a term of endearment meaning a small figured girl.
Guys, with tons of due respect I think you're overthinking this. Fat man in a bathtub, as one of the other posters has observed, refers to Juanita's clitoris. Problem is, she is on her period. That's why the fat man has the blues, and it's why she says "No, no honey, not tonight/ Comeback Monday, comeback Tuesday, then I might." It also may explain the "good clean fun" reference.
@crazychef your probably right, but then i didn\'t grow up where Lowell did, i am from new england....i remember in the \'60\'s alot of older black folk would refer to a "coochie" even up here in connecticut...never heard of "the fat man" mean clitorus....that\'s pretty far out, man!
@crazychef your probably right, but then i didn\'t grow up where Lowell did, i am from new england....i remember in the \'60\'s alot of older black folk would refer to a "coochie" even up here in connecticut...never heard of "the fat man" mean clitorus....that\'s pretty far out, man!
Plus, it's not 'cheesy' side of town, near the end. That's just stupid. It's >cheatin' side of town,< also obviously referring to where married men or men in relationships would go to have someone like Juanita on the side. I swear, some of you youngsters are pretty naive about this stuff! But now you're clued in.