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The Living Bubba Lyrics
I wake up tired and I wake up pissed
wonder how I ended up like this
I wonder why things happen like they do
but I don't wonder long 'cause I got a show to do
I'm sick at my stomach from the AZT
Broke at my bank 'cause that shit ain't free
but I'm here to stay (at least another week or two)
I can't die now 'cause I got another show to do
Don't give me no pity, don't give me no grief
Wait 'till I die for sympathy
Just help me with this amp and a guitar or two
I can't die now 'cause I got another show to do
Don't give me no preachin', no self-servin'
I ain't no angel but nobody's deservin'
I can dance on my own grave, Thank you!
but I can't die now 'cause I got another show...
Some people keep saying I can't last long
but I got my bands, I got my songs
liquor, beer, and nicotine to help me along
and I'm drunk and stubborn as they come
chain-smoking, guitar-picking, 'till I'm gone
I ain't got no political agenda
Ain't got no message for the youth of America,
'cept "Wear a rubber and be careful who you screw!"
and come see me next Friday 'cause I got another show...
Some people stop living long before they die
Work a dead end job just to scrape on by
but I keep living just to bend that note in two
and I can't die now 'cause I got another show...
wonder how I ended up like this
I wonder why things happen like they do
but I don't wonder long 'cause I got a show to do
Broke at my bank 'cause that shit ain't free
but I'm here to stay (at least another week or two)
I can't die now 'cause I got another show to do
Wait 'till I die for sympathy
Just help me with this amp and a guitar or two
I can't die now 'cause I got another show to do
I ain't no angel but nobody's deservin'
I can dance on my own grave, Thank you!
but I can't die now 'cause I got another show...
but I got my bands, I got my songs
liquor, beer, and nicotine to help me along
and I'm drunk and stubborn as they come
chain-smoking, guitar-picking, 'till I'm gone
Ain't got no message for the youth of America,
'cept "Wear a rubber and be careful who you screw!"
and come see me next Friday 'cause I got another show...
Work a dead end job just to scrape on by
but I keep living just to bend that note in two
and I can't die now 'cause I got another show...
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No argument that the song is about Smalley, but what makes the song great is that it isn't just about Smalley. It could have turned into just a story song about one guy (and yeah, the story's all there), but there's plenty of other stuff in here that keeps me coming back to it... The story of the starving artist just doing whatever he has to do in support of that art; the idea that feeling sorry for yourself is just a waste of time; and, of course: "some people stop living well before they die... ... and I got another show to do..."
Damn great tune - anyone in the band HIV (+) or is it bout someone else?
Wow - its all here:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2003/06/the-living-bubba.html
Great story
Excellent song. Love hearing this live on the Live from Austin and the dirt Underneath Albums.
"I can dance on my own grave, Thank you!" - Love that line, Think I may get it tattooed on my body somewhere.
This song is about Greg Smalley - I'm sure the link above explains but I can't open it for some reason. My understanding of Smalley is that he was a fantastic guitar player who was in many bands. He was diagnosed with HIV (AZT is a HIV+ Drug) and spent his last few years doing almost a show a night in the hope (as Paterson Hood explains on the Dirt Underneath CD) that doing what he loves might make him live a little longer, or at least a little better.
Here is the link to that Paste article. Love Patterson! http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2003/06/the-living-bubba.html