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Tributary Otis Lyrics

Well I've traveled,
and I've seen the things I build, working
Workin' to bring me down
And I may be thirsty now
And I will go beyond this thirst
And my tears I cry for you will all go dry
So I lay down on the floor, turn on my radio
Come on River Otis make me cry

'Cause I've been out all night
And I had to give up the fight
So come on River Otis make me cry
Come on River Otis make me cry

Well I've fallen
But I have risen too in what I believe in
Now I see through
And you got thirsty too
So you come to my well
And the only thing you brought was your thousand yard stare
So I lay down on the floor, turn on my radio
Come on River Otis make me cry

'Cause I've been out all night
Still I had to give up the fight
So come on River Otis make me cry
Come on River Otis make me cry
Yeah make me cry

Well I've traveled
And I've seen the things I build working
Workin' to bring me down
Well I aint thirsty no more
I've gone beyond that thirst
And the tears I cried for you, all gone dry

YEAH- So I lay down on the floor
Turn on my radio
Come on River Otis make me cry
Cause I been out all night
Still I had to give up the fight

Now come on River Otis make me cry
Come on River Otis
Come on River Otis make me
Come on River Otis make me cry
YEAH make me cry
YEAH YEAH make me cry, cry
Come on River Otis
Come on River Otis
Come on River Otis make me
Come on River Otis
Come on River Otis
Make me try YEAH
Make me cry
Come on River Otis
Come on and make me cry
Try-try try try try
Yeah come on and make me cry
Song Info
Submitted by
rabidpenguin On Dec 13, 2001
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8 Meanings

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Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

This is one of my favorite (if not my very favorite) Refreshments songs. I'm also a big fan of the Gin Blossoms and miss the old 90's rock sound. Music today really sucks. That's why I leave cd's like the Refreshments and Gin Blossoms in my cd player and don't listen to the radio much at all.

Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

This song is a tribute to the late Doug Hopkins, who was in fellow AZ band Gin Blossoms. Several members of both bands formed Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers a few years ago.

Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

Classic song and tribute to Doug indeed! We need more hits on these songs. The Peacemakers are great too.

Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

I don't know about the other opinions here, but the Song says "River Otis" which is an Album by Dead Hot Workshop which is also mentioned in another Refreshments song. The song title is a Pun, Tributary Otis, Trubutary as in River, River as in River Otis.

Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

the song title isnt a pun, you fuck! a pun refers to a play on words using a subtle connection between the words to create a slightly ambiguous statement. by using the word "tributary" they are effectively using a synonym for the word "river." for example, if i said, "jack is wrong," then you said, "jack is incorrect," you wouldnt have just made a pun. you would be saying the exact same statement using a different word with the same meaning. a good example of a pun would be, "fighting global warming is cool," because global warming is not only a popular theme, but it also refers to heat. "cool" on the otherhand not only refers to social/cultural acceptance of what is hip, but also to how cold something is, thus making the subtle connection of words with an ambiguous meaning.

Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

There is a pun, though. Tributary Otis is a reference, to River Otis. But Dough Hopkins of Gin Blossoms used to perform under the name "Otis Del Monte." So it's also Tribute to Otis -> Tributary Otis

Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

I always thought this song was another tribute to Michael O'Hare.

I could have sworn Michael middle name was Otis.

Roger named his first born Otis...

Something to think about...

My Interpretation

I just happen to have purchased Michael O'Hare MG from when Michael O'Hare lived a my two brothers house on 18th street.

You know my brother Roger and my other brother who prefers anonymity.

;p

I'll personally ask Brian later what the song is truthfully about.

Cover art for Tributary Otis lyrics by Refreshments, The

Here is the real story--The Gin Blossoms were playing a show down in Tucson. Doug, Curtis (drummer for DHW), Brent (vocals/guitar for DHW), Roger (RCPM), and someone else were in a van together. Doug was smashed from the night before. They pulled over on the highway of the road to piss. Everyone except Doug was on the dirt side of the road but so they couldn't be as easily seen, sort of hiding behind the van. They were all commenting on the size of the wizz streams when between Curtis's legs comes a stream of piss. That quickly turned into a river of piss because Doug really needed to go. It was first called Tributary Otis but then became known as River Otis.

Both RCPM and DHW make references to their lost friend, Otis, in lyrics to several songs. DWH has a song called River Otis on their album 1001 and the Refreshments have this song, Tributary Otis.

Any of you remember Elvis the Cat? I was there for that one too.