The Ballad Of El Goodo Lyrics
And I've been trying hard against unbelievable odds
It gets so hard in times like now to hold on
But guns they wait to be stuck by, at my side is God
Ain't no one goin' to turn me 'round
And places where they send you, and it's easy to go
They'll zip you up and dress you down and stand you in a row
But you know you don't have to, you can just say "no"
But they'll get theirs and we will get ours if you can
Just-a hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
But I've been trying hard against strong odds
It gets so hard at times like now to hold on
Well, I'll fall if I don't fight, and at my side is God
The second verse spells it out. The song's about surviving as an artist, believing in one's self, and not succumbing to working a routine 9 to 5 job, which is safe and easy.
hippie folk rock ? not only is that an awkward coinage, it only barely describes parts of the first record.
anyhow, people talk about how a major theme over all three big star albums is disillusion... well the poor narrator is gonna be disappointed by religion too.
@TheNipper Well, he never mentions religion, just God. Not the same thing, and this time he won't be disappointed.
@TheNipper Well, he never mentions religion, just God. Not the same thing, and this time he won't be disappointed.
I see the song as definitely having many themes of disillusionment, as well as possibly being about falling out of touch with and tiring of society. God I love it. One of my favorites by Big Star.
Aside from whatever Chilton mean with it, this song can apply to several things. Vietnam, disillusionment, depression. It is the depression idea that connects with me the most.
"Years ago my heart was set to live but I've been fighting hard against unbelievable odds" and there are lots of people who tell a depressed person how they can overcome it, how they should act, what they should do. Almost every line can relate to depression and the ongoing fight.
Hold on I'll fall if I don't fight etc
i love love love this song. evan dando did a cover which is on the Empire Records Soundtrack, which i loved and looked up which led me to Big Star. Their hippie folk rock sound is so unique and amazing.
Great song... now can somebody correct the misspelling of the title?
Funny. Sad. Anti-war. Anti-draft. And even anti-religious. You have choices, but you don't really. Beautiful song. A lot of depth from some young thoughtful guys from Memphis.
This is one of those songs I wouldn't have fully understood years ago, but now I see it's one of the many songs about the end times we're experiencing now. It's about staying true to your righteous ideals and not just doing what the powers-that-be expect of you, so that you'll survive to make it to the golden age that lies beyond this sad existence. Because it really is true that good that will ultimately prevail over evil.
Wow interesting that no one has commented on this one. It's a song that's about someone that is drafted into the military, but still trying to retain their independence.