Sure, not every song has to be about drugs, but I think this one is. My take has always been that the guy in this song is a dope dealer. This is an opinion that I arrived at on my own and which it appears that a lot of other people arrived at independently as well, based on the lyrics. Someone who is obviously always on the move, in trouble with the law, near the lowest rung of society, "trying to keep the customer satisfied."
Sure, not every song has to be about drugs, but I think this one is. My take has always been that the guy in this song is a dope dealer. This is an opinion that I arrived at on my own and which it appears that a lot of other people arrived at independently as well, based on the lyrics. Someone who is obviously always on the move, in trouble with the law, near the lowest rung of society, "trying to keep the customer satisfied."
For those who balk at the thought of an "good boy" type who...
For those who balk at the thought of an "good boy" type who would be shocked at hearing "words I never heard in the Bible" also being a drug dealer, I thought that was half the charm of the song. That this sweet, earnest good boy-type is also be a dope dealer whose feelings are being hurt all the time and who just wants to be home at the end of the day is just weirdly charming and not inconceivable, especially for the time when this was written. People are contradictory and it was a contradictory time period (although are there any that aren't, really?)
For those who think it is actually about the business of being a songwriter and performer, I don't see why it can't be about that as well. It's hard not to try to apply this song to any job or experience in which you are working to please people with mixed results. Human condition: we all want to relate.
@degree7: Definite possibility. Any traveling salesman who doesn't belong in a small Southern town. The use of the term "boy" raises the possibility/likelihood that the salesman is black, but I suppose it could be used against whites, too.
@degree7: Definite possibility. Any traveling salesman who doesn't belong in a small Southern town. The use of the term "boy" raises the possibility/likelihood that the salesman is black, but I suppose it could be used against whites, too.
For christs sakes guys, not every song has to be about drugs.
It's obviously about a door to door salesmen.
Sure, not every song has to be about drugs, but I think this one is. My take has always been that the guy in this song is a dope dealer. This is an opinion that I arrived at on my own and which it appears that a lot of other people arrived at independently as well, based on the lyrics. Someone who is obviously always on the move, in trouble with the law, near the lowest rung of society, "trying to keep the customer satisfied."
Sure, not every song has to be about drugs, but I think this one is. My take has always been that the guy in this song is a dope dealer. This is an opinion that I arrived at on my own and which it appears that a lot of other people arrived at independently as well, based on the lyrics. Someone who is obviously always on the move, in trouble with the law, near the lowest rung of society, "trying to keep the customer satisfied."
For those who balk at the thought of an "good boy" type who...
For those who balk at the thought of an "good boy" type who would be shocked at hearing "words I never heard in the Bible" also being a drug dealer, I thought that was half the charm of the song. That this sweet, earnest good boy-type is also be a dope dealer whose feelings are being hurt all the time and who just wants to be home at the end of the day is just weirdly charming and not inconceivable, especially for the time when this was written. People are contradictory and it was a contradictory time period (although are there any that aren't, really?)
For those who think it is actually about the business of being a songwriter and performer, I don't see why it can't be about that as well. It's hard not to try to apply this song to any job or experience in which you are working to please people with mixed results. Human condition: we all want to relate.
@degree7: Definite possibility. Any traveling salesman who doesn't belong in a small Southern town. The use of the term "boy" raises the possibility/likelihood that the salesman is black, but I suppose it could be used against whites, too.
@degree7: Definite possibility. Any traveling salesman who doesn't belong in a small Southern town. The use of the term "boy" raises the possibility/likelihood that the salesman is black, but I suppose it could be used against whites, too.