What Are Words For? (7/1)

[Railyn]

I've been missing George Harrison lately.

I grew up listening to his music, and then continued to enjoy him as I got older, and eagerly awaited each new release.

I was overjoyed when he teamed up with some of my very favorite people to record an album. It proved to be elusive in this area, until I finally managed to track down a copy of the cd a few years back. Too broke to buy it, my mother-in-law generously made it my birthday present, and it is the jewel of my cd collection.

Besides, I figure H2 should come down gently off his Orbison high from last night.

HANDLE WITH CARE
By: The Traveling Wilburys
Album: The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
Author: (the album lists them as Wilburys, not by their real name, so I'm not 100% sure on this one)


Been beat up and battered 'round
Been sent up, and I've been shot down
You're the best thing that I've ever found
Handle me with care

Reputations changeable
Situations tolerable
Baby, you're adorable
Handle me with care

I'm so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won't you show me that you really care

Everybody's got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine, and dream on

I've been fobbed off, and I've been fooled
I've been robbed and ridiculed
In day care centers and night schools
Handle me with care

Been stuck in airports, terrorized
Sent to meetings, hypnotized
Overexposed, commercialized
Hand me with care

I'm so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won't you show me that you really care

Everybody's got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine, and dream on

I've been uptight and made a mess
But I'll clean it up myself, I guess
Oh, the sweet smell of success
Handle me with care

My Opinion In A Nutshell: I tend to overanalyze things, but this one always seemed more to me to be about the music business than anything else. Most of these guys were advanced in their careers, and most of them had been subject to a lot of what the song talks about.

Favorite Line: "I've been uptight and made a mess but I'll clean it up myself, I guess. Oh, the sweet smell of success."

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Not really any comments on the lyrics, but for that first album, George and Jeff did the writing, and George was Nelson and I believe Jeff was Otis.

BTW-I love that lyric you quoted too!

[Railyn]

SAT-The said:

Not really any comments on the lyrics, but for that first album, George and Jeff did the writing, and George was Nelson and I believe Jeff was Otis.

BTW-I love that lyric you quoted too!

Thanks Sat! The cd just says (insert name here) Wilbury - guitar and vocals. Well that could be any one of them. ;D

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Railyn said:

Thanks Sat! The cd just says (insert name here) Wilbury - guitar and vocals. Well that could be any one of them. ;D

I think I figured it out one day, plus my buddy had a poster where their Wilbury names were beneath each guy.

[m c dornan]

"everybody's got somebody to lean on
put your body next to mine,and dream on"

sounds like it might have been influenced by the Stones' "Let It Bleed".

"Sweet Smell of Success" comes from a great 1957 movie with Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster.

The song seems undecided if he needs someone to lean on, or will take care of things himself. That could be deliberate ambivalence,of course.

[Dawn]

These are definitely the words of someone who's seen some difficult times. As you suggest, the lyrics do seem to make references to the music business. I know George experienced some low points in his music career when some of his albums were critically panned and failed to sell well. It sounds like although he's resigned to turning things around himself, he'd still welcome some support along the way.

[Railyn]

m said:

"everybody's got somebody to lean on
put your body next to mine,and dream on"

sounds like it might have been influenced by the Stones' "Let It Bleed".

"Sweet Smell of Success" comes from a great 1957 movie with Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster.

The song seems undecided if he needs someone to lean on, or will take care of things himself. That could be deliberate ambivalence,of course.

You're right. I never made that connection between this and "Let It Bleed". And I call myself a Stones fan......

[Railyn]

SAT-The said:

I think I figured it out one day, plus my buddy had a poster where their Wilbury names were beneath each guy.

That would be a way cool poster. I'll have to keep my eyes out - those things get reprinted every so often. I just got a cool Ramones one, where it looks like a wanted poster.

[Railyn]

Dawn said:

These are definitely the words of someone who's seen some difficult times. As you suggest, the lyrics do seem to make references to the music business. I know George experienced some low points in his music career when some of his albums were critically panned and failed to sell well. It sounds like although he's resigned to turning things around himself, he'd still welcome some support along the way.

I just never thought of it as a love type song, I always thought it was trying to say more. All the guys in that group (Lynne, Petty, Dylan, Harrison) with the exception of possibly Orbison had been nailed over the years. Their other hit, End Of The Line, almost has an ambivelent tone to it, like you can say whatever you want, but they're happy where they are, and are in for the long haul.

[H2IZCOOL]

Hi Railyn.

Saw this yesterday morning, got busy and plum forgot to answer it. (It happens a lot at my age

It may be my favorite Wilburys song.

When I listen to lyrics I never assume that they are personal. A singer is an actor and can assume any role. So I'm not convinced that the lyrics come from personal experience, so I don't necessarily buy into the music business thing (although that analysis is certainly valid). I think it's more generic. Everybody gets knocked down. Everybody needs a friend, etc.

One other comment: I don't know who actually wrote the lyrics, but to me they have Dylan all over them.

Oh, and thanks for the Orbison connection. Cold turkey was tough.

[Railyn]

H2IZCOOL said:

Hi Railyn.

Saw this yesterday morning, got busy and plum forgot to answer it. (It happens a lot at my age

It may be my favorite Wilburys song.

When I listen to lyrics I never assume that they are personal. A singer is an actor and can assume any role. So I'm not convinced that the lyrics come from personal experience, so I don't necessarily buy into the music business thing (although that analysis is certainly valid). I think it's more generic. Everybody gets knocked down. Everybody needs a friend, etc.

One other comment: I don't know who actually wrote the lyrics, but to me they have Dylan all over them.

Oh, and thanks for the Orbison connection. Cold turkey was tough.

That's ok H2. You and my mom are roughly the same age, and it happens to her alot. I keep telling her I'm gonna get her a hearing aid for her birthday.

I generally don't assume that about lyrics either, unless I know that the artist is what they deem a singer/songwriter, as all these guys were. Many years of seeing them on tv (or on Storytellers or By Request or Live At The Record Plant) has convinced me that they draw on life experience for inspiration, but as you said, it may not be. I'm just so used to "When I was living in my rundown apartment, I had a neighbor who......and that's how I came up with this song".