THE SATURDAY SONG

[Ruby]

When I listen to music, lyrics are often secondary in terms of first impressions. However, some tend to stand out immediately, and they don’t necessarily have to be deep and meaningful – quite the reverse! There are many storytelling epics, of course, of the more serious persuasion, but I’ve been in the mood for a bit of silliness this past week (go figure) so rambling fables such as “Alice’s Restaurant” (a very old chestnut, I realise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaKIX6oaSLs), "Don't Try to Lay No Boogie-Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll" (the Long John Baldry version with the “Conditional Discharge” intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj_lZ4hkJd8), and ELP’s swashbuckling “Pirates” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaKIX6oaSLs) have all come in for a listening.

By self-imposition, though, I have to pick just one and I also happen to have been listening to a Jim Croce compilation. A master of the craft – even metalheads agree – the man could spin one helluva yarn! He and Maury's deaths remain a huge tragedy IMHO. And what I now know to be his debut single always makes me grin, despite the somewhat gruesome fate of the main protagonist! I just love the chorus – it’s so delightfully nuts, and besides, not spitting into the wind is such great advice! LOL! So here you go – a cautionary tale - “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” … brilliant, infectious stuff.