Before The Show
I used to have a saying “Bad day. Great show”.
It’s a truism that makes sense if you’ve lived it but it’s also totally unsustainable.
I wrote this song about my friend Dan Bern. I told him so at the time, and I’m sure he knows that back in the 90’s he could be pretty intense before a show. I went from having him open for me to opening for him at lots of shows so I probably saw more of him before more great shows than any other artist, and most singer-songwriters I know have something like this going on.
But if you really want to know what this song is about, it’s my unrequited love for the Olympia band El Serioso.
Lyrics
Before The Show
Well,
if you wanna meet
Mr. Big
You
better not do it be-
fore his gig
’cause
if you do
he’ll
probably spill
his drink
all over you
before the show
Because he’s wound too tight
and hung too lose
Feelin’ the fall of the night
like it’s the weight of a noose
Yeah he
takes it all so
serious
He says the same thing about us
Oh but
if you must
really get to know him
ya better wait until after the show I’m
telling you
around quarter to
he’s less like Curly
and more like Moe
before the show
Y’see that
after shows are always better
or better yet just
send a letter
It pays
you know
the distance really does…
When he’s wound too tight
and hung too lose
Feelin’ the fall of the night
like it’s the weight of a noose
Yeah he
takes it all so
serious-oh
Yes he does
when he’s wound too tight
and hung too lose
Feelin’ the fall of the night
like it’s the weight of a noose
Yeah he
takes it all so
serious-oh
Yes he does…
when he’s
wound to tight
and hung to lose
Feelin’ the fall of the night
like it’s the weight of a noose
Yeah he
takes it all so serious
He says the same thing about us
He says the same thing about us
He says the same thing about us
before the show
Credits
Written by Andras Jones
Produced with Brian Schey & Colin Mahoney
Andras Jones – Vocals, Bass & Rhythm Guitar
Brian Schey – Twang Guitar
Bradford Hoopes – Keyboards
Colin Mahoney – Drums
Recorded at z,gwon’th Studio
October 1998
in Lawrence, Kansas
Purchase
$1.50