John Hiatt — Your Dad Did (live)
Album: Hiatt Comes Alive at BudokanAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 120
Length: 5:34
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Well the sun comes up and you stare your cup of coffee, yup
Right through the kitchen floor
You feel like hell so you might as well get out and sell
Your smart ass door to door
And the Mrs. wears her robe slightly undone
As your daughter dumps her oatmeal on your son
And you keep it hid
Just like your did
So you go to work just to watch some jerk
Pick up the perks
You were in line to get
And the guy that hired you just got fired,
Your job's expired
They just ain't told you yet
So you go and buy a brand new set of wheels
To show your family just how great you feel
Acting like a kid
Just like your dad did
And
You're a chip off the old block
Why does it come as such a shock
That every road up which you rock
Your dad already did
Yeah you've seen the old man's ghost
Come back as creamed chipped beef on toast
Now if you dont get your slice of the roast
You're gonna flip your lid
Just like your dad did, just like your dad did
Well the day was long now, supper's on
The thrill is gone
But something's taking place
Yeah the food is cold and your wife feels old
But all hands fold
As the two year old says grace
She says help the starving children to get well
But let my brother's hamster burn in hell
You love your wife and kids
Just like your dad did
Right through the kitchen floor
You feel like hell so you might as well get out and sell
Your smart ass door to door
And the Mrs. wears her robe slightly undone
As your daughter dumps her oatmeal on your son
And you keep it hid
Just like your did
So you go to work just to watch some jerk
Pick up the perks
You were in line to get
And the guy that hired you just got fired,
Your job's expired
They just ain't told you yet
So you go and buy a brand new set of wheels
To show your family just how great you feel
Acting like a kid
Just like your dad did
And
You're a chip off the old block
Why does it come as such a shock
That every road up which you rock
Your dad already did
Yeah you've seen the old man's ghost
Come back as creamed chipped beef on toast
Now if you dont get your slice of the roast
You're gonna flip your lid
Just like your dad did, just like your dad did
Well the day was long now, supper's on
The thrill is gone
But something's taking place
Yeah the food is cold and your wife feels old
But all hands fold
As the two year old says grace
She says help the starving children to get well
But let my brother's hamster burn in hell
You love your wife and kids
Just like your dad did
Comments (22)add comment
lowelltr wrote:
Live version gets an 8....album version gets a 10!
concur...and the album title gets a tip o the hat as well.
Typical Hiatt: clever!
aflanigan wrote:
The genius of this song is that most everyone who has kids can identify with it.
When you're young you can identify with songs about cars and pretty girls and wanting to have sex and finally doing it (well, unless your physicsgenius, anyway) but everybody's done songs about that. How many other songwriters tackle subjects like the utterly baffling, amazing and demoralizing moment when you realize you have become that thing you dreaded most as a youth: your parents? It's like listening to a really good standup comedian who can play a good rock hook to accompany his routine.
"...but let my brother's hamster burn in hell"!
That is indeed a punchline. And your comments sum up a lot of why I like John Hiatt. Lyrics that are clear and insightful about what it means to become a grown up... continually.
Rocky Raccoon, Boy Named Sue, Your Dad Did...
We've entered the Storytelling part of the evening.
And it's good.
Although I'd rather have the studio version of this song, the sound is awful here. The guitar is too loud and the vocals are too soft.
alaskaoe wrote:
That may be the worst album cover I have ever seen!
Right there with ya. Great music though.
This whole album is great. The Guilty Dogs are a tight backup unit.
Anyone who doesn't find that album cover hilarious doesn't appreciate rock history.
aflanigan wrote:
The genius of this song is that most everyone who has kids can identify with it.
Compare and contrast with "The Rest of the Dream" by the same artist.
Studio only a 10...Live 12 One of the only artists that "has you by the neck" when you see them live. Jagger is another.
aflanigan wrote:
The genius of this song is that most everyone who has kids can identify with it.
When you're young you can identify with songs about cars and pretty girls and wanting to have sex and finally doing it (well, unless your physicsgenius, anyway) but everybody's done songs about that. How many other songwriters tackle subjects like the utterly baffling, amazing and demoralizing moment when you realize you have become that thing you dreaded most as a youth: your parents? It's like listening to a really good standup comedian who can play a good rock hook to accompany his routine.
Hey! I'm proud of what my dad did and what he taught me. I know I learned to keep my garage cleaner than his.
That may be the worst album cover I have ever seen!
You know, I'm still not fond of his voice, and this song would've managed a higher rating from me had somebody else sang it, but I did just read the lyrics.
They're at first sad, but end rather sweetly, I think. Quite excellent.
uhm what can I say that sets this song apart from every other Hiatt song...nothing comes to mind
The genius of this song is that most everyone who has kids can identify with it.
When you're young you can identify with songs about cars and pretty girls and wanting to have sex and finally doing it (well, unless your physicsgenius, anyway) but everybody's done songs about that. How many other songwriters tackle subjects like the utterly baffling, amazing and demoralizing moment when you realize you have become that thing you dreaded most as a youth: your parents? It's like listening to a really good standup comedian who can play a good rock hook to accompany his routine.
LPCity wrote:
That's pretty cool that they let the counter workers at McDonalds listen to Radio Paradise.
Wow, that's the most ridiculous and insulting "come-back" I've read here.
physicsgenius wrote:
Boy, no kidding. This would normally be a song I wouldn't even look up from my work for, but that cover....cripes.
That's pretty cool that they let the counter workers at McDonalds listen to Radio Paradise.
stickers11 wrote:
Still don't get all the fuss over Hiatt....album cover drops it down to a "2".
Boy, no kidding. This would normally be a song I wouldn't even look up from my work for, but that cover....cripes.
You either "get it" or you don't. For me, this has always been one of my all time favorite John Hiatt songs. Maybe you have to be a parent to fully appreciate it, I don't know. Seeing JH this summer and hearing him perform this song live was perfection to my ears.
Still don't get all the fuss over Hiatt....album cover drops it down to a "2".
Live version gets an 8....album version gets a 10!
First time hearing the live version. Like the punched up sound.
The level John operates at is impressive! Amazing live, too.