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Julie Miller — Strange Lover
Album: Broken Things
Avg rating:
5.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 409









Released: 1999
Length: 5:00
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I got no use for what you say
I ain't your straight man no more today
Take your promise out with the trash
From now on boy we just take cash
The cows lay down when it's gonna rain
You come around and it's a hurricane
You say it's bad luck baby but I know it's cocaine
Blood is red money is green
Sugar is sweet and you are mean
You were my angel at the start
But your strange lover took away your heart
The cows lay down when it's gonna rain
What goes on in your head
You keep this up you'll be dead
Don't hit on me to put up your bail
You're better off right there in jail
Comments (59)add comment
 deepwoodskev wrote:
Brootal.

 
That voice..... 😩
Posted 6 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Brootal.
Posted 7 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
I hate this song. 
Posted 7 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
 bitbanger wrote:
Sounds like Dr. John singing harmony on this tune. Nice.

 
Or Steve Earle?
Posted 7 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Rickie Lee Jones...
Posted 7 years ago by sunnyinside    [ Reply ]
I wonder why Julie hasn't put out any solo work since this 1999 album?  I wish that she would!
Posted 7 years ago by mardisoninnc    [ Reply ]
Me likes.
Posted 8 years ago by old_shep    [ Reply ]
nah, it ain't cocaine. it's much worse. it's oxy.
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Dr. John singing harmony on this tune. Nice.
Posted 8 years ago by bitbanger    [ Reply ]
Probably not too many straight lines between this singer and the vocalist from Asteroids Galaxy Tour, but that's what I was hearing ... I like both, mind you.
Posted 8 years ago by gildflee    [ Reply ]
Mixed feelings about this one. I really like Julie's voice (except for that one line " You were my angel at the start
But your strange lover took away your heart"), and I don't think the male vocals really work well either. There were some lyrics missing on the Lyrics page:

I got no use for what you say
I ain't your straight man no more today
Take your promise out with the trash
From now on boy we just take cash Well the cows lay down when it's going to rain
When you come around it's a hurricane
You say it's bad luck baby but I know it's cocaine
It’s cocaine Blood is red money is green
Sugar’s sweet and you are mean
You were my angel at the start
But your strange lover took away your heart The cows lay down when it's going to rain
When you come around it’s a hurricane
You say it's bad luck baby but I know it's cocaine
It’s cocaine What goes on in your head
You keep this up you'll be dead
Don't hit on me to put up your bail
You're better off right there in jail Well the cows lay down when it's going to rain
When you come around it's a hurricane
You say it's bad luck baby but I know it's cocaine
It’s cocaine


Posted 8 years ago by DeAun    [ Reply ]
 ziakut wrote:
This song is slightly nauseating. Yet...I like it's uniqueness. Like a drunk date you can't stop thinking about.

 
Hahahahahaha! {#Rolleyes}
Posted 8 years ago by slickdh    [ Reply ]
This song is slightly nauseating. Yet...I like it's uniqueness. Like a drunk date you can't stop thinking about.
Posted 9 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Is this like Tom Waits in a skirt? I dunno but I can dig it.
Posted 9 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
I've never heard this before, but this is fantastic.
Posted 9 years ago by Shmelo    [ Reply ]
Brilliant
 
Posted 9 years ago by donnski    [ Reply ]
Very sultry voice.....very thumpin'
 
Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
 gatorade wrote:
Anything Julie Miller is worth a hard 8.
Count on RP to find these gems from  talented but otherwise only seldom heard artists.
This was a typically great segue following The Stones' Bitch today.



Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]

Wow this is different. It's also quite delightful apart from the refrain, which may well grow on me. So many potential influences to be listed here, but ultimately original - or does anyone know another song that this derives from?

Still, I haven't given any rating yet. I need more information!


Posted 10 years ago by 2020sk    [ Reply ]
 ciolca wrote:
This song sounds like a gang of depressed cats howling at the moon.

 

It just sounds so sloppy...
Posted 10 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
Anything Julie Miller is worth a hard 8.
Posted 10 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
This song sounds like a gang of depressed cats howling at the moon.
Posted 10 years ago by ciolca    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:
Not to be a prude, but songs about cocaine.....  {#Iamwithstupid}

 
You keep this up you'll be dead
Don't hit on me to put up your bail
You're better off right there in jail

Not really *about* cocaine.

This is a good album, btw. I see I've never rated this song, so let's say 7. 
Posted 10 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Kinda a Stones music with a country chick singing. Reminds me a bit of lets get naked by Joan Osborne.
Posted 11 years ago by robotbass    [ Reply ]
 oilydwarf wrote:
Average rating 5.5?  That's a bit harsh!
 

On first listen I find that a bit high. I'm often not won over by duets, and this one really does not work for me.
Maybe I'll mellow to it after a couple more listens.
Posted 11 years ago by jt1    [ Reply ]
I like the bluesy, edgy aspects, got some Lucinda Williams to her voice (just nowhere near as good) - a solid "6" 
Posted 11 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
No way - Julie
Posted 11 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
 oilydwarf wrote:
Average rating 5.5?  That's a bit harsh!
 
I have noticed that, with some obvious exceptions, women don't rate as highly as men 'round these parts.  I've also noticed the same when it comes to "black" films at imdb, but that's another issue.

I give it a solid 8 for, as someone else mentionned, very nice slow groove.


Posted 12 years ago by blackjackshellac    [ Reply ]
Average rating 5.5?  That's a bit harsh!
Posted 12 years ago by oilydwarf    [ Reply ]
reminds me of more than a few benders. - 8 for accuracy and maybe another for that slow groove
Posted 12 years ago by midreaming    [ Reply ]
Cross between Duffy and Louise Goffin.
Posted 12 years ago by Tana    [ Reply ]
Not to be a prude, but songs about cocaine.....  {#Iamwithstupid}
Posted 12 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
Big sucko barfo
Posted 12 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
Good stuff.
Posted 12 years ago by Anax    [ Reply ]
Love the rawness and obtuse angles!
Posted 12 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]
I kinda like where they're going with it, but the vocals are a little too Rickie Lee Jones for my tastes.  A 5 for now.
Posted 12 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Trying to think here.... didn't she write a song that Nanci Griffith did so well?  Hate getting old, the memory is hovering around just out of reach...
Posted 12 years ago by mediamarv    [ Reply ]

It has a Gulf Coast vibe to it.


Posted 13 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
 Businessgypsy wrote:
According to albumcredits.com, guitars are handled by Buddy and Larry Campbell. Steve Earle, Patty Griffin and Emmylou Harris all contributed on the album. Gurf Morlix was recording engineer.

 

Defintely Steve Earle
Posted 13 years ago by Bat    [ Reply ]
It's GREAT to hear Julie & Buddy Miller on RP. We used to play them
all the time at the now defunct WRVG radio station. Thanks Bill!
Posted 13 years ago by figi    [ Reply ]
Thought it was Sue Foley at first.  
Posted 13 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
Started like a Tom Waits song
Then MEH 
Posted 13 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
...pretty cool!..
Posted 13 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Loved it.
Thanks for the variety.

Posted 13 years ago by number7    [ Reply ]
Not for me
Posted 14 years ago by LennytheB    [ Reply ]
Ugh that voice.
Posted 14 years ago by teapot    [ Reply ]
....naaaaah!
Posted 14 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
yin7yang64 wrote:
Is that Pat McDonald (formerly of Timbuk3) singing back up and maybe even playing guitar on this track? Sure sounds like the kind of gritty sound he could conjure up with his ex- in that band. On the other hand, maybe it's Julie's husband Buddy. I'm not familiar enough with her work to tell. And a quick Google search isn't filling in the blanks.
According to albumcredits.com, guitars are handled by Buddy and Larry Campbell. Steve Earle, Patty Griffin and Emmylou Harris all contributed on the album. Gurf Morlix was recording engineer.

Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
Julie and husband/producer/collaborator Buddy Miller took top honors at the Americana Awards this year for their album Written in Chalk. Their devotion to creativity, originality and experimentation in songwriting and production shares a level of competence and passion with Beck.
Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
Is that Pat McDonald (formerly of Timbuk3) singing back up and maybe even playing guitar on this track?  Sure sounds like the kind of gritty sound he could conjure up with his ex- in that band.  On the other hand, maybe it's Julie's husband Buddy.  I'm not familiar enough with her work to tell.  And a quick Google search isn't filling in the blanks.  
Posted 14 years ago by yin7yang64    [ Reply ]
Ahh it's an old fashioned drug song.... just like before PC took over.   Sounds great!

Posted 14 years ago by musickat    [ Reply ]
a little repetitive..okay, a lot. {#Confused}
Posted 14 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
Annoying
Posted 14 years ago by Johnny_Wave    [ Reply ]
 horstman wrote:
no comment
 
no comment.
Posted 14 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
I got no use for what you say
i ain't your straight man no more today
take your promise out with the trash
from now on boy we just take cash

the cows lay down when it's gonna rain
you come around and it's a hurricane
you say it's bad luck baby but i know it's cocaine

blood is red money is green
sugar is sweet and you are mean
you were my angel at the start
but your strange lover took away your heart

the cows lay down when it's gonna rain

what goes on in your head
you keep this up you'll be dead
don't hit on me to put up your bail
you're better off right there in jail
Posted 14 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
killer swarmy guitar work
Posted 14 years ago by fatcatjb    [ Reply ]
Interesting song.
Not sure if I'm a fan of the whiney voice though. 
Posted 14 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
no comment
Posted 14 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]