Originally written as “Preparation for Lyle Lovett Concert v3” for friends heading to a concert.
Here is your introductory course on the wonderful world of Lyle Lovett's music. I recommend headphones.
Assignment #1. Write a short (fewer than 2500 words) essay on your favorite song from this list. It is due on Wednesday for my review. Danielle has finals, so she is exempt.
Assignment #2: Watch this wonderful, but short tiny desk concert. http://www.npr.org/event/music/166752674/lyle-lovett-tiny-desk-concert
Assignment #3: Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbZn_Z5s-yA Think about it. Listen to it again.
An acceptable level of ecstasy
This first song is a great example of how Lyle can weave together a story that is immediately visual. While you listen to this song, see how easy it is to imagine the time period and setting Lyle sings about in a speak easy. Some movies aren't as detailed as this song.
This old porch
In that same vein, this old porch vividly describes how it feels to be home, even if you have never owned a porch! This time the setting is Texas and Lyle uses metaphors that don't seem to fit with a porch. My initial interpretation is that this old porch represents both his actual porch and his hometown. While he compares his porch to a plate of enchiladas, you eventually realize that he is informing the listener to the struggles between old Texas and new Texas. At some level, we struggle with these issues here in Raleigh, as many cities struggling with overpopulation and urban sprawl, and Lyle relates to us even though he knows nothing about us. The song is as much about Person Street Pharmacy as it is about Texas. He wrote this song with his roommate in college, Robert Earl Keen.
Church
Some of his songs are centered in the church. This one is the best of the lot. He becomes an impromptu choir director singing a song that you will be singing on Sunday. I promise.
I've been to Memphis
Listen on YouTube · Live recording
Have you been to Memphis? Lyle has and one thing is true about all the places Lyle goes. He loves a woman what he don't know. There is a part of this song that Erin HATES. See if you can figure it out. From his live album.
God will
Listen closely to this song. It appears to be a love song. It is not. One of his beautiful and most cynical songs. The first song that I heard from Lyle that convinced me that I needed to seek out everything this man has ever written.
Closing time
Lyle often plays this one at the close of his sets. If you are a fan of "Piano man" really listen intently to this one. Rob will understand this one more than some of us, but Lyle once again paints a picture with this song about what it is like at the end of the night at a bar. But is the song really about a bar, or about life? Hint: this would be a good topic for your essay.
She's hot to go
Lyle has a few songs where he acknowledges that he is not traditionally handsome. Here he does it in the funniest way possible. Notice that he is singing about a woman that he sees walking down the street. He likes her, that's why he thinks she is hot to go. Listen while Lyle catches up to her.
They don't like me
Here again, Lyle points out that he is not so attractive to some folks. "They" in the song are likely Julia Roberts' parents, considering he was married to her during the production of the album. Those of us with in-laws understand this song better than those of us without them. Single folks- keep this one in your back pocket. It will become relevant to you eventually.
Goodbye to Carolina
A fantastic song about moving out West to the promised land, a recurring theme in his songs. Don't miss the Milk-Cow that kicked Lyle in the head and the picture of Martin Luther King that Lyle can't stand to part with in his move.
Skinny legs
At it's base, this is a song Lyle is singing about me. My girlfriend is not Japanese, but he is singing about me I think. See "A Song about Sonya" for a similar take on him writing a song for a waitress.
Fat babies
I don't like hippies and I don't like cornbread and I don't like much. This is Erin and my love story. We are both secretly misanthropes, and that's why we work together - we are united in our dislike of things. See what you can get out of this song. Julia Roberts is the background singer in this version.
I think you know what I mean
A conversation Lyle had with Rob's father in law.
Give back my heart
This song explains why you must carefully chose your mate. As Lyle says "Redneck-ness has got to be a disease. You catch it on your fingers and it just crawls right up your sleeve." Wise words. Wise words.
If I had a boat
His most famous song. Rightly so. Taking this song at its face value, it is a song about little boys' fantasies. If you look deeper, it is about freedom, and the cowboy in all men. Don't we, deep down, want to roam out there free on our ponies on our boats. Of course we do.
Fiona
Fiona is from the bayou. Lyle loves her. She only has one eye. See if you can hold the long note as long as Lyle does when you sing along.
If I were the man you wanted
A beautifully sad song about how sometimes the people we love are not the right ones for us.
That's right (you're not from Texas)
That's right none of us are from Texas. We can still enjoy the song. He shouts out to the boys in Carolina. That's the part where we will all cheer on Saturday. Note how mean he is to his girlfriend here. May be why Julia moved on? Probably not.
I loved you yesterday
Listen for the Spanish part of this song "Yo te quisé aller, y yo the quiero the same." Lyle speaks Spanish like a Puerto Rican - Half in English.
She's no lady
Another really popular song for Lyle. She's no lady, she's my wife. I had one of these once.
Nobody knows me like my baby
This is a cheating song about Mexican food. Really.
Creeps like me
A song where Lyle, or someone, does some terrible things. You will be tested on where uncle Leon is.
LA county
Lyle drives to California to shoot his ex girlfriend on her wedding day. A happy song.
Assignment #4: Buy Joshua Judges Ruth - lost my copy and there are some FANTASTIC songs on there. In particular, the family reserve, a song that gets more important and meaningful as you get older.
Extra credit: seek out some deep tracks.
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