LM: Good point. Punk is a cousin to the blues, twice-removed via marriage and sluttery. I'm digging it.
GA: This is a pretty good basic blues melody with a decent simple hook. But what really makes the song is the way that they play with the time and the rhythms behind it. That sounds like the Robert Johnson coming out, subtle stuff that doesn't register on the bludgeoning minds of most punk types.
Meg also gets some of this in her own stripped-down way. She's had number of strong hooks based on the tiniest, simplest few beats. Those three little beats that open the record really work, and the recurrences usefully mark off restarts after Jack slows it down and stops. Other than that, she's mostly the bass drum, plus a bit of tambourine and Jack tapping his acoustic guitar. That's old school.
LM: Definitely old school – and draws that further connection to punk. Blues, punk, rock, whatever… it’s all as incestuous as a European monarchy. Meg’s sparse beats, despite the vicious remarks of all the hatas out there who haven’t fallen in with the democratic movement, are and have always been pure punk-inspired, though she was more restrained on these earlier tracks, as counterpoint to the wail of Jack’s guitar. Alberto my man, you know you’re not as up on punk… you’d better just leave that part to me.
GA: Womanchild, I was all up in that punk rock while you was still up in your mommy. I'm OG-- or perhaps just old. Either way, respect my authori-tah!
Also, respect Jack's authori-tah as one who — like Jesus — came not to bring peace, but a sword. The lyrics further outline the blueprint for the revolution to come.
Sugar never tasted so good
Sugar never tasted good to me
YeahUntil her eyes crossed over
Until her mind crossed over
Until her soul fell next to meNow
If the wrinkle that is in your brain
Has given you quite a steam
Your fingers have become a crane
Pulling on these puppet strings
The intoxicating sugar candy of revolution never tasted as sweet as it should until the proletarian monkey gave her soul to Jack and the revolution. Now she has become as a God, pulling the puppet strings, making politicians and captains of industry do our revolutionary bidding.
Article comments
1 - Caleb
The Stooges are the main bridge between the blues and punk. I saw an interview with Iggy that said he loved the blues but he wasn't black, middle-aged or from Mississippi so he was trying to do the equivalent thing as a young white man from Detroit.
Also the Velvets, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Beatles, Love and other such proto-punk pioneers were rather into the blues themselves.