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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 1, 2012 6:20:30 GMT -5
Comment and/or Vote on this Solo Song:
4=Great 3=Good 2=Average 1=Crap
"What You Got" - John Lennon, WALLS AND BRIDGES (1974)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2012 6:28:23 GMT -5
Here are the lyrics...
Don't wanna be a drag, everybody gotta bag I know you know, 'bout the emperor's clothes
You don't know what you got, until you lose it You don't know what you got, until you lose it You don't know what you got, until you lose it Oh baby, baby, baby gimme one more chance
Well it's Saturday night and I just gotta rip it up Sunday morning I just gotta give it up Come Monday momma and I just gotta run away You know it's such a drag to face another day
You don't know what you got, until you lose it You don't know what you got, until you lose it You don't know what you got, until you lose it Oh baby, baby, baby gimme one more chance
You know the more it change, the more it stays the same You gotta hang on in, you gotta cut the string
You don't know what you got, until you lose it You don't know what you got, until you lose it You don't know, you don't know what you got, until you lose it Oh baby, baby, baby gimme one more chance
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2012 7:25:08 GMT -5
I'm not used to hearing John sing like that....
much better than his Janov wailing....
I'll give it a 4 for being vastly different
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Post by mikev on Apr 1, 2012 10:38:25 GMT -5
3 - solid Lennon funky rocker album cut from my favorite Lennon solo album.
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Post by John S. Damm on Apr 1, 2012 11:23:46 GMT -5
A 3 from me. I have come to really like better some of the demos and alternative takes I've heard. I must say I kind of get lost on the very first line of the song, the lyrics kindly provided here by fabfour: "Don't wanna be a drag, everybody gotta bag." What does, "everybody gotta bag" mean? I think of "Bagism" but that seems like the last thing John was thinking of on 1974's Walls And Bridges. I like the rest of the lyrics with the best part that starts by John borrowing from the great "Rip It Up:" "Well it's Saturday night and I just gotta rip it up Sunday morning I just gotta give it up Come Monday momma and I just gotta run away You know it's such a drag to face another day." But first impressions are often the most important and that, "everybody got bag" has always got me off on the wrong foot with this song. Frankly I viewed it as lazy. Maybe someone can convince me that line is genius and then I could give the song a higher score!
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Post by vectisfabber on Apr 1, 2012 11:57:35 GMT -5
I'd go 3 with this - there's a lot of energy in it, but there's something about it which doesn't quite work for me: it feels a bit as if John's working in an area he's not really comfortable in.
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Post by coachbk on Apr 1, 2012 13:17:51 GMT -5
2 I'm not really into this sort of funk style. And it is fairly average funk. This could be anyone. Also John's voice is great, like it usually would be (which could have upped this to a 3). I think his "hard living" took a toll on his voice at this time. (He'd get it back for DOUBLE FANTASY). As I've said before, WALLS AND BRIDGES is an album I've never gotten into.
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Post by joshferrell on Apr 1, 2012 13:18:33 GMT -5
I give it a 3..it's a good song with good rock vocals..
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 1, 2012 13:30:26 GMT -5
But first impressions are often the most important and that, "everybody got bag" has always got me off on the wrong foot with this song. Frankly I viewed it as lazy. Maybe someone can convince me that line is genius and then I could give the song a higher score! I can't convince you the line is "genius", but I'd like to try and convince you that you're over-reacting. Personally, I've always thought of it like "Everybody's got a bag" (as in "What's yer bag, man?"). I don't think it's that important, frankly. By the way, I rate the song a 4 . ;D [/quote]
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Post by John S. Damm on Apr 1, 2012 13:41:31 GMT -5
Have you ever used that phrase, Joe? I have not. I have never been with my friends and said, "Hey guys, let's bag!"
I am just trying to understand it. It is placed in an important place, the opening line of the song. As a music listener who focuses on lyrics first in a song, that last part of the first line just rubs me a little wrong.
Maybe it was one of those boogaloo phrases Marc Bolan was saying at the time.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 1, 2012 13:49:49 GMT -5
Have you ever used that phrase, Joe? I have not. I have never been with my friends and said, "Hey guys, let's bag!" I didn't say that. I said "What's your bag"? Didn't you ever hear that expression? "What's your bag?" It's like asking "What's your thing?" or "What are you into?" I interpret it to meaning "I feel out of it because everyone's got a bag (their own thing) and I don't want to drag everyone down". I don't know if that's what John even meant at all, but it's what I have always thought. And as I said, it's not in the least important to me. I don't know what "Be Bop A Lu La" means either. But what does whether or not 'we' use that expression ourselves have to do with anything? This only opens a can of worms up for every other Beatles and Post-Beatles song... there are tons of meanings 'we' don't use, so what's the point? Did you ever say "Back Off Boogaloo"? I never did, but apparently Marc Bolan did, which is what inspired Ringo to write that song. EDITED TO ADD: Holy crap! I hadn't even read the part where you mentioned Marc Bolan when I gave my "boogaloo" example!
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Post by Snookeroo on Apr 1, 2012 13:52:59 GMT -5
JSD - I would agree with Joe that's it's a 70's term. Your "bag" was, your "thing". The thing you "do" - man! So lighten up and bump up your score :-)
I've always loved this song. It kicks ass, and has a great meaning. John's vocal is great. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if he blew it out as he did on Twist and Shout a decade or so earlier. Although his voice is stronger here. I also LOVE Jim Keltners drumming on this tune. That fill right before John sings, "come Monday momma..." always thrills me.
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Post by Snookeroo on Apr 1, 2012 13:55:58 GMT -5
Come to think of it JSD - if this "bag" line troubles you so, how are you able to get through SFF and WALRUS?
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Post by John S. Damm on Apr 1, 2012 14:05:22 GMT -5
Have you ever used that phrase, Joe? I have not. I have never been with my friends and said, "Hey guys, let's bag!" I didn't say that. I know you didn't. I was trying to use it like I think John was in the song, as a verb. I took it to mean doing something, but what!? Sex, dancing, partying? But maybe I am wrong. That could be it. If John would have written it out, "Everybody has a bag" then that would be most certainly it. I am just asking if I am missing out on something. Should I be bagging right now!?
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 1, 2012 14:48:00 GMT -5
Come to think of it JSD - if this "bag" line troubles you so, how are you able to get through SFF and WALRUS? Really.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 1, 2012 14:54:04 GMT -5
By the way, the demo tapes for WHAT YOU GOT have other "bizarre" terms:
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kc
Beatle Freak
Posts: 1,085
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Post by kc on Apr 1, 2012 18:29:52 GMT -5
I must say I kind of get lost on the very first line of the song, the lyrics kindly provided here by fabfour: "Don't wanna be a drag, everybody gotta bag." What does, "everybody gotta bag" mean? I think of "Bagism" but that seems like the last thing John was thinking of on 1974's Walls And Bridges. I like the rest of the lyrics with the best part that starts by John borrowing from the great "Rip It Up:" "Well it's Saturday night and I just gotta rip it up Sunday morning I just gotta give it up Come Monday momma and I just gotta run away You know it's such a drag to face another day." "Don't wanna be a drag, everybody got a bag." Everybody at the party has a bag of dope and John feels obliged to join in? "Saturday night and I just gotta rip it up...Sunday morning I just gotta give it up." I'm sure we've all been here at some time in our lives. I like the song, so 3 (good).
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Post by John S. Damm on Apr 1, 2012 19:31:17 GMT -5
JSD - I would agree with Joe that's it's a 70's term. Your "bag" was, your "thing". The thing you "do" - man! So lighten up and bump up your score :-) Holy cow! I gave it a 3! I wish "bag" meant "chill" cause I would tell you Snooks to bag. ;D
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Post by Snookeroo on Apr 1, 2012 21:01:24 GMT -5
JSD - I would agree with Joe that's it's a 70's term. Your "bag" was, your "thing". The thing you "do" - man! So lighten up and bump up your score :-) Holy cow! I gave it a 3! I wish "bag" meant "chill" cause I would tell you Snooks to bag. ;D OK, let me try to help you JSD. If I said, "hey John, let's listen to OB-LA-DI OB-LA-DA and look at sexy pictures of Yoko" - you might say, "no man, that's not my bag".
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Post by John S. Damm on Apr 1, 2012 21:18:00 GMT -5
Holy cow! I gave it a 3! I wish "bag" meant "chill" cause I would tell you Snooks to bag. ;D OK, let me try to help you JSD. If I said, "hey John, let's listen to OB-LA-DI OB-LA-DA and look at sexy pictures of Yoko" - you might say, "no man, that's not my bag". Switch OctoMom for Yoko as to the sexy pictures and you've got a deal! We need to clear this lyric mystery up on "What You Got!" If John is saying everybody's got a bag then I will agree with you and Joe. But if John is saying everbody's got to bag then WTF!? What is it that John wants us to do? The problem is, John threw us a curveball with the "gotta" because that could mean "got a bag" or it could mean "got to bag." E.G., "I gotta go" versus "I gotta dollar." A worthy mystery.
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nine
Very Clean
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Post by nine on Apr 2, 2012 4:28:48 GMT -5
I must say I kind of get lost on the very first line of the song, the lyrics kindly provided here by fabfour: "Don't wanna be a drag, everybody gotta bag." What does, "everybody gotta bag" mean? I think of "Bagism" but that seems like the last thing John was thinking of on 1974's Walls And Bridges. I like the rest of the lyrics with the best part that starts by John borrowing from the great "Rip It Up:" "Well it's Saturday night and I just gotta rip it up Sunday morning I just gotta give it up Come Monday momma and I just gotta run away You know it's such a drag to face another day." "Don't wanna be a drag, everybody got a bag." Everybody at the party has a bag of dope and John feels obliged to join in? "Saturday night and I just gotta rip it up...Sunday morning I just gotta give it up." I'm sure we've all been here at some time in our lives. I like the song, so 3 (good). To bag is to put someone down or have a whinge about something... My interpretation of that line was something like... don't want be a drag, everybody's got have a whinge from time to time...
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Post by ursamajor on Apr 2, 2012 4:46:52 GMT -5
"Don't wanna be a drag, everybody got a bag." Everybody at the party has a bag of dope and John feels obliged to join in? "Saturday night and I just gotta rip it up...Sunday morning I just gotta give it up." I'm sure we've all been here at some time in our lives. I like the song, so 3 (good). To bag is to put someone down or have a whinge about something... My interpretation of that line was something like... don't want be a drag, everybody's got have a whinge from time to time... I think Mr 9 has nailed it but I liked kc's interpretation as well .. I love this song for the rip-roaring vocals. The song in demo form was really good, not sure if the horns really add anything to the power and energy of the song, I would have preferred more crunching guitar chords. Oh yeah I give it a 4
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 2, 2012 5:37:25 GMT -5
The problem is, John threw us a curveball with the "gotta" because that could mean "got a bag" or it could mean "got to bag." E.G., "I gotta go" versus "I gotta dollar." A worthy mystery. I know what you mean. "Gotta" should mean "got to". However, I have seen people incorrectly use "gotta" when they mean "got a", too!
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 2, 2012 5:38:57 GMT -5
To bag is to put someone down or have a whinge about something... My interpretation of that line was something like... don't want be a drag, everybody's got have a whinge from time to time... That makes the best sense! -- sorta like "Don't wanna be a drag, but everybody's got a gripe from time to time"....... I love it!
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Post by John S. Damm on Apr 2, 2012 7:35:24 GMT -5
To bag is to put someone down or have a whinge about something... My interpretation of that line was something like... don't want be a drag, everybody's got have a whinge from time to time... That makes the best sense! -- sorta like "Don't wanna be a drag, but everybody's got a gripe from time to time"....... I love it! I like that too. 3.5 from me now. Thanks Niner!
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Apr 2, 2012 8:32:32 GMT -5
But first impressions are often the most important and that, "everybody got bag" has always got me off on the wrong foot with this song. Frankly I viewed it as lazy. Maybe someone can convince me that line is genius and then I could give the song a higher score! I can't convince you the line is "genius", but I'd like to try and convince you that you're over-reacting. Personally, I've always thought of it like "Everybody's got a bag" (as in "What's yer bag, man?"). I don't think it's that important, frankly. By the way, I rate the song a 4 . ;D [/quote] I don't think he was referring to Yoko with that line 'everybody's got a bag'. Maybe he meant "everybody's got a sack". But that would leave out half the population. I give it a 3. Good effort by someone who was fighting for inspriation.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 2, 2012 8:34:13 GMT -5
Good effort by someone who was fighting for inspriation. Depression and loneliness and frustration and loss is often a great inspiration. (That is unless all you want to do is churn out silly love songs ).
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Apr 2, 2012 16:16:19 GMT -5
Good effort by someone who was fighting for inspriation. Depression and loneliness and frustration and loss is often a great inspiration. (That is unless all you want to do is churn out silly love songs ). Didn't John himself say he was running out of inspiration at the time and needed to get away and watch the wheels go round and round?
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 2, 2012 17:27:12 GMT -5
Didn't John himself say he was running out of inspiration at the time and needed to get away and watch the wheels go round and round? When did he say that? I just don't remember. But whatever he said, he was still inspired by his situation at the time to make WALLS AND BRIDGES. What do you think those songs were all about? Being scared, missing Yoko, feeling lost and down and out. And frankly, RTP, it's an album that Paul could never match, "depth-wise", in that same period.
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Post by debjorgo on Apr 4, 2012 17:56:40 GMT -5
I love this song. I'll give it a 3.5.
I think the line is saying everyone's got a bag, things they are interested in. I've never heard it used for putting something down. I heard it used as quitting, giving something up, as in "Let's bag this joint".
It reminds me of the Davey Jones screentest. They ask him "What Bag are you in.?" He says "Bag? I don't get that".
I think Paul Schafer's band on David Lettermen plays this a lot going to the break.
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