In 1981, Funderburgh released the Rockets' debut album Talk to You By Hand from the New Orleans, Louisiana, based Black Top Records, with Darrell Nulisch on vocals and harmonica. The album included a cover version of Earl King's song, "Come On". Talk to You By Hand was also the first ever release by the record label. The outfit appeared on the bill at the 1984 San Francisco Blues Festival. When Nulisch left the band in 1985, Funderburgh invited the blues harmonica player Sam Myers from Jackson, Mississippi to fill in the spot. The first Rockets' recording featuring Myers was My Love Is Here To Stay which came out in 1986. He stayed with the band until his death on July 17, 2006, appearing on eight albums with them.
As well as the studio recordings, Funderburgh and his band has played live at the Zoo Bar, in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1990 the band was on the bill at the Long Beach Blues Festival. In addition in 1990, they appeared on Show #109 of the NBC television program, Sunday Night.
In 1989 and 1990 the band's bass player was Mike Judge, future animator and creator of Beavis and Butt-head and King of the Hill.
Their song "Can We Get Together" featured in the film "21 Grams" (2003).
Jungle
Anson Funderburgh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way out in the woods
I think I'll move to the jungle
Way out in the woods
'Cause the way things are happenin' here now
I ain't doin' myself no good
I work hard everyday
And the wages that they pay me
I swear they're very light
They take out a little for the state
Little bit more for Uncle Sam
How can I ever catch up
And get myself out of this jam?
I'll move in to the jungle
Way out in the woods
The way things are happenin' here now
I ain't doin' myself no good
I go to town on Saturday
Just to pay my bills
I gotta make it early
Or the collector will come where I live
I go to church on Sunday
Get down on my knees to pray
The preacher takes up collection
And say, "Brother, what will you pay?"
I'll move in to the jungle
Way out in the woods
'Cause the way things are happenin' here now
I ain't doin' myself no good
The lyrics of "Jungle" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets manifest a feeling of wanting to escape the troubles of urban life by moving to the jungle. The singer of the song is tired of working hard every day and barely making enough to pay his bills with everything else being taken out for taxes. He feels like he's stuck in a rut with no way out, so he considers leaving civilization altogether and starting anew in the jungle. The repetition of the line "The way things are happening here now I ain't doing myself no good" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped, and the only way out is to escape to the jungle.
The themes of the song reflect the struggles that come with living in modern society. It highlights the daily grind of work, taxes, and bills and the idea that some people may want to drop everything and leave it all behind. The jungle represents a primal, natural space where one can live off the land and escape the pressures of modern society.
Line by Line Meaning
I may go and move to the jungle
I am considering moving away to live in the wilderness
Way out in the woods
To be far from civilization and society
I think I'll move to the jungle
I believe living in the wilderness will be better for me
Cause the way things are happenin' here now
Due to the current state of affairs in my life
I ain't doin' myself no good
I am not benefiting or prospering in any way
I work hard everyday
I exert great effort and labor each day
From Monday to Friday night
Throughout the weekdays
And the wages that they pay me
The compensation I receive
I swear they're very light
I believe the payment to be insufficient
They take out a little for the state
They deduct a part of my income for state taxes
Little bit more for Uncle Sam
And a little more for federal taxes
How can I ever catch up
How can I ever get ahead financially
And get myself out of this jam?
And escape this difficult or unpleasant situation?
I go to town on Saturday
I visit the city on Saturdays
Just to pay my bills
To pay the debts and expenses I have
I gotta make it early
I have to arrive early
Or the collector will come where I live
Or the person I owe money to will find me and demand payment
I go to church on Sunday
I attend religious services on Sundays
Get down on my knees to pray
I kneel to pray
The preacher takes up collection
The religious leader collects donations
And say, 'Brother, what will you pay?'
And asks how much I will give
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER LUM, N WRITER UNKNOWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind