In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Ida Red
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clock on the mantle says it gettin' too late
Curtains in the window, snowy white
(Incomprehensible) on Sunday night
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
There's a pretty sofa and that ain't all
If I'm not mistaken I sure am right
Somebody else in the parlor tonight
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child no
Hurry up boys now, don't you be slow
Y'all in a girdle like you was awhile ago
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
My old mistress promised me
That when she died she'd set me free
But she lived so long that her head got bald
Took the the notion not to die at all
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
Lights grow dim, fire's gettin' low
Somebody said it's time to go
I hear a whisper, gentle and light
Don't forget to come back Saturday night
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
The opening stanza of Asleep At The Wheel's song Ida Red creates a sense of warmth and homeliness, with the light in the parlor, fire in the grate, and curtains drawn on a snowy Sunday night. However, as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that something is amiss. The singer notices a lamp on the table, picture on the wall, and a pretty sofa, but also realizes that "somebody else [is] in the parlor tonight." This revelation turns the song's tone from cozy to apprehensive as the singer's affection for Ida Red becomes clear. The final stanza ties up the song, with the dimming lights and low fire signaling a desire to leave, but the gentle whisper urging the singer to return next Saturday night.
Line by Line Meaning
Light in the parlor, fire in the grate
The room is well-lit and warm
Clock on the mantle says it gettin' too late
The time is getting late
Curtains in the window, snowy white
The curtains on the window are white
(Incomprehensible) on Sunday night
Something vague is happening on a Sunday night
Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm plum fool about Ida Red
The singer is crazy about Ida Red
Lamp on the table, picture on the wall
There's a lamp on the table and a picture on the wall
There's a pretty sofa and that ain't all
There's also a pretty sofa in the room
If I'm not mistaken I sure am right
The singer is confident in what they're sensing
Somebody else in the parlor tonight
There's someone else in the room
Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Someone is picking dough from a bread pan
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child no
A child is asking if Granny's dog bites and Granny says it doesn't
Hurry up boys now, don't you be slow
The boys are being urged to hurry up
Y'all in a girdle like you was awhile ago
The boys are being teased about dressing up like girls in the past
My old mistress promised me
The singer had a mistress who promised them something
That when she died she'd set me free
The mistress promised to set the singer free after she died
But she lived so long that her head got bald
The mistress lived so long her head became bald
Took the the notion not to die at all
The mistress decided she didn't want to die at all
Lights grow dim, fire's gettin' low
The lights and fire are getting dim
Somebody said it's time to go
Someone said it's time to leave
I hear a whisper, gentle and light
The singer hears a soft whisper
Don't forget to come back Saturday night
Someone reminds the singer to come back on Saturday night
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dean Moore, Bob Wills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
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Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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