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.
Last Meal
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I heard the warden say
He said, "Ray you got one more day
You got one last meal before we carry you away"
He said, "If we ain't got it
We′re gonna have to send out and get it
And you don't have to go, you don't have to go
Everything!"
So I turned to the warden and then I said:
"Warden! Bring me two dinosaur eggs over easy
Fried in butter, and not too greasy
Mosquito knees and black eyed peas
A little bit of butter on my bee bop beans
A saber tooth tiger steak
I want a whole hippopotamus well baked
So go and get my dinner, go, and get my dinner
You ain′t got it, go out and get it
′Cause I ain't goin′ 'til you get back with it
Now bring me a cup of crocodile tears
I want a purple watermelon with some alligator ears
Two cross-eyed catfish
And a female banana I sure can′t resist
Now bring me an order of some of those fried moon beans
And a barbequed brick of chocolate ice cream
So go and get my dinner, go, and get my dinner
You ain't got it, go out and get it
′Cause I ain't goin' ′til you get back with it
Now go, and get my dinner, go
And get my dinner, go
And get my dinner, go (right now)
And get my dinner
You ain′t got it, got to go out and get it
'Cause I ain′t goin' ′til you get back with it
Oh get everything, everything
I'm still hungry
Try to get all that stuff
Yeah, go get it
And take your time
The song "Last Meal" by Asleep at the Wheel is a humorous take on the traditional request by death row inmates for a final meal. The lyrics tell the story of a man on death row who is given the opportunity to choose his last meal. He demands an exotic and unusual meal, including things like dinosaur eggs, mosquito knees, saber tooth tiger steak, and a whole baked hippopotamus. The chorus repeats the demand to "go and get my dinner" until each of the items is delivered. The final verse adds a comedic twist by asking for a cup of crocodile tears and a female banana.
The lyrics use hyperbole and absurdity to make light of a serious situation, while also highlighting the power dynamics at play in the prison system. The inmate is given a momentary feeling of control and choice, but ultimately is at the mercy of the authorities. The warden is willing to go to great lengths to fulfill the man's ridiculous requests, emphasizing the imbalance of power in the situation.
Overall, the song "Last Meal" can be seen as a commentary on the way that institutions use small concessions to maintain control over individuals in their care, and the way that individuals can push back against those systems in small ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I was layin' in my cell on death row
I was imprisoned and awaiting execution.
When I heard the warden say
The prison superintendent informed me.
He said, "Ray you got one more day
He conveyed that I had only 24 hours remaining.
You got one last meal before we carry you away"
I was given one final opportunity to have food before my sentencing.
He said, "If we ain't got it
The superintendent stated that if they do not have a certain item.
We're gonna have to send out and get it
They would have to acquire it from somewhere else.
And you don't have to go, you don't have to go
I don't need to leave.
Until we get back with it
Until they return with the item.
Everything!"
They will acquire anything I want.
So I turned to the warden and then I said:
I spoke to the superintendent.
"Warden! Bring me two dinosaur eggs over easy
I requested two dinosaur eggs, cooked in butter, fried, and not very greasy.
Fried in butter, and not too greasy
I asked them to cook the eggs using butter and not make it too greasy.
Mosquito knees and black-eyed peas
I wanted mosquito knees and black-eyed peas as part of my meal.
A little bit of butter on my bee bop beans
I requested some butter to be added to my bee bop beans.
A saber-tooth tiger steak
I wanted a steak from a saber-tooth tiger.
I want a whole hippopotamus well-baked
I desired a whole, well-baked hippopotamus.
So go and get my dinner, go, and get my dinner
I instructed the superintendent to go and get my meal.
You ain't got it, go out and get it
The superintendent was told to acquire it if they did not already have it.
Now bring me a cup of crocodile tears
I requested a cup of crocodile tears.
I want a purple watermelon with some alligator ears
I wanted a purple watermelon, along with some alligator ears.
Two cross-eyed catfish
I desired two cross-eyed catfish.
And a female banana I sure can't resist
I had a preference for a female banana.
Now bring me an order of some of those fried moon beans
I wanted an order of the fried moon beans.
And a barbequed brick of chocolate ice cream
I had a craving for barbequed chocolate ice cream.
You ain't got it, go out and get it
I reiterated to go and get it if they did not have it already.
Oh get everything, everything
I insisted that they get everything.
I'm still hungry
I was hungry and wanted the full meal.
Try to get all that stuff
I urged them to make an effort to acquire all of my requests.
Yeah, go get it
I gave them permission to get it.
And take your time
I told them to take their time in getting everything.
Writer(s): Denny Hall
Contributed by Elliot P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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