How many singer/songwriters can say that Elvis Presley recorde… Read Full Bio ↴Biography
How many singer/songwriters can say that Elvis Presley recorded one of their songs and has a co-write with Bob Dylan?
In 1972, the legendary Ahmet Ertegun signed Danny O'Keefe to Atlantic Records, then teamed him with the incomparable producer Arif Mardin, resulting in his top-five Billboard hit "Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues." This was followed by the classic album Breezy Stories in 1973. Besides Elvis, many other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis; Willie Nelson; Chet Atkins; Waylon Jennings; Leon Russell; Charlie Rich; and Mel Torme went on to record this classic composition.
This tandem combined for three other D O'K classics during that decade: "Angel Spread Your Wings" also recorded by Judy Collins; "The Road" also recorded by Jackson Browne; and "Magdalena" also recorded by Donny Hathaway and Leo Sayer. These songs garnered heavy AM and FM airplay for Danny and were the building blocks for his distinguished performing and songwriting career.
Now, regarding the co-write with Bob Dylan: besides Danny's version, "Well, Well, Well" has been recorded by Mavis Staples; David Lindley; Maria Muldaur; The Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Harper and by Bonnie Raitt on her VH1 special.
Other notable co-writes and covers of Danny's compositions include: "Quits," sung originally as a duet with Linda Ronstadt (Andy Williams; Chris Hillman and Gary Stewart); "Along for the Ride" (John Denver); "Souvenirs" (Jimmy Buffet); "Next To You" (Sheena Easton); "Never Got Off the Ground" (co-written with David Mallett and recorded by Alison Krauss and Molly O'Brien); "Into the West" (Tim O'Brien); "When You Come Back Down" (Nickel Creek and Tim O'Brien); and most recently, "Anywhere On Earth You Are" (Allan Jackson on his 2006 CD "Like Red On A Rose.")
Danny believes that music is a powerful means for sharing concern and motivating change on critical issues such as the preservation of "song" in the world. After becoming increasingly concerned with the decimation of songbirds and their habitat, Danny started The Songbird Foundation (www.songbird.org) which works with musical artists to publicize the issue of songbird species decline due to devastation of their habitat. Using his music to publicize and popularize the issue, Danny successfully encouraged other musicians to do the same. Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, Jimmy Buffet, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nickel Creek, Jackson Browne and many others have responded by contributing public service announcements, perform benefit concerts and do their part to make audiences aware that to create a truly sustainable world requires changed patterns of consumption, especially with concern to aggressive sun-grown coffee in the rain forests of Latin America.
Danny's voice is a superb mixture blues and Americana; his songwriting speaks for itself.
Discography
1971 - Danny O'Keefe Cotillion Records
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun
1972 - O'Keefe Signpost/Atlantic
Produced by Arif Mardin
Contains the top-ten hit "Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues"
1973 - Breezy Stories Atlantic Records
Produced by Arif Mardin
Contains the single "Angel Spread Your Wings"
1975 - So Long Harry Truman Atlantic Records
Produced by John Boylan
Contained the single "Quits"
1977 - American Roulette Warner Bros. Records
Produced by John Court and Kenny Vance
1979 - The Global Blues Warner Bros. Records
Produced by Jay Lewis and Danny O'Keefe
1984 - The Day To Day Coldwater Records
Produced by Mathew McCauley and Tony Peluso
Contained the singles "Along for the Ride" and "Someday"
Both singles charted in the "20's" in AC charts
1989 - Redux Beachwood/Chameleon Records
(this is a re-release of The Day To Day with a new title and two new songs)
Contained the singles "Along for the Ride" and "Someday"
Both singles charted on AOR charts in the 20's
VH1 played the video of "Along for the Ride"
2000 - Runnin' From the Devil Miramar
January 25th, 2000
2003 - "Don't Ask" w/Bill Braun
Produced by Bill Braun
All songs written and performed by Danny O'Keefe and Bill Braun
Rev. Stone
Danny O'Keefe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sit in here alone, this goddamn cell
Skin and bone, I'm just a hollow shell
I have a need to make your cold heart bleed
Jesus, I call your name
I'll scream upon my knees
Ain't you got the price?
No you just sit and stare
I have a need to make your cold heart bleed
Jesus, I call your name
Jailer, do you have no soul
Where once there was a heart
Is there now an empty hole?
Rev. Stone's began to fall
You say no bail
You didn't let me call
At least return the pail
Caretaker, do you have no soul
Where once there was a heart
Is there now an empty hole?
I have a need to make your cold heart bleed
Jesus, I call your name
The lyrics to Danny O'Keefe's song "Rev. Stone" speak to the feelings of isolation and desperation that come with incarceration. The singer of the song is locked away in a cell, feeling as though he is nothing more than a "hollow shell." Despite his efforts to reach out to Jesus and connect with others around him, his cries for help go unanswered. The song's poignant lyrics raise important questions about the role of religion in society and the challenges that face those struggling with loneliness and despair.
As the song progresses, the singer's anger and frustration begin to boil over. He becomes increasingly desperate to make someone listen to him, even if it means screaming on his knees and selling his prayers. The prison guards and caretakers around him seem to have no compassion or empathy for his situation, leaving him feeling even more alone and hopeless. The song's climax comes when he begs for someone - anyone - to hear his cries and help him find a way out of this dark and lonely place.
Line by Line Meaning
I sit in here alone, this goddamn cell
I am currently imprisoned in a lonely and cramped cell
Skin and bone, I'm just a hollow shell
Due to my prolonged imprisonment, I am now frail and weak
I have a need to make your cold heart bleed
I desire to cause emotional pain and suffering to those who wronged me
Jesus, I call your name
I turn to religion and faith for hope and guidance
I'll scream upon my knees
I will beg and plead for help, even if it means humiliating myself
I'll sell the prayer
I will do anything to receive spiritual aid, even if it means paying for it
Ain't you got the price?
Can't you offer me any form of assistance, monetary or not?
No you just sit and stare
Instead of offering help or compassion, you just watch me suffer
Jailer, do you have no soul
I question whether or not you possess any sense of empathy or benevolence
Where once there was a heart
You used to have the capacity to care, but not anymore
Is there now an empty hole?
Is there now only coldness and indifference in your heart?
Rev. Stone's began to fall
Rev. Stone's reputation is starting to decline
You say no bail
I am being denied release on bail
You didn't let me call
I was not given the opportunity to make a phone call
At least return the pail
Please give me back my container or bucket
Caretaker, do you have no soul
I question whether or not you possess any sense of empathy or benevolence
I have a need to make your cold heart bleed
I desire to cause emotional pain and suffering to those who wronged me
Jesus, I call your name
I turn to religion and faith for hope and guidance
Contributed by Hailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Southern Style
on Shooting Star
Southern Style
I appreciate your posting the lyrics to this song, however I don't think the lyrics shown in the second verse were the lyrics penned by O'Keefe. I know every Lyric site shows it as presented here but as this is a song about unrequited love I feel it necessary to try to define the word "Electra"/"Elektra" which, at one point in time, referred to "pre-dawn"; Think sun rays coming over the horizon prior to sunrise. So what you have, in effect, is "morning waiting for Elektra but Elektra is mourning for the NIGHT". There is your unrequited love; Morning loves Elektra but Elektra loves Night.