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
Steppin' Out Tonight
Danny O'Keefe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on, let's kiss and make up
Paint a smile upon your face
Don't sit down you can stand the pace
We're steppin' out tonight
The band can play in nothin' flat
Br> He's got straight drapes right off the rack
But he's steppin' out tonight
The trick is to be human
Join the race
If now is the hour
This must be the place
You could lose your mind
Tryin' to save your face
While in route
Try steppin' out tonight
The point's been made and stated
Don't you get it?
Put your money where your mouth is
And you bet it
If the joke's on you
Laugh and forget
Ain't no doubt
We're steppin' out tonight
It just takes a whiff of this
And maybe just a shot of that
Put on the dog
Put out the cat
We're steppin' out tonight
The song "Steppin' out Tonight" by Danny O'Keefe is about living in the moment and enjoying oneself while at the same time acknowledging the fleeting nature of things. The opening lines "Come on, let's kiss and make up, paint a smile upon your face" create a sense of urgency and a desire to forget about past quarrels and concerns. There is encouragement to embrace the night and not to be bogged down by fear or doubt. The lyrics "Don't sit down you can stand the pace" exemplify this message, the song encourages the listener to stay active and seize the moment.
The next few lines are about the band and the drummer is mentioned in particular. The lyrics imply that the drummer is skilled and fashionable, with straight drapes right off the rack. This further promotes the idea of staying stylish and relevant in the moment. The following two lines, "The trick is to be human, join the race, if now is the hour, this must be the place" seem to suggest that embracing humanity and joining in the race to live life to the fullest is the key to truly enjoying the moment. The next pair of lines, "You could lose your mind, tryin' to save your face, while in route, try steppin' out tonight" highlights the importance of taking risks and not worrying about how one appears to others.
The chorus of the song reiterates the urgency to step out tonight and enjoy oneself. Finally, the lyrics "It just takes a whiff of this, and maybe just a shot of that, put on the dog, put out the cat, we're steppin' out tonight" create a sense of excitement and possibility. The song highlights the importance of living in the moment and not getting bogged down with fears and worries. The message encourages the listener to embrace humanity and seize the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, let's kiss and make up
Let's reconcile and forget any past arguments or hurt feelings
Paint a smile upon your face
Put on a happy expression, despite any internal struggles or negative emotions
Don't sit down you can stand the pace
Don't hesitate or slow down, keep up with the energy and excitement of the moment
We're steppin' out tonight
We are going out and enjoying ourselves tonight
The band can play in nothin' flat
The band is skilled and capable of playing music quickly and efficiently
The drummer's gonna beat it back
The drummer will provide a strong beat for the music
He's got straight drapes right off the rack
The drummer is dressed well in stylish and fashionable clothing
But he's steppin' out tonight
He is also going out and enjoying himself tonight
The trick is to be human
The key to happiness is to embrace one's humanity and participate in social activities
Join the race
Join in with others and take part in activities that make you happy
If now is the hour
If this is the moment or opportunity
This must be the place
This location or event is where we need to be right now
You could lose your mind
You could become emotionally overwhelmed or unstable
Tryin' to save your face
Trying to protect one's reputation or image
While in route
While on the way or during the journey
Try steppin' out tonight
Enjoy yourself and participate in social activities tonight
The point's been made and stated
The argument or message has been expressed clearly
Don't you get it?
Do you not understand the message?
Put your money where your mouth is
Follow through on your words with action
And you bet it
And you can be sure of it
If the joke's on you
If you become the subject of humor or ridicule
Laugh and forget
Take the joke in stride and move on
Ain't no doubt
There is no uncertainty
We're steppin' out tonight
We are going out and enjoying ourselves tonight
It just takes a whiff of this
All it takes is a small amount of something
And maybe just a shot of that
And perhaps a small drink or dose of something else
Put on the dog
Dress up and look trendy
Put out the cat
Finish any tasks or chores at home before going out
We're steppin' out tonight
We are going out and enjoying ourselves tonight
Contributed by Owen K. 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.