He was best known as a pioneer of the acoustic blues revival, but his work ranged from old English ballads to Bertolt Brecht, rock, New Orleans jazz, and swing. He was a pioneer of instrumental ragtime guitar, as well as an early supporter of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, among many others. Van Ronk was very influential on the music scene in New York City in the 1960s.
His professional musical career started when he moved from Brooklyn to Queens in 1951 and started doing pick-up work in traditional jazz outfits.
Van Ronk died of colorectal cancer (colon cancer) in 2002.
Duncan and Brady
Dave Van Ronk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Along came Brady in his 'lectric car
Got a mean look right in his eye
Gonna shoot somebody just to see him die
Well, he been on the job too long
Well, Duncan, Duncan was tending the bar
Along comes Brady with his shiny star
And Duncan shot a hole right in Brady's chest
Yes, he been on the job too long
Brady, Brady, Brady, well you know you done wrong
Breaking in here when my game's going on
Breaking down the windows, knocking down the door
And now you're lying dead on the barroom floor
Yes, you been on the job too long
Well, old King Brady was a big fat man
Doctor reached out, grabbed hold of his hand
He felt for his pulse, doctor said
"I believe unto my soul King Brady's dead"
Yes, he been on the job too long
High tailed carriages standing around
Waiting to take King Brady to the burying ground
High tailed carriages, rubber tired hack
Well, they took him to the graveyard
But they didn't bring him back
Yes, he been on the job too long
Well, women all heard King Brady was dead
They go back home and re-rag in red
Come a-slipping and a-sliding and a-shuffling down the street
In their big Mother Hubbards and their stocking feet
He been on the job too long
Well, Brady, Brady, well you know you done wrong
Breaking in here when my game's going on
Breaking down the windows, knocking down the door
And now you're lying dead on the barroom floor
Yes, you been on the job too long
Dave Van Ronk's song "Duncan and Brady" tells the story of a violent confrontation between two men, Duncan and Brady. The first verse describes Brady driving his electric car and looking for trouble. He sees someone he wants to shoot just to see them die, demonstrating his willingness to use violence for its own sake. In the second verse, Duncan is tending bar when Brady arrives and tries to arrest him. Instead, Duncan shoots and kills Brady, claiming he was just defending himself. The chorus repeats the idea that Brady has been on the job too long and has become corrupted by his power, leading to his downfall.
The song draws its inspiration from the real-life events of the 1890s, which became known as the "Duncan affair." In this incident, two police officers, William Duncan and John Brady, got into a fight and Duncan shot and killed Brady. The events were widely publicized and became the inspiration for numerous songs including "Duncan and Brady." The lyrics reflect a common theme in blues and folk music of examining the corrupting influence of power and violence. The song also reinforces the idea that people can only be pushed so far before they are willing to fight back.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it's twinkle, twinkle little star
The atmosphere is light and casual, as if people are enjoying a fun evening.
Along came Brady in his 'lectric car
Brady arrives in an electric car, but his demeanor suggests he's not there to have fun.
Got a mean look right in his eye
Brady has a malicious intent and is focused on causing trouble.
Gonna shoot somebody just to see him die
Brady is not hesitant to use violence and seems to even enjoy the idea of causing others pain.
Well, he been on the job too long
The song suggests that Brady has become accustomed to his violent behavior and it has become a part of who he is.
Well, Duncan, Duncan was tending the bar
Duncan is the bartender and is going about his job as usual.
Along comes Brady with his shiny star
Brady arrives at the bar with his badge and gun, asserting his authority.
Brady says, Duncan, you are under arrest
Brady accuses Duncan of a crime and tries to take him into custody.
And Duncan shot a hole right in Brady's chest
Duncan resists Brady's authority and shoots him in self-defense.
Yes, he been on the job too long
The song suggests that Brady's violent behavior has escalated over time and contributed to his demise.
Brady, Brady, Brady, well you know you done wrong
The song emphasizes that Brady's violent behavior ultimately led to his death and was a result of his own choices.
Breaking in here when my game's going on
Brady's intrusion disrupted the normal flow of events and threatened the safety of the people in the bar.
Breaking down the windows, knocking down the door
Brady uses force to enter the bar, which puts everyone inside in danger.
And now you're lying dead on the barroom floor
The song highlights the tragic outcome of Brady's violent behavior.
Well, old King Brady was a big fat man
The song uses sarcasm to describe Brady's physical appearance, suggesting that he was not fit for the job.
Doctor reached out, grabbed hold of his hand
The doctor tries to revive Brady, but his efforts are unsuccessful.
He felt for his pulse, doctor said
The doctor checks for a pulse to see if Brady is still alive.
"I believe unto my soul King Brady's dead"
The doctor confirms that Brady has died.
High tailed carriages standing around
The song describes the scene outside the bar as people gather to witness the aftermath of the violence.
Waiting to take King Brady to the burying ground
The carriages are there to carry Brady's body away for burial.
High tailed carriages, rubber tired hack
The carriages are described in detail to evoke a sense of mourning and funeral procession.
Well, they took him to the graveyard
The mourners took Brady's body to the cemetery for burial.
But they didn't bring him back
The song emphasizes the finality of death and the fact that Brady will not return.
Well, women all heard King Brady was dead
The news of Brady's death spreads throughout the town, and many people come to see his body.
They go back home and re-rag in red
The women change their clothing as a sign of mourning and respect for the dead.
Come a-slipping and a-sliding and a-shuffling down the street
The women move slowly and mournfully as they walk through the town.
In their big Mother Hubbards and their stocking feet
The song uses specific clothing details to evoke a sense of the period and the solemnity of the occasion.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOM RUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johannmarlowe
For 36 of his 37 surviving plays, we know that Shakespeare borrowed the plots from one source or another. All his contemporaries knew it too--and, for that matter, followed the same procedure in writing their own works. The true test of a writer's originality consisted in what he did with the existing material. Ditto Dave Van Ronk, who's made this song his own.
Coldkill2001
I'm becoming something of a Brady myself these days. Working a job every day really gets to ya.
Joel Harkow M.D.
Tom Rush also does a nice version of this song........love it!
Jeff Gann
#LovinTheGoodStuff
Simple,eccentric,heartfelt,turn it loose, a+ songritin', all the good stuffs gone
d ged
the "clean shaven" one is banjo player roger sprung, one of the mainstays at the weekly sunday jam session in washington square park, and the photo was probably taken in the mid-1950s. sprung was an important figure in introducing scruggs-style bluegrass banjo playing to new york-area musicians and was a fine player in his own right.
Alan Spector
Who else could play Mack the Knife. and Stars and Stripes Forever in impeccable syncopated Scruggs style banjo?
lol in the sky
god....i found my favorite tipe of music <3
keltyk
first time I've heard DVR... I like this a lot. Wonder if John Martyn borrowed a lot from his style... slightly reminds me of him
pomea
Never realized this is where the Johnson Mountain Boys got their version. It was Dave Van Ronk!
phononut
And he got it from Wilmer watts and his lone eagles.