Jerry Jeff said that Bromberg is the reason that instruments have strings.[citation needed]
The quintessential musician's musician, Bromberg is proficient on fiddle, many styles of acoustic and electric guitar (to each of which he lends a highly individual voice), pedal steel guitar and dobro. David Lindley, Norman Blake, Mark O'Connor, and Ricky Skaggs are among the small number of other major musicians with equal proficiency on three or more string instruments.
Use Me
David Bromberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They feel it's their point of duty
Oh, they keep trying to tell me
That all you wanna do is use me, yeah
But my answer, um to all that useless stuff
Is that I wanna spread the news
That if it feels this good getting used
Ah, till you use me up
You know my brother
Sat me right down and he talked to me
You know that he had told me
That I ought not to let you just walk on me
And I'm sure that he meant well
Yeah but when our talk was through
I said, "Brother, if you only knew
You'd wish that you were in my shoes
You just keep on using me, girl, until you use me up"
Keep on using me until you use me up
Well sometimes now, yeah, it's true
You really do abuse me, you really do
You get in a crowd of high class people
And then you act real rude to me
But oh baby, baby, baby, baby
When you love me, I can't get enough
I, I, I, I wanna spread the news
If it feels this good getting used
You can keep on using me until you used me up
Yeah, until you used me up
Talk about you using me, oh
But it all depends on what you do
It ain't too bad the way you using me
'Cause I sure am using you to do the things you do
Yeah, using you to do the things you do
Yeah, I kinda
I kinda got to like the way you use me, baby
That what I am here for, darling
You just go ahead and use me
Yeah, right now, you can use me, baby
Use me, use me, use me, use me
Use me, use me, use me, use me
Uh huh, no, no, no, don't use that
That's better, yeah
Yeah, I like the way you use me
I still got more you know, I
Can't use me up yet
Till you use me up
The lyrics of David Bromberg's song Use Me talks about a person who is aware of the fact that their friends think that the only intention of their lover is to use them. The person's counter-argument is that they welcome being used as it brings them unparalleled pleasure, and they want everyone to know about it. The lyrics go on to describe the conversation that the singer had with their brother, where the latter advised them to not let their lover walk over them. The singer then tells their brother that if he only knew how good it felt to be used by their lover, he would envy them. The song then shifts to describe how the lover does, at times, treat the singer poorly in public gatherings. However, when the lover is alone with the singer, their love feels so good that the singer cannot get enough of it. The song ends with the singer affirming that they like the way their lover uses them and urges them to keep using them.
The song's lyrics appear to talk about a romantic relationship, but they could be interpreted as an analogy for drug addiction, too. The singer could be likened to an addict highlighting that they like the high that accompanies drug use despite all the negative aspects associated with it. The song also highlights the theme of power dynamics, where the singer seems to be okay with being used as long as they are also getting something out of the relationship. Additionally, the song could be considered a commentary on societal expectations of romantic relationships, where the expectation is that both parties are in love equally, and any instances of exploitation or imbalance are frowned upon.
Line by Line Meaning
My friends
The singer is addressing their friends.
They feel it's their point of duty
The singer's friends believe that it is their duty to warn the singer about the other person's intentions.
Oh, they keep trying to tell me
The singer's friends repeatedly warn them about the other person's intentions.
That all you wanna do is use me, yeah
The artist's friends believe that the other person only wants to use the artist for their own benefit.
But my answer, um to all that useless stuff
The artist rejects their friends' warnings and does not find them helpful.
Is that I wanna spread the news
The singer wants to share their positive experience of being used by the other person.
That if it feels this good getting used
The singer is enjoying being used by the other person.
You just keep on using me until you use me up
The artist wants the other person to continue using them until they can no longer be used anymore.
Ah, till you use me up
The artist is emphasizing that they want to be used to the fullest extent possible.
You know my brother
The artist is referring to their brother.
Sat me right down and he talked to me
The singer's brother had a serious conversation with them.
You know that he had told me
The artist's brother gave them advice.
That I ought not to let you just walk on me
The singer's brother advised them not to let the other person take advantage of them.
And I'm sure that he meant well
The singer believes that their brother had good intentions.
Yeah but when our talk was through
After the conversation with their brother ended...
I said, "Brother, if you only knew
The artist is telling their brother that they don't understand what it's like to be used in this way.
You'd wish that you were in my shoes
The artist believes that their brother would like to be in their position.
You just keep on using me, girl, until you use me up
The singer is telling the other person to continue using them.
Well sometimes now, yeah, it's true
The singer is acknowledging that sometimes the other person mistreats them.
You really do abuse me, you really do
The artist is admitting that the other person is abusive.
You get in a crowd of high class people
The other person behaves rudely when they are around wealthy people.
And then you act real rude to me
The other person treats the artist poorly in front of people they see as superior.
But oh baby, baby, baby, baby
The singer still has positive feelings for the other person.
When you love me, I can't get enough
The artist craves the other person's love and affection.
You can keep on using me until you used me up
The singer repeats their desire to be used to the fullest extent possible.
Talk about you using me, oh
The singer acknowledges that the other person is using them.
But it all depends on what you do
The singer is willing to be used by the other person as long as it benefits them.
It ain't too bad the way you using me
The artist is okay with the other person using them in the way that they are currently doing so.
'Cause I sure am using you to do the things you do
The artist is getting something out of the relationship as well by having the other person do specific things for them.
Yeah, using you to do the things you do
The singer repeats that they are using the other person as well.
Yeah, I kinda
The singer is hesitating or unsure here.
I kinda got to like the way you use me, baby
The artist is developing positive feelings about being used by the other person.
That what I am here for, darling
The artist believes that their purpose is to be used by the other person.
You just go ahead and use me
The artist is giving permission to the other person to continue using them.
Yeah, right now, you can use me, baby
The singer is emphasizing that they are currently available to be used by the other person.
Use me, use me, use me, use me
The artist wants to be used by the other person multiple times.
Use me, use me, use me, use me
The singer repeats their request to be used.
Uh huh, no, no, no, don't use that
The singer is rejecting a suggestion or request from the other person.
That's better, yeah
The singer approves of a change that the other person made.
Yeah, I like the way you use me
The artist reiterates that they enjoy being used by the other person.
I still got more you know, I
The artist is indicating that they can still be used further.
Can't use me up yet
The singer believes that they still have more to offer and be used for.
Till you use me up
The singer repeats their desire to be fully used by the other person.
Contributed by Claire I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Legba
on Hardworkin' John
It was actually released in 1972 on his album Demon In Disguise, with Andy Statman on mandolin, Kenny Kosek on fiddle, Tom Sheehan on bass and David on guitar and vocals.
Steve Janus
on Bullfrog Blues
Hi all, well as I can see through reading through the comments most of us are a bunch of old broken down hard cases, but if I may tell a Story or two about David. I was turned onto him back in say 1982 or so. I was also an umm (Pay attention here) a sorta hard-core Biker in an M/C, (I'm out now) STOP RT THERE if you ever saw Sons Of Anarchy forget that crap. Repeat after me. "It was ONLY TV" I watched and part of me liked it, but part of me said woa is us. In my day there was no TOP DOWN DRUG RUNNING conspiracies., not saying people didn't husslte, but never top-down.
Even now) Why it's called RICO.. Ok got that off my chest. So me and some of the club (No we were not 1 % ers (Think Hells Angels etc started going to his shows. I guess he noticed and well most or a lot of his shows in Denver/Colo then were small venues. We sorta ( no assigned setting, LOL somehow ended up front.
Anyway, we got to know him and from time to time when a schmuck would act up we'd escort said schmuck out. over a 5 yr period, I saw him maybe 15-20 times and he put on the best show ever. Being us, really got us nothing except a call and "How many seats
you need"
Now the best story evah, He did a small club up in Boilder and it had a balcony, so I'm up there with my best Bro and were with 2 gals. LOL my Bros gal I look over and she's peeling her undies off, she tosses them down and they land o the drummer's High Hat.
David finishes his song is sweating his ass off, turns grabs that, and wipes his face.
He kind of realizes what it was and goes like "Gack" and tosses it. I guess you had to be there.