Andersen belonged, in the early sixties, together with Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan, to the Greenwich Village folkscene in New York. His best-known songs from that time are “Violets of Dawn,” “Come to My Bedside” and “Thirsty Boots” (the latter was recorded by Judy Collins and several others). In 1966, he made his debut at the Newport Folk Festival and that same year he starred in the Andy Warhol movie Space. In 1970 he took part in the Festival Express tour across Canada with the Grateful Dead , Janis Joplin, The Band and others. In 1972 he issued his most successful (and sold) album Blue River. The tapes of his follow-up album Stages got lost, but were found back more than a decade later and issued in 1991 as Stages: The Lost Album. In 1975 he performed at the opening show of the Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue, at Gerde's Folk City in New York, and again in Niagara Falls. After several albums (country/rock/folk), he issued Ghosts Upon the Road a highly recognized album in 1988. In the early 1990s, Andersen teamed with Rick Danko (The Band) and Jonas Fjeld to form the trio Danko/Fjeld/Andersen and three albums were released, Danko/Fjeld/Andersen (1991), Ridin' on the Blinds (1994), and One More Shot (2001). It lasted nine years before his next solo album Memory Of The Future (1998) was issued. This "dreamy and introspective music" album was followed by You Can't Relive The Past (2000), which contains some blues songs and a selection of songs co-written with Townes van Zandt . A double album Beat Avenue followed in 2003, which contains a series rock dominated ballads and includes a 26-minute title track (a jazzy beat poem), which represents his experiences among San Francisco’s beat community of artists (see 'Beat Generation') on the day of president John Kennedy’s assassination. On his last two albums The Street Was Always There (2004) and Waves (2005), both produced by the multi-instrumentalist Robert Aaron, he presents (amongst own songs) new versions of classics and of his sixties contemporaries and friends David Blue, Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Peter La Farge, Fred Neil, Phil Ochs, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Paul Siebel, Patrick Sky, Tom Paxton, Richard Farina, John Sebastian, Happy Traum, Tom Rush and Lou Reed . His next album Blue Rain, released in 2007, was his first live album. It was recorded in Norway and contains a blend of blues, jazz and folk.
In 2009, Andersen contributed an essay entitled The Danger Zone to the Naked Lunch @ 50: Anniversary Essays, a book volume edited by Oliver Harris and Ian MacFadyen devoted to William Burroughs’ masterpiece the Naked Lunch, considered one of the landmark publications in the history of American literature.
In 2011, a second live album The Cologne Concert was released featuring Michele Gazich (Italy) on violin and Eric's wife Inge Andersen on backing vocals.
In 2012 the filmmaker Paul Lamont (Toward Castle Films) started the production of The Eric Andersen Story, a documentary film, which is expected to be ready for global distribution in 2014.
Andersen has completed the recording of his new album Dance of Love and Death. The album is mixed by Steve Addabbo (Suzanne Vega ), other musicians are Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Larry Campbell (musician) (Bob Dylan band; Phil Lesh and Friends, Levon Helm Band), Michele Gazich (Mary Gauthier , Mark Olson (musician), Michelle Shocked ) and Inge Andersen. The record is expected to be released early 2013.
The Hustler
Eric Andersen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can try and run me down
But you can’t drive me on the ground
When you’re not there I’ll be around
Haunt you I won’t make a sound
Track you I don’t need a hound
You think your lost I got you found
You’re surrounded though you think that they can’t see
You’ll be surprised that all in all
Nobody really cares at all
You won’t believe the biggest xxx
I can bite your heels when you crawl
The pain will come from those so small
Go cry wolf or better you should scream
Though you’re not on top you think your first
Some surgeon scalpel steal the nurse
Who can let the others feel the hurt
When you’re the driver of the hearse
So you’ll feel bad but they’ll feel worse
Without you what would the doctor be?
(Chorus)
I’m watching you but not like quite before
I will find you you’re the one I’ve been looking for
But when it’s over don’t say sorry any more
(Verse 2)
Abreast this painter run him down
Into the night to paint the town
While putting everybody on
Blowing smoke rings for the crown
You brag of those you’ve been around
You listen to your silly sounds
Disciples pass your bread around
While the cross is hidden in your gown
They think that they’re on holy ground
Not knowing Judas watches from the tree
While posing as the saint of need
You got fathered to the one who’s weak
By using words like sad defeat
You laugh but you got lose the beat
The girls all giggle at your feet
The squealing people that you meet
You might get made but be discreet
Don’t you take your mask of trick or treat
As you get the stars down on their knees
But do you really think that you have far to meet?
Believing in the magic noose
That trips the egg the golden goose
And with it you can never lose
While fairy tales steal the truth
I don’t let go hey
I don’t let loose
For the goose is flippin’ of the roof
And without its wings how can you be free?
(Chorus)
But I’m watching you but not like quite before
I will find you you’re the one I’ve been looking for
But when it’s over don’t say sorry any more
(Instrumental)
(Verse 3)
That ranger he just rides along
Protecting those that don’t belong
In the land that has no right or wrong
Time till you just load his gun
For killing outlaws one by one
Shooting in-laws just for fun
While the jungle laws are on the run
Step out before you get stepped on
Sadists wear their war paint on
Afraid if you’re in the dark to long
Cause you know the jungle is no place for the meek
You say life is absurdity carnival for melodies
You hide the big time bitterly
You set the stage so faithfully
You’re hocker for more mystery
While marching so religiously
Is the army that has paid to see
The choir boy of reality
Laugh at all authority
And you smile oh so cynically
Sole possessor of his key
And it’s sad to know that’s all you’ll ever be
And you said keep on the sunny side
That life is just a rainbow ride
Silver studded surfboard glide
On the whinnin’ waves keep your hide
Don’t you hit the moon when you fly to wide
It’ll bring to you down below the tide
It’s where no one keeps their tears inside
The waters can hide them if you cry
For in the waves there are no mysteries
(Chorus)
But I’m watching you but not like quite before
I will find you you’re the one I’ve been looking for
But when it’s over don’t say sorry any more
The Hustler is a song that tackles the issue of deception, falsehood, and hypocrisy. Eric Andersen, the songwriter, seems to be calling out someone in particular, possibly a con artist, who has been able to paint himself as a saint while taking advantage of the people around him. The opening lines are an indication that despite the deceiver's best efforts, they cannot keep Andersen down. He says, "you can't drive me to the ground" indicating that he is unshakable, and will always be a step ahead of the person he is calling out. The song takes on an ominous and threatening tone, talking about how the hustler will be found out and how they will eventually fall, and no one will care about their demise.
Andersen seems to be aware of the facade that the hustler is putting up, and mocks his pretence to virtue. He compares the hustler to a painter, painting the town red, blowing smoke rings for the crown, and bragging about the people he has been around. Andersen sees through the hustle and knows that it is all a façade. He talks about the people the hustler has manipulated, passing bread around and thinking they are on holy ground, not knowing that Judas is watching from the tree. The allusion to Judas indicates that the hustler has betrayed those around him, and his betrayal will be found out eventually. The song ends with Andersen advising the hustler to keep on the sunny side, a proven way of saying that one should keep a positive outlook despite the challenges they are facing, but still warns them that they will eventually be found out and no apologies will suffice.
Line by Line Meaning
You can try and run me down
I won't let you bring me down
But you can’t drive me on the ground
I won't be defeated easily
When you’re not there I’ll be around
I won't let you get away with anything
Haunt you I won’t make a sound
I'll be watching you silently
Track you I don’t need a hound
I don't need any help to find you
You think your lost I got you found
I know where you are
You’re surrounded though you think that they can’t see
You're not as invisible as you think
Your castle walls they all will fall
Your protection will fail
You’ll be surprised that all in all
You'll be shocked by the outcome
Nobody really cares at all
No one is on your side
You won’t believe the biggest xxx
You won't believe the biggest surprise
I can bite your heels when you crawl
I'll be waiting for you to fall
The pain will come from those so small
The small things will cause you pain
Go cry wolf or better you should scream
No one will listen to your cries
Though you’re not on top you think your first
You think you're more important than you are
Some surgeon scalpel steal the nurse
Someone will take advantage of you
Who can let the others feel the hurt
Who will hurt others to feel better?
When you’re the driver of the hearse
When you're the cause of your own demise
So you’ll feel bad but they’ll feel worse
You'll regret your actions later on
Without you what would the doctor be?
What would happen without your intervention?
I’m watching you but not like quite before
I'm keeping an eye on you
I will find you you’re the one I’ve been looking for
I'll catch you eventually
But when it’s over don’t say sorry any more
Apologies won't change the outcome
Abreast this painter run him down
This painter is getting in the way
Into the night to paint the town
This painter is causing trouble
While putting everybody on
While fooling everyone
Blowing smoke rings for the crown
Making a show of yourself
You brag of those you’ve been around
You brag about your connections
You listen to your silly sounds
You're so taken with yourself
Disciples pass your bread around
Your followers are your puppets
While the cross is hidden in your gown
While you pretend to be holy
They think that they’re on holy ground
Your followers are naive
Not knowing Judas watches from the tree
Without realizing they're being betrayed
While posing as the saint of need
While pretending to be a helper of the needy
You got fathered to the one who’s weak
You're taking advantage of the vulnerable
By using words like sad defeat
By manipulating their emotions
You laugh but you got lose the beat
You're not as clever as you think
The girls all giggle at your feet
Your charm won't last long
The squealing people that you meet
The people you manipulate will turn on you
You might get made but be discreet
Be careful who you reveal yourself to
Don’t you take your mask of trick or treat
Don't let anyone see the real you
As you get the stars down on their knees
As you gain power and influence
But do you really think that you have far to meet?
Do you think you'll achieve your goals?
Believing in the magic noose
Believing in dangerous illusions
That trips the egg the golden goose
That will ruin your chances of success
And with it you can never lose
You'll never learn from your mistakes
While fairy tales steal the truth
While you ignore reality
I don’t let go hey
I won't give up
I don’t let loose
I won't back down
For the goose is flippin’ of the roof
For everything is unpredictable
And without its wings how can you be free?
Without control, how can you claim to be free?
That ranger he just rides along
That ranger is just doing his job
Protecting those that don’t belong
Protecting the vulnerable
In the land that has no right or wrong
In a lawless land
Time till you just load his gun
Until he's pushed to violence
For killing outlaws one by one
For enforcing the law with violence
Shooting in-laws just for fun
Without realizing the people he hurts
While the jungle laws are on the run
While the lawlessness is rampant
Step out before you get stepped on
Be careful where you tread
Sadists wear their war paint on
The violent ones are easy to spot
Afraid if you’re in the dark to long
Afraid of the unknown
Cause you know the jungle is no place for the meek
Because only the strong survive
You say life is absurdity carnival for melodies
You believe life is a meaningless spectacle
You hide the big time bitterly
You're bitter about your lack of success
You set the stage so faithfully
You're convinced of your own importance
You’re hocker for more mystery
You crave the unknown
While marching so religiously
While you cling to your beliefs
Is the army that has paid to see
Is the audience that has paid for the show
The choir boy of reality
The optimistic one in a pessimistic world
Laugh at all authority
Disrespect those in power
And you smile oh so cynically
And you smirk at their hypocrisy
Sole possessor of his key
In control of your own destiny
And it’s sad to know that’s all you’ll ever be
And it's sad to realize your limitations
Contributed by Madelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
George Rothe
this is from his second album. (and the third - Bout Changes and Things - Take 2)
Brooklyn
This one is from the first version of the album.
rattlunhum
is this off bout changes 'n things 2??