Smuggler's Blues
Glenn Frey Lyrics


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There's trouble on the streets tonight
I can feel it in my bones
I had a premonition
That he should not go alone

I knew the gun was loaded
But I didn't think he'd kill
Everything exploded
And the blood began to spill

So baby, here's your ticket
Put the suitcase in your hand
Here's a little money now
Do it just the way we planned

You be cool for twenty hours
And I'll pay you twenty grand
I'm sorry it went down like this
And someone had to lose

It's the nature of the business
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's Blues
The sailors and pilots

The soldiers and the law
The pay offs and the rip offs
And the things nobody saw
No matter if it's heroin, cocaine, or hash

You've got to carry weapons
'Cause you always carry cash
There's lots of shady characters
Lots of dirty deals

Every name's an alias
In case somebody squeals
It's the lure of easy money
It's got a very strong appeal

Perhaps you'd understand it better
Standin' in my shoes
It's the ultimate enticement
It's the smuggler's blues

Smuggler's blues
Oh
See it in the headlines
You hear it ev'ry day
They say they're gonna stop it

But it doesn't go away
They move it through Miami, sell it in L.A.
They hide it up in Telluride
I mean it's here to stay

It's propping up the governments in Columbia and Peru
You ask any D.E.A. man
He'll say "there's nothin' we can do"
From the office of the President

Right down to me and you, me and you
It's a losing proposition
But one you can't refuse
It's the politics of contraband
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's blues

Hmm, hmm
Woah, oh




Woah, oh
Ya

Overall Meaning

In Glenn Frey's "Smuggler's Blues," he describes the nature of the illegal drug trade, including the violence and danger that come with it. The singer had warned his friend not to go alone, recognizing that trouble was brewing, but it's too late when the blood begins to spill. The singer expresses remorse and gives his partner a ticket and money to leave after the incident. He explains that in the world of smuggling, everyone carries weapons because they always carry cash. It's a world of aliases, dirty deals, and shady characters.


Frey also addresses the politics of drugs, and while authorities claim they're going to stop it, it never seems to go away. Drugs are moved through Miami and sold in L.A., and they're even propping up governments in Columbia and Peru. The lyrics suggest that the drug trade is a losing proposition but also an enticing one. The singer implies that those who criticize smugglers may not understand the circumstances that compel people into that kind of business.


Line by Line Meaning

There's trouble on the streets tonight
The atmosphere today suggests something is about to happen


I can feel it in my bones
I can sense that something bad might occur


I had a premonition
I had a feeling that something bad might happen


That he should not go alone
That he mustn't go by himself


I knew the gun was loaded
I was aware that the gun had bullets in it


But I didn't think he'd kill
I didn't expect him to use it to kill someone


Everything exploded
Everything went out of control


And the blood began to spill
People started to get hurt and bleed


So baby, here's your ticket
Here's your ticket to leave the dangerous situation


Put the suitcase in your hand
Take your essentials with you


Here's a little money now
Here's some money as compensation


Do it just the way we planned
Stick to the plan that we agreed on earlier


You be cool for twenty hours
Stay calm for twenty hours


And I'll pay you twenty grand
I'll give you $20,000 in return


I'm sorry it went down like this
I feel bad about how things ended up


And someone had to lose
Unfortunately, someone had to be hurt


It's the nature of the business
That's just how things are in this industry


It's the smuggler's blues
These problems are the consequences of being a smuggler


The sailors and pilots
Even people in related professions get caught up in this


The soldiers and the law
Even those whose job it is to stop it can sometimes be involved


The pay offs and the rip offs
There are scams and bribes that are part of the system


And the things nobody saw
These actions take place secretly


No matter if it's heroin, cocaine, or hash
It doesn't matter what they're smuggling


You've got to carry weapons
You must have weapons for protection


'Cause you always carry cash
Because you're always carrying money


There's lots of shady characters
There are untrustworthy individuals everywhere


Lots of dirty deals
There are many unsavory agreements happening


Every name's an alias
Everyone goes by a fake name to avoid being caught


In case somebody squeals
To prevent someone from revealing the truth


It's the lure of easy money
The promise of making a lot of money quickly


It's got a very strong appeal
It's very tempting


Perhaps you'd understand it better
Maybe you would comprehend it more


Standin' in my shoes
If you were in my position


It's the ultimate enticement
It's the most attractive temptation


It's propping up the governments in Columbia and Peru
It's providing much-needed financial support to the governments in those countries


You ask any D.E.A. man
You can ask any Drug Enforcement Administration employee


He'll say 'there's nothin' we can do'
They will say that they are powerless to stop it


From the office of the President
Even people at the highest levels of government are aware of this issue


Right down to me and you, me and you
It affects everyone, including regular citizens


It's a losing proposition
It's an impossible situation to win


But one you can't refuse
But it's also an opportunity you can't resist


It's the politics of contraband
It's the politics surrounding the illegal products that are being smuggled


It's the smuggler's blues
These problems are the consequences of being a smuggler


Hmm, hmm


Woah, oh


Woah, oh


Ya




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Glenn Lewis Frey, Jack Tempchin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@airport4173

There's trouble on the street tonight
I can feel it in my bones, I had a premonition
That he should not go alone
I knew the gun was loaded
But I didn't think he'd kill
Everything exploded and the blood began to spill
So baby, here's your ticket
Put the suitcase in your hand, here's a little money now
Do it just the way we planned
You be cool for twenty hours and I'll pay you twenty grand
I'm sorry it went down like this
And someone had to lose, it's the nature of the business
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's blues
The sailors and pilots, the soldiers and the law
The pay-offs and the rip-offs and the things nobody saw
No matter if it's heroin, cocaine or hash
You've got to carry weapons 'cause you always carry cash
There's lots of shady characters, lots of dirty deals
Every name's an alias in case somebody squeals
It's the lure of easy money, it's got a very strong appeal
Perhaps you'd understand it better
Standin' in my shoes, it's the ultimate enticement
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's blues
You see it in the headlines, you hear it every day
They say they're gonna stop it but it doesn't go away
They move it through Miami, sell it in L.A.
They hide it up in Telluride, I mean it's here to stay
It's propping up the governments in Colombia and Peru
You ask any D.E.A. man, he'll say, "There's nothin' we can do"
From the office of the president
Right down to me and you, me and you
It's a losing proposition but one you can't refuse
It's the politics of contraband
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's blues



@Peter-bu6ld

LYRICS:

There's trouble on the street tonight
I can feel it in my bones, I had a premonition
That he should not go alone
I knew the gun was loaded
But I didn't think he'd kill
Everything exploded and the blood began to spill

So baby, here's your ticket
Put the suitcase in your hand, here's a little money now
Do it just the way we planned
You be cool for twenty hours and I'll pay you twenty grand

I'm sorry it went down like this
And someone had to lose, it's the nature of the business
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's blues

The sailors and pilots, the soldiers and the law
The pay-offs and the rip-offs and the things nobody saw
No matter if it's heroin, cocaine or hash
You've got to carry weapons 'cause you always carry cash

There's lots of shady characters, lots of dirty deals
Every name's an alias in case somebody squeals
It's the lure of easy money, it's got a very strong appeal

Perhaps you'd understand it better
Standin' in my shoes, it's the ultimate enticement
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's blues

You see it in the headlines, you hear it every day
They say they're gonna stop it but it doesn't go away
They move it through Miami, sell it in L.A.
They hide it up in Telluride, I mean it's here to stay
It's propping up the governments in Colombia and Peru
You ask any D.E.A. man, he'll say, "There's nothin' we can do"
From the office of the president
Right down to me and you, me and you

It's a losing proposition but one you can't refuse
It's the politics of contraband
It's the smuggler's blues
Smuggler's blues



All comments from YouTube:

@arnoldsherrill2585

If there is ever a song that explains why getting in the dope game isn't a good idea this song is it.. it is killer in more ways than one. Rest in peace Glenn Frey you got it right when you wrote this one

@jacquelinedangelo46

This tune was actually written by a friend of my boyfriends : Jack Temptson , and yes perfect for the temperature of the time. Was fantastic that it made its way along w Glenn into Miami Vice.

@CLEE52

Love Glenn!!!! So hot and his singing made him hotter 💥🔥💥🔥

@christopherscott5499

Well said!!

@beanseff

It getting into any bussiness if you rhink about it

@keithlavigne978

​@@jacquelinedangelo46k7p

20 More Replies...

@christophersantana5895

THIS SONG IS STILL A PURE CLASSIC AFTER 38 YEARS.

@dianeclay7368

Really 38 years. Dam we or old. I miss those 38 years. Its really been that long. Well it's a good thing we have videos.our love ones live forever in pictures.

@steveo3328

@Diane Clay Here's to 38 more : )

@pabo-qv3nx

This is what you call music.
Great singer, Great song, Great video

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