At the time of his death, Hartford was also working on the biography of the blind fiddler Ed Haley. Hartford's album Wild Hog in the Red Bush is a collection of Haley's tunes. Hartford also provided narration for several of Ken Burns' documentaries.
Hartford was given a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Hartford recorded more than 30 albums in his life, ranging across a broad spectrum of styles--from the traditional country of his early RCA recordings, to the new and experimental sound of his early newgrass recordings, to the traditional folk style to which he often returned later in his life. Hartford's albums also vary widely in formality, from the stately and orderly "Annual Waltz" to the rougher and less cut recordings that typified many of his later albums.
"Aereo-Plain" and "Morning Bugle" are often considered to be Hartford's most influential work, coming as they did at the very beginning of a period in which artists such as Hartford and the New Grass Revival, led by Sam Bush, would create a new form of country music, blending their country backgrounds with influences from another of other sources. His later years saw a number of live albums, as well as recordings that explored the repertoire of old-time folk music. He sketched the cover art for some of his mid-career albums, drawing with both hands simultaneously.
From the 1980s onwards, Hartford struggled with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On June 4, 2001 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, at age 63, he died of the disease.
Hartford is remembered as an influential and pioneering artist. Never bound by the limitations of one genre, he recorded wherever his interests led him. Performing and recording until his illness rendered him incapable of continuing, Hartford contributed a vast and unique body of work to the library of American music.
Boogie
John Hartford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the kids in the gutter runnin' really bare
How much money do I have to get
To get me set where the jet set gets
Up on the hill where they do the boogie
(dododododododo, the boogie)
I wonder what they're doin' when they dodo the boogie
And I wonder what I'm doin' here
Down in the city if a-you ain't dead
You better watch that man, he gonna bust your head
Throw you over and leave you aloone
He's a-twenty minutes late, He's gotta be back home
(Chorus)
The rat's in the alley and a roach on the floor
A businessman huntin' for a two-bit whore
I thought I heard some housewife say
I gotta go up the hill for the PTA
(Chorus)
A-Some folks say that a hippie won't steal
But I caught three in my corn field
One had a flag and the other had a bomb
And the third ol' boy was a-gettin' on home
(Chorus)
Now all I know about is a-what I read
A-see it comin' at me on the TV screen
Every time they boogie well it gives me a thrill
But they always seem to do it way up on the hill
(Chorus)
dodododododododododododododododododododdo do dodod dodo
"Up on the Hill Where They Do The Boogie" by John Hartford is a commentary on the experience of life in the city. It begins with a harsh observation about the city and its problems, including the poverty and desperation of the children who run barefoot in the gutters. The singer, however, is not content to remain in this bleak environment and wonders how much money he needs to be part of the "jet set" on the hill where they do the boogie.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Up on the hill where they do the boogie," suggesting that the real excitement and joy in life can only be found in those places removed from the filth and poverty of the city. The verses offer a series of vignettes that illustrate life in the city, including its violence and sex trade. The final verse introduces the idea that the hippie counterculture may offer a way out of the city's problems, but even this avenue seems fraught with danger and conflict. Ultimately, the song is a commentary on American society in the late 1960s and addresses issues of race, class, and cultural conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in the city it's a pity what's there.
Living in the city is a sad state of affairs.
All the kids in the gutter runnin' really bare
Children in poverty are running around with no shoes or clothes.
How much money do I have to get
I wonder how much money I need to be rich.
To get me set where the jet set gets
To be able to live in luxury like the wealthy elite.
Up on the hill where they do the boogie
There's a place on the hill where people dance and have fun.
(dododododododo, the boogie)
The sound of people dancing.
I wonder what they're doin' when they dodo the boogie
I wonder what kind of dancing they're doing on the hill.
And I wonder what I'm doin' here
I wonder why I'm living in the city when there's a fun place on the hill.
Down in the city if a-you ain't dead
Living in the city is dangerous.
You better watch that man, he gonna bust your head
Be careful of violent people around you.
Throw you over and leave you aloone
They might harm you and leave you alone.
He's a-twenty minutes late, He's gotta be back home
A friend is running late because they have other obligations.
The rat's in the alley and a roach on the floor
The city is dirty and infested with pests.
A businessman huntin' for a two-bit whore
A wealthy man is looking for a cheap escort.
I thought I heard some housewife say
I overheard a woman talking about something.
I gotta go up the hill for the PTA
I need to go up the hill for a PTA meeting.
Some folks say that a hippie won't steal
Some people believe that hippies won't steal.
But I caught three in my corn field
I caught three hippies stealing from my corn field.
One had a flag and the other had a bomb
One of them had a flag and another had a bomb.
And the third ol' boy was a-gettin' on home
The third person was heading home.
Now all I know about is a-what I read
I only know what I read and see on TV.
A-see it comin' at me on the TV screen
I see things happening on TV.
Every time they boogie well it gives me a thrill
Watching people dance gives me excitement.
But they always seem to do it way up on the hill
But it always seems like the fun is happening up on the hill.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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