Newman is noted for his practice of writing lyrics from the perspective of a character far removed from Newman's own biography. For example, the 1972 song "Sail Away" is written as a slave trader's sales pitch to attract slaves, while the narrator of "Political Science" is a U.S. nationalist who complains of worldwide ingratitude toward America and proposes a brutally ironic final solution. One of his biggest hits, "Short People" was written from the perspective of "a lunatic" who hates short people. Since the 1980s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer. His film scores include Ragtime, Awakenings, The Natural, Leatherheads, James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and The Princess and the Frog. He has scored many Disney-Pixar films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Cars 3 and most recently Toy Story 4.
He has been awarded an Academy Award, three Emmys, four Grammy Awards, and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Newman was inducted as a Disney Legend.
Newman grew up in a musical family with Hollywood connections; his uncles Alfred and Lionel both scored numerous films. By age 17, Randy was staff writer for a California music publisher. One semester short of a B.A. in music from UCLA, he dropped out of school. Lenny Waronker, son of Liberty Records’ president, was a close friend and, later, as a staff producer for Warner Bros., helped get Newman signed to the label.
Newman’s early songs were recorded by a number of performers. His friend Harry Nilsson recorded an entire album with Newman on piano, Nilsson Sings Newman, in 1970. Judy Collins (“I Think It’s Going to Rain Today”), Peggy Lee (“Love Story”), and Three Dog Night - for whom “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” hit #1 - all enjoyed success with Newman’s music.
Newman became a popular campus attraction when touring with Nilsson. His status as a cult star was affirmed by his critically praised debut, Randy Newman, in 1968, which featured his own complex arrangements for full orchestra, and later by 1970’s 12 Songs. He also sang “Gone Dead Train” on the soundtrack of Performance (1970). Live and Sail Away were Newman’s first commercial successes, but his audience has been limited to some degree because his songs are often colored by his ironic, pointed sense of humor, which is rarely simple and frequently misunderstood.
Good Old Boys, for example, was a concept album about the South, with the lyrics expressing the viewpoint of white Southerners. Lyrics such as “We’re rednecks, and we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground” made people wonder whether Newman was being satirical or sympathetic. He toured (to Atlanta and elsewhere) behind the album with a full orchestra that played his arrangements and was conducted by his uncle Emil Newman.
Little Criminals, in 1977, contained Newman’s first hit single, “Short People,” which mocked bigotry and was taken seriously by a vocal offended minority. “Baltimore” from that album was covered by Nina Simone. Following that album’s release, Newman toured for the first time since 1974. He claimed that in the interim he’d done nothing but watch television and play with his three sons. In 1979 his Born Again featured guest vocals by members of the Eagles. In 1981 Newman composed the soundtrack for the film Ragtime (the first of many soundtrack assignments) and was nominated for two Oscars (Best Song, Best Score). His 1983 album, Trouble in Paradise, included guest appearances by Linda Ronstadt, members of Fleetwood Mac, and Paul Simon, who sang a verse of “The Blues.” That album’s “I Love L.A.” became something of an anthem, thanks in part to a flashy music video directed by Newman’s cousin, Tim Newman (who went on to shoot popular videos for ZZ Top, among others). Land of Dreams (#80, 1988) spawned a minor hit in “It’s Money That Matters” (#60, 1988). It would take Newman 10 more years to make another studio album, 1999’s critically acclaimed Bad Love. With that record peaking at #194, he continues to meet his biggest success in Hollywood, where he spent most of the ’90s becoming one of the town’s most sought-after film composers. Although the material on his own records is literate and biting, the songs he writes for movies are decidedly simpler and with a sunnier outlook - and they usually meet with more success. Both “I Love to See You Smile” from Parenthood and “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2, for instance, were nominated for Oscars; in 1998 alone, Newman garnered three Oscar nominations for three different movies.
In 1995 Newman wrote a musical adaptation of Goethe’s Faust. Both the play and the accompanying CD (which featured guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Don Henley, and James Taylor in the role of God) were commercially unsuccessful. In 2000 he received the Billboard Century Award.
Back On My Feet Again
Randy Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a college man and I'm very wealthy
I've got no time to trifle with trash like you
Cause I must be 'bout my business
My brother's a machinist in a textile mill
And he makes more money than you ever will
He just got married to a Polish girl
My sister's a dancer up in Baltimore
At a small cafe on Main
But she ran off with a Negro from the Eastern Shore
Dr., she didn't even know his name
[Chorus]
Get me back on my feet again
Back on my feet again
Open the door and set me free
Get me back on my feet again
He took her down to Mobile in a railroad train
He said, "Driver, take me to the Hotel Paree."
He went into the washroom
Washed his face and hands
Dr., when he come out he was white as you and me
He said, "Girl, I'm not a Negro I'm a millionaire
As you can plainly see
So many women love my money
But you have proved that you love only me.
"I'm going to teach you to play polo and how to water ski
And you won't have to dance no more
And I no longer must pretend to be
A Negro from the Eastern Shore."
Doctor, doctor, what you say
How 'bout letting me out today?
Ain't no reason for me to stay
Everybody's so far away
[Chorus]
Randy Newman's song Back On My Feet Again tells a story of a man who is speaking to his doctor about his status and his family's success. He proclaims that he's a college man and very wealthy, as if his status should excuse him from any troubles. He then goes on to brag about his brother, a machinist, earning more money than the doctor would ever earn, and his sister who is a dancer and recently ran off with a man she didn't even know the name of.
The chorus of the song goes "Get me back on my feet again, back on my feet again, open the door and set me free, get me back on my feet again." This repetition of wanting to be "back on his feet again" hints that there is something wrong with the man and he needs help. However, instead of asking for help, he demands it from the doctor without acknowledging that something is actually wrong.
This song is a commentary on the social class system and the way it can affect our perception of ourselves and others. The man believes that his wealth and status can excuse him from his issues, but in reality, he still needs help. The song also highlights the prejudices of the time, such as the reference to the man's sister running off with a man of a different race and not even knowing his name. Through the lyrics of Back On My Feet Again, Newman is inviting his audience to question social hierarchies and the role they play in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Doctor let me tell you something about myself
The singer wants to take control of the conversation and share information about himself with the doctor.
I'm a college man and I'm very wealthy
The singer wants the doctor to know that he is educated and financially comfortable.
I've got no time to trifle with trash like you
The singer is dismissive of the doctor, believing that the doctor is beneath him.
Cause I must be 'bout my business
The artist is focused on his own goals, and doesn't want to waste time on anything or anyone that doesn't help him achieve those goals.
My brother's a machinist in a textile mill
The artist is sharing information about his family and their professions.
And he makes more money than you ever will
The singer believes that his brother's job is more lucrative and respectable than the doctor's profession.
He just got married to a Polish girl
The singer is sharing personal details about his brother's life.
With a space between her teeth
The artist is making a snide remark about his sister-in-law's appearance, which he considers unattractive.
My sister's a dancer up in Baltimore
The artist is sharing information about his sister's profession and location.
At a small cafe on Main
The artist is specifying where his sister works.
But she ran off with a Negro from the Eastern Shore
The singer is sharing a scandalous detail about his sister's personal life which he disapproves of.
Dr., she didn't even know his name
The artist believes that his sister impulsively ran away with someone she barely knew.
Get me back on my feet again
The singer is asking the doctor to help him recover from a difficult situation.
Back on my feet again
The singer wants to feel independent and in control of his life again.
Open the door and set me free
The singer wants to move on and leave his current situation behind.
He took her down to Mobile in a railroad train
The artist is continuing to share scandalous details about his sister's life.
He said, "Driver, take me to the Hotel Paree."
The person who took his sister away was confident and knew what he wanted.
He went into the washroom
The person who took his sister away disappeared for a moment.
Washed his face and hands
The singer is specifying what the person who took his sister away did in the bathroom.
Dr., when he come out he was white as you and me
The brutal reality of the world is demonstrated by how the person who took his sister away benefited from the color of his skin.
He said, "Girl, I'm not a Negro I'm a millionaire
The person who took his sister away is lying about his race and is using his wealth as an excuse for his own behavior.
As you can plainly see
The person who took his sister away thinks he's convincing and persuasive.
So many women love my money
The person who took his sister away believes that money can buy him love.
But you have proved that you love only me.
The person who took his sister away is trying to convince her that he is different from other men because he loves her instead of just her money.
I'm going to teach you to play polo and how to water ski
The person who took his sister away has grand plans for their future together and wants to teach her fancy activities.
And you won't have to dance no more
The person who took his sister away wants to elevate her from the job she had before to a different lifestyle.
And I no longer must pretend to be
The person who took his sister away is relieved that he no longer has to pretend to be someone he's not (a Negro).
A Negro from the Eastern Shore.
The artist is making a derogatory remark about the person's race and origin.
Doctor, doctor, what you say
The artist is seeking confirmation and approval from the doctor.
How 'bout letting me out today?
The singer is eager to leave and move on to the next phase of his life.
Ain't no reason for me to stay
The singer believes that there is nothing holding him back from leaving his current situation behind.
Everybody's so far away
The artist feels lonely and disconnected from those around him.
Get me back on my feet again
The artist reiterates his desire to get back to feeling independent and in control of his life.
Back on my feet again
The artist wants to move on and start fresh.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind