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.
Kingfish
Randy Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In New Orleans there are Frenchmen everywhere
But your house could fall down
Your baby could drown
Wouldn't none of those Frenchmen care
Everybody gather 'round
Loosen up your suspenders
I'm a cracker
And you are too
But don't I take good care of you
Who built the highway to Baton Rouge?
Who put up the hospital and built you schools?
Who looks after shit-kickers like you?
The Kingfish do
Who gave a party at the Roosevelt Hotel?
And invited the whole north half of the state down there for free
The people in the city
Had their eyes bugging out
Cause everyone of you
Looked just like me
Kingfish, Kingfish
Everybody sing
Kingfish, Kingfish
Every man a king
Who took on the Standard Oil men
And whipped their ass
Just like he promised he'd do?
Ain't no Standard Oil men gonna run this state
Gonna be run by little folks like me and you
Kingfish, Kingfish
Friend of the working man
Kingfish, Kingfish
The Kingfish gonna save this land
Randy Newman's song "Kingfish" is a tribute to Huey Long, a populist Louisiana politician who served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928-1932 and as a United States Senator from 1932 until his assassination in 1935. The song tells the story of Long's rise to power and his efforts to improve the lives of the people of Louisiana.
The first verse of the song talks about the large number of French people living in New Orleans, but how they wouldn't care if something bad happened to you or your family. This sets the stage for the rest of the song, which is focused on Long's efforts to help the working-class people of Louisiana.
The second half of the song is a celebration of Long's achievements. The chorus encourages everyone to sing about the "Kingfish" (Long's nickname). Newman lists several of Long's accomplishments, including building highways, hospitals, and schools for the people of Louisiana, throwing a party for the entire northern half of the state, and taking on Standard Oil with the promise of doing what he said he would. The song ends with the assertion that Long, the "friend of the working man," will save the land.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a charismatic politician who was loved by the people of Louisiana for his efforts to improve their lives, but who also faced opposition from powerful corporate interests.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a hundred thousand Frenchmen in New Orleans
In New Orleans, there is a significant French population.
But your house could fall down, Your baby could drown, Wouldn't none of those Frenchmen care
The Frenchmen may not be concerned about incidents happening to individuals who don't share their common identity or heritage.
Everybody gather 'round, Loosen up your suspenders, Hunker down on the ground, I'm a cracker, And you are too, But don't I take good care of you
The singer, who is also a member of the same community, is asking everyone to gather together and is claiming to take care of them, while appealing to their identity as members of this community.
Who built the highway to Baton Rouge? Who put up the hospital and built you schools? Who looks after shit-kickers like you? The Kingfish do
The Kingfish, Huey Long- a famous Louisiana politician, is responsible for the building of infrastructure, and is the protector of the common man in Louisiana.
Who gave a party at the Roosevelt Hotel? And invited the whole north half of the state down there for free The people in the city Had their eyes bugging out Cause everyone of you Looked just like me
The Kingfish is known for hosting events that appeal to and involve people from all walks of life, proving that he is just one of the people, and not an elitist.
Kingfish, Kingfish, Everybody sing, Kingfish, Kingfish, Every man a king
People should celebrate and sing the praises of the Kingfish, as they share his power and are treated like royalty.
Who took on the Standard Oil men And whipped their ass Just like he promised he'd do? Ain't no Standard Oil men gonna run this state Gonna be run by little folks like me and you
The Kingfish challenged powerful corporate entities, took them on, and won, ensuring that the common people have a rightful place and power in state governance.
Kingfish, Kingfish, Friend of the working man, Kingfish, Kingfish, The Kingfish gonna save this land
The enduring message is that the Kingfish is the most accessible politician, a friend of the common man, and a true force for good, working to ensure Louisiana's future.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind