With a keen eye of observation and a wise man’s knowledge, Ray Wylie Hubbard composes and performs a dozen songs that couldn’t spring from anywhere else but out of his fertile rock and roll bluesy poet-in-the-blistering-heat southern noggin. ”I like to look at both enlightenment and endarkenment,” he declares. “I feel comfortable observing each.”
His 2010 album "A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment" demonstrates the kind of talent that every great songwriter yearns for. Throughout the album, his focus remains on the song-constructing and performing stories set to music that resonate in a way that is completely his own. Hubbard recruits an ensemble of accomplished musicians to make the album’s larger than life outlaw tunes echo from track to track. Among the musicians featured on the album are Kevin Russell (The Gourds), Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen), Bukka Allen (Ian Moore, Jack Ingram), Billy Cassis (Bob Schneider,Double Trouble, Soulhat), Ray Bonneville (B.B. King, JJ Cale, Muddy Waters), Seth James (Percy Sledge, Delbert McClinton), David Abeyta (Reckless Kelly) and The Trishas as well as his own son, Lucas Hubbard.
The writing and recording of A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment came on the heels of Hubbard’s first screenplay endeavor, which was funded and filmed with a cast of icons including Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam and Lizzy Caplan. A weekly radio show, constant touring, and producing kept him busy, but didn’t manage to steal the Texan singer-songwriters focus. The outcome of the album is a juxtaposition of songs like “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” a fundamental gospel piece, and “Drunken Poet’s Dream,” cowritten with Hayes Carll.
Coricidin Bottle
Ray Wylie Hubbard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tied a string around some chicken bones
Set 'em on fire and crossed my heart
Tuned up the Kay and the Silvertone
Rubbed my hands cross the Tolex scars
Took the laces out of my tennis shoes
Oh, I can live with a 60 cycle hum
Laid down a groove like a monkey getting off
Stomping on the kick, pounding on the tom
If you ever get to heaven say whew thank you
If you ever get scared say the 23rd Psalm
I got a Coricidin bottle that I use as slide
And a woman sweet as a Tootsie Roll
When she kissing and licking and cussing and a grinding
Shakes the mortal coil round my amaranthine soul
The song by Ray Wylie Hubbard, titled Coricidin Bottle, has lyrics that can be interpreted in several ways, but the most prominent interpretation could be about the unique spirituality of the singer. The opening lines, "Said my prayers to the old black gods, Tied a string around some chicken bones, Set 'em on fire and crossed my heart," suggest that the singer has a different approach to religion, faith or spirituality. The mention of the "old black gods" suggests that he might be referring to the traditional African spiritual system, which includes the worship of spirits, ancestors, and other divine beings.
The next few lines, "Tuned up the Kay and the Silvertone, Rubbed my hands cross the Tolex scars, Took the laces out of my tennis shoes, Oh, I can live with a 60 cycle hum, Is anybody here got a 50 watt fuse," indicate that the singer might be a musician, trying to tune and set up his guitar for a performance. The mention of the "60 cycle hum" and "50 watt fuse" further supports this interpretation as musicians often talk about the technicalities of sound amplification.
The next verse, "Laid down a groove like a monkey getting off, Stomping on the kick, pounding on the tom, If you ever get to heaven say whew thank you, If you ever get scared say the 23rd Psalm," further emphasizes the idea that the singer is a musician, performing without any fear, and playing his heart out. The mention of "the 23rd Psalm" also suggests that he has some religious or faith-based beliefs, indicating a meditative practice that gives him strength and confidence. The final lines, "I got a Coricidin bottle that I use as slide, And a woman sweet as a Tootsie Roll, When she kissing and licking, and cussing and grinding, Shakes the mortal coil round my amaranthine soul," show that the singer has a partner who he cherishes, and together they create a moment of sublime passion in the midst of the music's intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
Said my prayers to the old black gods
I prayed to the ancient deities.
Tied a string around some chicken bones
I used chicken bones to perform a ritual.
Set 'em on fire and crossed my heart
I burned the chicken bones and made a wish.
Tuned up the Kay and the Silvertone
I got my guitars ready to play music.
Rubbed my hands cross the Tolex scars
I touched the scars on my guitar's Tolex covering.
Took the laces out of my tennis shoes
I removed the laces from my shoes to play guitar more comfortably.
Oh, I can live with a 60 cycle hum
I am fine with a minor guitar sound distortion.
Is anybody here got a 50 watt fuse
Is there anyone here who can handle a big musical explosion?
Laid down a groove like a monkey getting off
I played a funky rhythm, like a monkey dancing.
Stomping on the kick, pounding on the tom
I played the kick and tom drums with vigor.
If you ever get to heaven say whew thank you
If you go to heaven, express your gratitude.
If you ever get scared say the 23rd Psalm
If you are ever afraid, recite the 23rd Psalm.
I got a Coricidin bottle that I use as slide
I use a Coricidin bottle as a slide to play guitar.
And a woman sweet as a Tootsie Roll
I have a woman in my life as sweet as a Tootsie Roll.
When she kissing and licking and cussing and a grinding
When she kisses, licks, curses, and grinds on me.
Shakes the mortal coil round my amaranthine soul
She excites my physical body and my immortal soul.
Contributed by Jonathan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Upstreamprovider
Had this album continually playing since I got it. Truly amazing music. Should sell millions if there was any justice in the world. Count My Blessings is my fave, although its tough competition, it really is.
@jmarts715
Great sound. This band is so underrated. Keep it up 👌
@Preacherman001
Awesome!! Love that slide growl you get!
@ndnzswb
ray you just keep better and better i see that cd in my player for the next few month straight thank for the music
@Mcseeker86
hey ray.... i just wanted to say hello and thank you for giving us this groovy music man... it gets me through some rough days at work and when the women treat me mean! haha
@pollinatorsteph
Hey Ray-- I got a shot of the incredible butterfly bike rider (shown in beginning of this video) in the street in East Austin about 8 years ago and recently posted it as my profile picture on Facebook. :) Nice to see it in your video here and that he still lives! I'm planning to come out to your show at Blue Genie in Dec**
@fotochip
Awesome as always Ray. Thanks for the entertainment. If I don't see you at Roots I will see you at LSM
@MLO43
Reading Ray's book. Came here from page 138. Nice to see that this went from 13,263 views to more than 28,000. This is a badass video for under 20 bucks. You a most brilliant cat!
@Jimmcgurn
Me too...32,626
@sherrykeeton4150
...ain" t he tho ? playable ....Not PAY able......thats why he hung in there...