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.
Snake Farm
Ray Wylie Hubbard Lyrics
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She kinda looks like tempest storm
She can dance like little Egypt
She works down at the snake farm
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Ramona's got a keen sense of humor
She got a tattoo down her arm
It's of a python eatin' a little mouse
Wearin' a sailor hat that says snake farm
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm,it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Snake farm, ugh
I asked Ramona how come she works there
She says "well, it's got it's charms
There's nothing to do in the winter
Now and then some kid gets bit at the snake farm"
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Snake farm, ugh
Well, Ramona likes her malt liquor
And a band from Wales that's called The Alarm
She said she cried when they broke up
She still plays their records at the snake farm
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Snake farm, ugh
Sometimes Ramona calls me up
And says come on down here, it's getting warm
She runs everybody off
And we you know, it's a snake farm
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Snake farm, ugh
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Snake farm, ugh
The Ray Wylie Hubbard song "Snake Farm" tells a story about the peculiar lifestyle and charms of a woman named Ramona who works at a reptile house. Ramona has a striking resemblance to Tempest Storm, a famous burlesque dancer from the 1950s who was renowned for her large bust and magnetic stage presence. She shares Tempest's seductive dance moves, only this time at the snake farm where she works. Despite its uninviting name, Ramona loves working there and even has a tattoo of a python eating a mouse on her arm, with the words "snake farm" emblazoned next to it.
The song hints at the danger that comes with working at a snake farm, as sometimes kids get bitten by the snakes. Nonetheless, Ramona doesn't seem to be bothered by the perilous nature of the job. She likes her malt liquor and listens to a band from Wales called The Alarm, which broke up and made her cry. She still plays their records at the snake farm, highlighting her strong connection to the place. The singer of the song also receives invitations to the snake farm from Ramona during warmer weather to engage in an undisclosed activity that involves running everyone off.
Line by Line Meaning
Well a woman now I love is named Ramona
The singer tells us about a woman named Ramona he loves.
She kinda looks like tempest storm
Ramona looks like Tempest Storm, who is a famous burlesque dancer.
She can dance like little Egypt
Ramona has the ability to dance like Little Egypt, another famous burlesque dancer.
She works down at the snake farm
Ramona works at a place called Snake Farm, which is a reptile house or zoo.
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
The artist comments on how the name of the place Snake Farm sounds unpleasant.
Snake farm, it pretty much is
The singer confirms his suspicion that Snake Farm is indeed nasty.
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
The singer declares that Snake Farm is a reptile house or zoo.
Snake farm, ugh
The artist expresses his disgust for Snake Farm.
Ramona's got a keen sense of humor
The artist praises Ramona's sense of humor.
She got a tattoo down her arm
Ramona has a tattoo of a python eating a mouse on her arm.
It's of a python eatin' a little mouse
The tattoo that Ramona has is of a python eating a mouse.
Wearin' a sailor hat that says snake farm
The snake in the tattoo Ramona has is wearing a sailor hat that says 'Snake Farm'.
I asked Ramona how come she works there
The singer asks Ramona why she works at Snake Farm.
She says "well, it's got it's charms
Ramona replies by saying that working at Snake Farm has its positive aspects.
There's nothing to do in the winter
Ramona says that there's nothing else to do in the winter except work at Snake Farm.
Now and then some kid gets bit at the snake farm"
Ramona further explains that rare incidents occur where a kid gets bitten by a snake.
Well, Ramona likes her malt liquor
The artist tells us that Ramona enjoys malt liquor.
And a band from Wales that's called The Alarm
Ramona likes a Welsh band called The Alarm.
She said she cried when they broke up
Ramona was sad when The Alarm broke up.
She still plays their records at the snake farm
Ramona still listens to The Alarm's music at Snake Farm.
Sometimes Ramona calls me up
Ramona calls the artist on occasion.
And says come on down here, it's getting warm
Ramona invites the artist to come down to Snake Farm, stating that it's getting warm.
She runs everybody off
Ramona clears the area of people at Snake Farm.
And we you know, it's a snake farm
The artist and Ramona end up staying at Snake Farm since that's where she works.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ray Hubbard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind