Born in Los Angeles, California on 15th March 1947, Cooder first attracted attention in the 1960s, playing with Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band, after having worked with Taj Mahal in The Rising Sons.
He was a session guitarist on various recording sessions with the Rolling Stones in 1968 and 1969; Cooder's contributions most notably appear on the Stones' Beggars Banquet where he shares a prominent credit with pianist, Nicky Hopkins on the back cover. He continued to appear on the succeeding albums, Let It Bleed, and Sticky Fingers, on which he contributed the haunting slide guitar solo to "Sister Morphine". Cooder is reputed to have taught Keith Richards to play in open-G tuning, now a Richards hallmark, as well as to have written the open-G signature riff of "Honky Tonk Women". He was briefly considered to fill the departed Brian Jones' place in the Rolling Stones, but reportedly Cooder and Keith Richards did not get along very well. For some time after the sessions, Cooder accused Keith Richards of "ripping him off" musically, but now refuses to talk about his experiences with the Stones. Cooder played slide guitar for the 1970 film Performance, which contained Mick Jagger's first solo single, "Memo from Turner" on which Cooder played guitar.
Throughout the 1970s Cooder released a series of Warner Brothers albums that showcased his guitar work, to some degree. In this respect, Cooder's guitar work on these records is not unlike the guitar playing of Robbie Robertson on the Band's albums: Both virtuosos emphasized song over solo. Cooder's 1970s albums spotlight, more than anything, a wide-ranging taste in music. Cooder has been seen as almost a musicologist, exploring bygone musical genres with personalized and sensitive, updated reworkings of revered originals. Cooder's 1970s albums (with the exception of Jazz) cannot be neatly pigeonholed by genre, But - to generalise broadly - it might be fair to call Cooder's first album blues; Into the Purple Valley, Boomer's Story, and Paradise and Lunch, folk + blues; Chicken Skin Music and Showtime, a unique melange of Tex-Mex and Hawaiian; Jazz, 1920s jazz; Bop till You Drop 1950s R&B and blues; and Borderline an eclectic mix of Tex-Mex with blues, R&B, and country and Get Rhythm, with more rock-based excursions.
Cooder has worked as a studio musician and has also scored many film soundtracks, of which perhaps the best known is that for the 1984 Wim Wenders film Paris, Texas. Ry Cooder based this soundtrack, and the haunting title song "Paris, Texas" on Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark Was the Night (Cold Was the Ground)", which he described as "The most soulful, transcendent piece in all music from the US." His other film work includes Walter Hill's The Long Riders (1980) and Southern Comfort (1981).
In recent years, Cooder has played a role in the increased appreciation of traditional Cuban music, due to his collaboration as producer in the Buena Vista Social Club (1997) recording, which was a worldwide hit. Wim Wenders directed a documentary film of the musicians involved, Buena Vista Social Club (1999) which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000. Cooder worked with Tuvan throat singers for the score to the 1993 film Geronimo: An American Legend.
Cooder's solo work has been an eclectic mix, taking in dust bowl folk, blues, Tex-Mex, soul, gospel, rock, and almost everything else. He has collaborated with many important musicians, including the Rolling Stones, Little Feat, the Chieftains, John Lee Hooker, Gabby Pahinui, and Ali Farka Toure. He formed the Little Village supergroup with Nick Lowe, John Hiatt, and Jim Keltner.
Cooder's 1979 album Bop till You Drop was the first popular music album to be recorded digitally. It yielded his biggest hit, a disco/R&B cover of Elvis Presley's 1960s recording "Little Sister".
Christmas in Southgate
Ry Cooder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now that bonus they give us was nothing but trash
You been laid off at Goodyear, I been laid off at Hughes
It looks like a bad year, there just ain't no use
'Cause it's Christmas in Southgate, you been a true friend
I ain't never been much of a churchgoing man
But I'd even give up drinkin' whiskey and gin
Well, the telephone rang and it jumped off the wall
Says, We're sorry, Buddy, but we can't place your call
'Cause Jesus don't answer, Santa ain't got back yet
What's a poor old Red Cat got a right to expect?
So I called up my banker to ask for a loan
Said, It's Christmas Eve, Buddy, there ain't no one home
Then I called up my preacher and he said, We're through
What the heck is a poor old Red Cat gonna do?
Now I'd work any job just to clear a day's pay
Except for being President of the old USA
Now that's dirty work, Lefty, no future, it's true
I'd rather drink up my last nickel with you
Well it's Christmas in Southgate, you been a true friend
I ain't never been much of a churchgoin' man
But I'd even give up drinkin' whiskey and gin
If Jesus and Santa Claus ever come back down to Southgate again
The lyrics of Ry Cooder's "Christmas in Southgate" describe the hardships of everyday life during the holiday season. The song tells the story of two friends who have both been laid off and are struggling financially. They cannot afford to celebrate Christmas in the way that they would like and are left feeling hopeless. The song's protagonist calls his banker for a loan, but nobody is available to help him. He then calls his preacher, but is told that they are finished with him. The lyrics reflect the struggles that many people face during the holiday season and the theme of hopelessness is emphasized through the singer's inability to get help from anyone.
The song's chorus is both poignant and ironic as it states that the singer has never been much of a churchgoing man, but would give up drink if Jesus and Santa Claus ever got back down to Southgate. This statement emphasizes the desperation felt by the singer during the holiday season, as he longs for hope and guidance from both religious and fictional figures. The song's overall message is one of hardship and struggle, but also of the importance of friendship and support during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you got no credit and I got no cash
Neither of us have financial stability or resources
Now that bonus they give us was nothing but trash
The bonus we received was worthless and did not help our financial situation
You been laid off at Goodyear, I been laid off at Hughes
Both of us have been let go from our jobs at different companies
It looks like a bad year, there just ain't no use
This year has been tough and there seems to be no solution
'Cause it's Christmas in Southgate, you been a true friend
Despite our struggles, you have been a loyal friend during this Christmas season
I ain't never been much of a churchgoing man
I have not regularly attended church
But I'd even give up drinkin' whiskey and gin
I am willing to make sacrifices, such as giving up alcohol, for the return of Jesus and Santa to Southgate
If Jesus and Santa Claus ever get back down to Southgate again
I am eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus and Santa to our town
Well, the telephone rang and it jumped off the wall
The phone was ringing so much that it fell off the wall
Says, We're sorry, Buddy, but we can't place your call
The phone company was unable to connect the call
'Cause Jesus don't answer, Santa ain't got back yet
Neither Jesus nor Santa are available to take our call
What's a poor old Red Cat got a right to expect?
As downtrodden individuals, we do not have high expectations for Christmas
So I called up my banker to ask for a loan
I reached out to my banker for a loan
Said, It's Christmas Eve, Buddy, there ain't no one home
The banker was unavailable due to the holiday
Then I called up my preacher and he said, We're through
My preacher was not willing to offer help or support
What the heck is a poor old Red Cat gonna do?
We are at a loss for what to do in this situation
Now I'd work any job just to clear a day's pay
I am willing to do any job that pays on a daily basis
Except for being President of the old USA
The only job I would not take is being the President of the United States
Now that's dirty work, Lefty, no future, it's true
Being the President is not desirable due to its negative aspects and limited potential for success
I'd rather drink up my last nickel with you
I would rather spend my money on drinks and enjoy your company during this tough time
Well it's Christmas in Southgate, you been a true friend
Despite our struggles, you have been a loyal friend during this Christmas season
I ain't never been much of a churchgoin' man
I have not regularly attended church
But I'd even give up drinkin' whiskey and gin
I am willing to make sacrifices, such as giving up alcohol, for the return of Jesus and Santa to Southgate
If Jesus and Santa Claus ever come back down to Southgate again
I am eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus and Santa to our town
Contributed by Jordan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.