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".
Speedo
Ry Cooder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my real name is Mr. Earl (Earl, Mr. Earl)
Well, now they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl (Earl, Mr. Earl)
And I'm just the kind of fellow who's always takin'
Other folks' girls (girls, taking their girls)
[Chorus]
In wastin' time (time, don't believe in wastin' time)
They often call me Speedo, but I don't believe
In wastin' time (time, don't believe in wastin' time)
I've known some pretty women
And I've caused them to change their mind (mind, change their mind)
Some, they call me Moe, and some, they call me Joe
But just remember Speedo, he don't never take it slow
Now they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl (Earl, Mr. Earl)
Well, I said it now,
They often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl (Earl, Mr. Earl)
Now I'm just the kind of fellow who's always takin'
Other folks' girls (taking their girls)
[Chorus]
Uh, honey, here comes that old Mr. Earl again, honey
He's so fine!
Oh, get on away from here, girl. I ain't going to be bothered with you tonight
He can get low down too; can get to be a low down son of a bitch
Don't you be holding onto me now, get away!
Hello, Mr. Earl!
Hey, you look good to me
You too, baby
What's your name?
My name is Mary Lou
The lyrics to Ry Cooder's song "Speedo" explore the idea of identity and reputation. The singer introduces himself as Mr. Earl, but acknowledges that he is often referred to as Speedo. He claims that he earned this nickname because of his refusal to waste time, especially when it comes to courting women, which is a central theme of the song. Although he has caused women to change their minds and leave their partners for him, he seems unapologetic about his actions. The chorus is repeated twice, with the focus remaining on the singer's reputation as a man who moves quickly and efficiently, without hesitation or regret.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of playful irony, as the singer's confident ego clashes with his disregard for other people's feelings. He seems to revel in his reputation as a ladies' man, even as he acknowledges that some people call him "low down." The final lines of the song introduce a dialogue between the singer and a woman named Mary Lou. This moment offers a glimpse of vulnerability, as the singer drops his guard and engages in a flirtatious conversation with her. The tone shifts from boastful to flirtatious, leaving us to wonder if Speedo's reputation is truly who he is or just a facade.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, now they often call me Speedo
I frequently go by the nickname Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl (Earl, Mr. Earl)
My actual given name is Earl
And I'm just the kind of fellow who's always takin'
Other folks' girls (girls, taking their girls)
I am the type of person who frequently pursues romantic relationships with women who are already in relationships
[Chorus]
They often call me Speedo, 'cause I don't believe
In wastin' time (time, don't believe in wastin' time)
They often call me Speedo, but I don't believe
In wastin' time (time, don't believe in wastin' time)
I've known some pretty women
And I've caused them to change their mind (mind, change their mind)
People frequently call me Speedo due to my impatience and unwillingness to 'waste time' in relationships. My tendency to pursue taken women has caused some women to reconsider their current relationship.
Some, they call me Moe, and some, they call me Joe
But just remember Speedo, he don't never take it slow
Some people may know me as Moe or Joe, but my Speedo nickname is the most common. I am known for my fast-paced relationships and unwillingness to slow down.
Uh, honey, here comes that old Mr. Earl again, honey
He's so fine!
Oh, get on away from here, girl. I ain't going to be bothered with you tonight
He can get low down too; can get to be a low down son of a bitch
Don't you be holding onto me now, get away!
Hello, Mr. Earl!
Hey, you look good to me
You too, baby
What's your name?
My name is Mary Lou
This conversation between two people implies that Mr. Earl/Speedo is a known womanizer in the area, with one woman so smitten that she is willing to ignore his reputation. Another woman is hesitant to engage with him and vocalizes that he can be a 'low down' person. Mr. Earl/Speedo engages with the Mary Lou, showing that his reputation does not prohibit him from continuing to pursue further relationships.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Esther Navarro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edward J Trusky Jr
My hero and mentor. The reason I'm still working as a preforming musician after nearly 50 years of all the bullshit and heartbreaks.
Thanks Ry; you The Best!
ed antos
Wow, just this one tune, listening to the guitar and slide work makes me realize I’m in the right place!
Katie Johnston
Brilx i wish they had more music like thisx mum and dad like this sort
pete potter
RIP, Mr. Earl: Earl "Speedoo" Carroll R.I.P. (November 2, 1937 – November 25, 2012)
Katie Johnston
Very good! Mum and dad like him
Sarah Patterson
This song saved my life.
Rockin Rollin n Trollin
It's RYLAND ...you landed in the right LAND ..!