Silverstein's passion for music was clear early on as he studied for a while at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a songwriter, Silverstein kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. He tended to shun publicity and even photographers. Nonetheless, his musical output included many songs which were hits for other artists. Most notably, he wrote the music and lyrics for "A Boy Named Sue" that was performed by Johnny Cash (for which he won a Grammy in 1970); "One's on the Way" (which was a hit for Loretta Lynn), and "The Unicorn Song" which, despite having nothing to do with Ireland nor Irish culture, became the signature piece for The Irish Rovers in 1968 and is popular in pubs all over the world to this day. He wrote the lyrics and music for most of the Dr. Hook songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball", "Sylvia's Mother", and the cautionary song about VD, "Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love Most". He also wrote many of the songs performed by Bobby Bare, including "Marie Laveau", "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", and "Tequila Sheila". The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan",] recorded in 1979 by Marianne Faithfull and later featured in the films Montenegro and Thelma & Louise, was also by Silverstein.
Beans Taste Fine
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
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You know, he finally made his pile.
Well he got himself a mansion on Butler and Sheff
An' he was livin' in the latest style;
But I run into him, he was eatin' in a greasy spoon
While parked in front was his big limousine.
I said, "Buddy, you've got so much money
How come you're in here, eatin' beans?"
After you've been havin' steak for a long time,
Beans, beans taste fine.
An' after you've been drinkin' champagne and brandy
You gonna settle for wine.
He said "The world is funny, and people are strange,
And man is a creature of constant change, and
After you've been havin' steak for a long time
Beans, beans taste fine."
Now, you know I ran into another friend of mine
In a rowdy old Clark Street Bar.
I said, "Friend, is it true what I heard about you?
I heard you married a beautiful 18-year-old shapely movie star,
Yet here you sit, tryin' to make out with some barfly
Who's too old and ugly to be true."
He said, "Shelley, you're still a very young man
So sit down. I'll explain it all to you.
He said
After you've been havin' steak for a long time
Beans, beans taste fine.
An' after you've been drinkin' champagne and Chivas Regal
You gonna settle for Thunderbird wine.
He said "The world is funny, and people are strange,
And man is a creature of constant change, and
After you've been havin' steak for a long time
Beans, beans taste fine."
The song "Beans Taste Fine" by Shel Silverstein is an interesting commentary on the unpredictability of life and the ever-changing nature of human desires. The song tells two stories about two friends who have achieved success in different ways, but end up in circumstances that are unexpected. One of the friends has made a lot of money and lives in a mansion, but is eating beans in a greasy spoon. The other friend has married a movie star, but is trying to make out with an old and unattractive barfly in a rowdy pub. When asked about their behavior, both friends explain that after you've been accustomed to having the best things in life such as steak and champagne, beans and cheap wine don't seem so bad.
The song's message is simple yet profound. It highlights the human tendency to constantly seek more and better things, and how we can easily get used to the best things in life, making everything else seem inferior. It also shows the paradox of success, where achievement does not necessarily bring fulfillment or contentment. Through the stories of the two friends, the song reveals that it's the journey that counts, not the destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Now a friend of mine, way back in Chicago
The song starts with the singer introducing a friend from Chicago who became rich and moved into a mansion.
You know, he finally made his pile.
The friend became wealthy after a long period of hard work and dedication.
Well he got himself a mansion on Butler and Sheff
The friend purchased a luxurious mansion located in a posh neighborhood.
An' he was livin' in the latest style;
The friend was living a lavishing lifestyle that was the trendiest at that time.
But I run into him, he was eatin' in a greasy spoon
The artist unexpectedly bumped into his wealthy friend who was having a meal at a small, cheap diner.
While parked in front was his big limousine.
The friend parked his expensive limousine outside the greasy spoon although he had enough money to eat at a posh restaurant.
I said, "Buddy, you've got so much money
The singer was shocked and confused by his friend's behavior and asked him why he was not eating at a posh restaurant given his wealth.
How come you're in here, eatin' beans?"
The artist wonders why his wealthy friend chose beans at the greasy spoon over high-end cuisines.
An' he said
The wealthy friend replied to the artist's question.
After you've been havin' steak for a long time,
The wealthy friend explained that after indulging in exclusive, high-end meals, the simplicity of beans feels like a treat sometimes.
Beans, beans taste fine.
The friend asserts that beans are not inferior to high-end meals and can be enjoyed as well.
An' after you've been drinkin' champagne and brandy
The friend continued with another scenario where a person gets used to indulging in high-end liquor.
You gonna settle for wine.
The friend asserts that in such a scenario, a person may enjoy even low-quality, cheap wine.
He said "The world is funny, and people are strange,
The friend acknowledges that things can be unexpected and people can act in unusual ways.
And man is a creature of constant change, and
The friend asserts that human behavior is not fixed and is subject to change with time and circumstances.
Now, you know I ran into another friend of mine
The song continues with the artist narrating another event where he met a friend in a noisy bar on Clark Street.
In a rowdy old Clark Street Bar.
The place where the artist met his friend was a noisy and rowdy bar of Clark Street.
I said, "Friend, is it true what I heard about you?
The singer asks his friend a straightforward and curious question.
I heard you married a beautiful 18-year-old shapely movie star,
The singer heard a rumor that his friend got married to a young and attractive movie star.
Yet here you sit, tryin' to make out with some barfly
The artist notices that despite being married to an attractive woman, his friend was trying to flirt with a woman who was neither young nor attractive.
Who's too old and ugly to be true."
The woman whom the artist calls a 'barfly' is neither young nor good-looking.
He said, "Shelley, you're still a very young man
The artist's friend replies to his curious observation and addresses the fact that the artist is still young.
So sit down. I'll explain it all to you.
The friend decides to explain his behavior to the singer.
After you've been havin' steak for a long time
The friend adopts the same line he used earlier in the song to explain his shift in taste.
Beans, beans taste fine.
The friend asserts that even in the case of relationships, one can develop a taste for simpler partners.
An' after you've been drinkin' champagne and Chivas Regal
The friend continues with another example where a person is used to high-end liquor.
You gonna settle for Thunderbird wine.
The friend asserts that in such situations, even low-quality and cheap liquor can satisfy a person's taste.
He said "The world is funny, and people are strange,
The friend repeats his earlier assertion that the world is unpredictable, and people can act in unusual ways.
And man is a creature of constant change and
The friend repeats his earlier assertion about human behavior.
After you've been havin' steak for a long time
The friend repeats the line he used earlier in the song to reiterate his point about people's shifting tastes.
Beans, beans taste fine.
The song ends with the friend still asserting that even simpler things can satisfy a person's taste, even after indulging in luxury and extravagance.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind