Chris Masterson and
Ele… Read Full Bio ↴The Dukes are Steve Earle's backing band:
Chris Masterson and
Eleanor Whitmore (aka The Mastersons),
[artists]Ricky Ray Jackson,
Jeff Hill,
Brad Pemberton
While makeup of The Dukes is fluid, SteveEarle.net lists recent members including Eric Ambel, Kelly Looney, and Will Rigby. Past members include such luminaries as Buddy Miller, Norman Blake, Mark Stuart, sister Stacey Earle, and the artist's son Justin Townes Earle.
Snake Oil
Steve Earle & The Dukes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come in close so everyone can see
I got a tale to tell
A listen don't cost a dime
And if you believe that we're gonna get along just fine
Now I've been travelin' all around
I heard trouble's come to your town
Guaranteed to ease your mind
It's call Snake Oil y'all
It's been around for a long, long time
Say, your crops'll burn if it don't rain soon
Ain't seen a drop since the tenth of June
Well I can open up the sky
People never fear
If you ain't impressed yet, just tell me what you wanna hear
Well you lost your farm so you moved to town
You get a job, they shut the factory down
Now you sit around all day long feelin' sad and blue
You need Snake Oil y'all, tell you what I'm gonna do
I can heal the sick, I can mend the lame
And the blind shall see again, it's all the same
Well ain't your President good to you
Knocked 'em dead in Libya, Grenada too
Now he's taking his show a little further down the line
Well, 'tween me and him people, you're gonna get along just fine
The song "Snake Oil" by Steve Earle and the Dukes tells the story of a traveling salesman who promises to cure people's troubles with his magic potion called "Snake Oil." The lyrics suggest that he is a con man who preys on desperate people who are seeking solutions to their problems. The chorus "Snake Oil y'all, it's been around for a long, long time" emphasizes that the idea of snake oil salesmen has been around for centuries, selling fake remedies for real problems.
The first verse of the song presents the salesman as a storyteller who captivates his audience with a tale that won't cost them anything. The second verse suggests that he travels around, looking for towns and people who are facing trouble, and offers his potion as a guaranteed solution to their problems. The third verse addresses specific problems that people might be facing, such as drought or unemployment, and suggests that the Snake Oil can cure them.
The song's final verse refers to the President's actions in Libya and Grenada and implies that the salesman is no different from the politician in that he is trying to convince people to believe in him, just like he believes in the president. The song's theme is about the dangers of blindly trusting in those who promise solutions to our problems without any evidence of their effectiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Ladies and gentlemen, attention please
The singer of the song is asking for the attention of the audience.
Come in close so everyone can see
The singer wants the audience to be near so that they can clearly hear and understand what he has to say.
I got a tale to tell
The singer has a story to tell.
A listen don't cost a dime
Listening to the story won't cost the audience anything.
And if you believe that we're gonna get along just fine
The singer is assuring the listeners that they will enjoy his story and they will have a good relationship.
Now I've been travelin' all around
The singer has been traveling everywhere.
I heard trouble's come to your town
The singer heard that there is a problem in the town he is currently in.
Well I've got a little somethin'
The singer has something that he can offer to help.
Guaranteed to ease your mind
The singer is promising that what he has will be able to calm and soothe people.
It's call Snake Oil y'all
The thing the singer has is called Snake Oil.
It's been around for a long, long time
Snake oil has been around for a very long time.
Say, your crops'll burn if it don't rain soon
The singer is giving an example of a problem that people might be facing.
Ain't seen a drop since the tenth of June
There hasn't been any rain since June 10th.
Well I can open up the sky
The singer is claiming that he has the power to summon rain.
People never fear
The singer is saying that people should not worry and they can trust him.
If you ain't impressed yet, just tell me what you wanna hear
If the audience is still not convinced or impressed, the singer is ready to listen to what they want him to say.
Well you lost your farm so you moved to town
The singer is giving another example of a problem that people might be facing.
You get a job, they shut the factory down
The singer is saying that even if you manage to find a job, it might not be a stable one.
Now you sit around all day long feelin' sad and blue
The singer is saying that people are sad and upset about their situation.
You need Snake Oil y'all, tell you what I'm gonna do
The singer is telling the audience that what they need is Snake Oil and he has a plan to help them out.
I can heal the sick, I can mend the lame
The singer is making grand claims about what he can do.
And the blind shall see again, it's all the same
The singer is saying that he can make the blind see again.
Well ain't your President good to you
The singer is asking the audience how they feel about their President.
Knocked 'em dead in Libya, Grenada too
The singer is praising the President for successful military operations in Libya and Grenada.
Now he's taking his show a little further down the line
The President is moving on to another military operation.
Well, 'tween me and him people, you're gonna get along just fine
The singer is saying that people can trust him and the President and they will be fine.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shirlee Paul
on It's All Up To You
awesome song..