Forbert signed a recording contract with Nemperor in 1978, and they released his debut album, Alive on Arrival, that same year. His song "Romeo's Tune", although "dedicated to the memory of Florence Ballard" on the sleeve of Forbert's second album Jackrabbit Slim (released in 1979), is not about Supremes singer Ballard who died in 1976. "Forbert admits that Ballard became a timely connection for "Romeo's Tune", written about a girl from Meridian. "That seemed like such bad news to me and such sad news. She wasn't really taken care of by the music business, which is not a new story". At around this time critics hailed Forbert as "The new Bob Dylan" because of a similar vocal timbre and thoughtful songwriting. The front cover of Jackrabbit Slim encourages such comparisons with its simplicity: a black and white photo of Steve Forbert playing a well-worn Martin acoustic guitar with a capo on it, his shirt tinted green. The record was recorded in Nashville and produced by John Simon who had worked with The Band.
After many successful years, Forbert sought out new inspiration and found it when he relocated to Nashville in 1985. Forbert's tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Any Old Time, was nominated for a 2004 Grammy in the best traditional folk category. In 2006, he was inducted into the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame.
Recent albums include Strange Names & New Sensations (2007), The Place And The Time (2009), and Over With You (2012).
www.steveforbert.com
House Of Cards
Steve Forbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I was not prepared for the word
No, I was not prepared for the word
No, they didn't give me no warning 'fore they told me the news
And I could not believe what I heard
No, I could not believe what I heard
Hey, well, it started to hit me later on in the night
I reacted by blowing my stack
Oh, feeling cheated and taunted and mad at the whole world at large
As I pissed on a black Cadillac
As I pissed on a black Cadillac
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
Oh, thousands of people gathered outside of his gate
Some came to sell souvenirs
Some came to sell souvenirs
Yes, souvenirs of the hillbilly singer who conquered the world
Now dead after forty-two years
Dead after forty-two years
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
Yes, and then came the stories all pushin' their way through the press
Stories of madness and pain
Stories of madness and pain
Oh, they'll do what they can to ravage, exploit, and destroy
His glory, his fame, and his name
His glory, his fame, and his name
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
Oh, the King undisputed, reclusive and high on a throne
The symbol and saint; he was youth
Oh, the symbol and saint; he was youth
Yes, and now that he's dead, and he's laid in his great, marble tomb
We're all left with a whole lotta truth
We're all left with a whole lotta truth
Oh, I guess a lotta sad people grew up on that hot, summer day
One more big dream swept away
One more big dream swept away
Yes, he's gone, and he's free, but, still, all of his music remains
I don't know what more I can say
And I don't know what more I can say except...
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
The song "House of Cards" by Steve Forbert is a reflection on the often-fleeting nature of fame and success, and the harsh reality that even the greatest of talents can crumble under the weight of life's adversities. The opening lines convey a sense of shock and disbelief at the news of a beloved artist's demise. The singer is devastated and feels cheated, and vents his anger by urinating on a black Cadillac. The concept of a "House of Cards" refers to the fragile and precarious nature of success - it can be taken away just as easily as it was achieved.
The song further explores the reactions of the public and media to the artist's death, with a grand display of mourning and a barrage of news stories. However, Forbert suggests that this attention may not always be well-intentioned, as it can also be exploitative and damaging to the artist's legacy. The song ends on a bittersweet note, acknowledging that the artist may be gone, but his music lives on and continues to inspire generations.
Overall, "House of Cards" is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and fame, and how we choose to react to its ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I guess I knew it would happen eventually
Steve Forbert expected something to happen eventually
But I was not prepared for the word
Steve Forbert did not expect the news he heard
No, I was not prepared for the word
He was really unprepared for the news
No, they didn't give me no warning 'fore they told me the news
Steve Forbert was not given any warning before the upsetting news
And I could not believe what I heard
Steve Forbert found it hard to believe the news he heard
Hey, well, it started to hit me later on in the night
Steve Forbert was in shock and it took time for him to react
I reacted by blowing my stack
Steve Forbert was really angry and lost his temper
Oh, feeling cheated and taunted and mad at the whole world at large
He felt like the whole world was against him and he was angry and frustrated
As I pissed on a black Cadillac
He acted out emotionally by damaging a car
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
The situation is fragile and it makes Steve Forbert question life
Oh, thousands of people gathered outside of his gate
Many fans came to mourn the loss of someone famous
Some came to sell souvenirs
Some people wanted to make money off of the situation
Yes, souvenirs of the hillbilly singer who conquered the world
People were selling items related to the famous singer who had just passed
Now dead after forty-two years
The singer had died at the age of 42
Yes, and then came the stories all pushin' their way through the press
The media started reporting on the situation
Stories of madness and pain
The media sensationalized the news with negative stories
Oh, they'll do what they can to ravage, exploit, and destroy
The media will do anything to sell stories, even if it harms people
His glory, his fame, and his name
The media will try to bring down a famous person's image
Oh, the King undisputed, reclusive and high on a throne
Steve Forbert describes a famous person who seemed untouchable and above others
The symbol and saint; he was youth
The famous person was a role model for younger people
Yes, and now that he's dead, and he's laid in his great, marble tomb
The famous person has passed away and been buried
We're all left with a whole lotta truth
The reality is that the famous person is gone and everyone must come to terms with it
Oh, I guess a lotta sad people grew up on that hot, summer day
Many people were sad on the day that the famous person died
One more big dream swept away
The death of the famous person signaled the end of a big dream
Yes, he's gone, and he's free, but, still, all of his music remains
Although the famous person has passed away, his music and legacy live on
And I don't know what more I can say except...
Steve Forbert has said all he can say about the situation
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
The fragile nature of life makes Steve Forbert question its meaning
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
The previous line is repeated to emphasize the point
House of cards (and) don't it make ya wonder?
The song ends with the repetition of the same line to bring the message home
House of cards, (oh), don't it make ya wonder?
The repetition of the same line to end the song
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: STEVE FORBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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