Green onions
The Blues Brothers Lyrics


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All right people. The rest of the hard working all star Blues Brothers are gonna be
out here in a minute, including my little brother Jake. But right now,
I'd like to talk a little bit about this tune you're hearing. This is of course
the Green Onions tune. It was a very big hit in the early sixties in this country.
And ofcourse it was composed and recorded in Memphis, Tennessee,
right here in the United States Of America.
You know, people, I believe that this tune can be acquinted with the great
classical music around the world. Now you go to Germany, you've got your Bach,
your Beethoven, your Brahms...Here in America you've got your Fred McDowell,
your Irving Berlin, your Glenn Miller, and your Booker T & The MG's, people.
Another example of the great contributions in music and culture that this country
has made around the world. And as you look around the world today,
you see this country spurned. You see backs turned on this country.
Well people, I'm gonna tell you something, this continent, North America,
is the stronghold! This is where we're gonna make our stand in this decade!
Yeah, people, I've got something to say to the State Department.
I say Take that archaic Monroe Doctrine, and that Marshall Plan that says
we're supposed to police force the world, and throw 'em out! Let's stay home
for the next ten years people!
Right here in North America and enjoy the music and culture that is ours.
Yeah, I got one more thing to say. I'm just talking about the music, people,
and what it does to me.
And that is, as you look around the world, you go to the Soviet Union
or Great Britain or France,
you name it, any country...Everybody is doing flips and twists just to get into
a genuine pair of American blue jeans!




And to hear this music and we got it all here in America,
the land of the Chrysler 440 cubic inch engine!

Overall Meaning

In this opening monologue from The Blues Brothers song "Green Onions", Elwood Blues introduces the tune to the audience and provides some background information about its origin. He draws a comparison between "Green Onions" and classical music, portraying the song as an example of the great contributions in music and culture that America has made around the world. Elwood then reflects on the negative sentiment towards America in the international community and proposes that Americans should focus on enjoying their own music and culture while staying at home for the next ten years. He concludes by pointing out America's influence on fashion and music around the world, using the example of blue jeans and Chrysler cars.


Musically, "Green Onions" is a catchy and upbeat instrumental tune that heavily features the Hammond organ. It was released by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, a group of session musicians from Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962. The song was inspired by the Fats Domino song "Idaho" and was recorded spontaneously during a break in a recording session. The title "Green Onions" was chosen because it sounded like a funky, catchy title, despite having no actual meaning.


Line by Line Meaning

All right people. The rest of the hard working all star Blues Brothers are gonna be out here in a minute, including my little brother Jake. But right now, I'd like to talk a little bit about this tune you're hearing.
Introducing the performance and taking a moment to discuss the upcoming song.


This is of course the Green Onions tune. It was a very big hit in the early sixties in this country. And ofcourse it was composed and recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, right here in the United States Of America.
Providing background on the song's composition and popularity at the time.


You know, people, I believe that this tune can be acquinted with the great classical music around the world. Now you go to Germany, you've got your Bach, your Beethoven, your Brahms...Here in America you've got your Fred McDowell, your Irving Berlin, your Glenn Miller, and your Booker T & The MG's, people. Another example of the great contributions in music and culture that this country has made around the world.
Comparing the song to classical music and highlighting the cultural contributions of America in the music world.


And as you look around the world today, you see this country spurned. You see backs turned on this country. Well people, I'm gonna tell you something, this continent, North America, is the stronghold! This is where we're gonna make our stand in this decade!
Acknowledging the negative perceptions of America abroad, but emphasizing the importance of North America in this time period.


Yeah, people, I've got something to say to the State Department. I say Take that archaic Monroe Doctrine, and that Marshall Plan that says we're supposed to police force the world, and throw 'em out! Let's stay home for the next ten years people! Right here in North America and enjoy the music and culture that is ours.
Offering a critique of US foreign policy and advocating for a focus on domestic enjoyment of American culture.


Yeah, I got one more thing to say. I'm just talking about the music, people, and what it does to me.
Transitioning back to talking specifically about the music and its impact.


And that is, as you look around the world, you go to the Soviet Union or Great Britain or France, you name it, any country...Everybody is doing flips and twists just to get into a genuine pair of American blue jeans! And to hear this music and we got it all here in America, the land of the Chrysler 440 cubic inch engine!
Drawing attention to the widespread popularity of American fashion and music around the world, and using it as a symbol of American pride and excellence.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@kevinarnold8002

All right people. The rest of the hard working all star Blues Brothers are
gonna be out here in a minute, including my little brother Jake. But
right now, I`d like to talk a little bit about this tune you`re hearing.
This is ofcourse the Green Onions tune. It was a very big hit in the
early sixties in this country. And ofcourse it was composed and
recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, right here in the United States Of
America. You know, people, I believe that this tune can be
acquinted with the great classical music around the world. Now you
go to Germany, you`ve got your Bach, your Beethoven, your
Brahms... Here in America you`ve got your Fred McDowell, your
Irving Berlin, your Glenn Miller, and your Booker T & The MG`s,
people. Another example of the great contributions in music and
culture that this country has made around the world. And as you
look around the world today, you see this country spurned. You see
backs turned on this country. Well people, I`m gonna tell you
something, this continent, North America, is the stronghold! This is
where we`re gonna make our stand in this decade! Yeah, people,
I`ve got something to say to the State Department. I say Take that
archaic Monroe Doctrine, and that Marshall Plan that says we`re
supposed to police force the world, and throw `em out! Let`s stay
home for the next ten years people! Right here in North America
and enjoy the music and culture that is ours. Yeah, I got one more
thing to say. I`m just talking about the music, people, and what it
does to me. And that is, as you look around the world, you go to the
Soviet Union or Great Britain or France, you name it, any country...
Everybody is doing flips and twists just to get into a genuine pair of
American blue jeans! And to hear this music and we got it all here
in America, the land of the Chrysler 440 cubic inch engine!



@truthseeker6532

@@88Alimo
That is good, I have that but, Briefcase Full of Blues w/o a doubt, is superior to Made in America.
The Green Onions Tune on there through, is top notch version of Booker T and the MG's.
Look into J Geiles Full House Album/CD..... Incredible stuff!!!!
Also, Lamont Cranston cd title = "Lamont Live" a 2 disk cd Even better than all the other stuff!!!!!!!
Lamont Cranston are in the BLues Hall of Fame.
"Lamont Cranston" is the Stage name of Pat Hayes = The leader of the Band he is thier singer, plays the harmonica and Guitar as well.
Goto this link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx26rhHKidY
and goto 1:53:18 and listen. It is the end of the nights gig and the way they end it is incredible.



@sirstrongbad

Monroe Doctrine (1823)
President James Monroe’s 1823 annual message to Congress contained the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere.

Understandably, the United States has always taken a particular interest in its closest neighbors – the nations of the Western Hemisphere. Equally understandably, expressions of this concern have not always been favorably regarded by other American nations.

The Monroe Doctrine is the best known U.S. policy toward the Western Hemisphere. Buried in a routine annual message delivered to Congress by President James Monroe in December 1823, the doctrine warns European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs. The doctrine was conceived to meet major concerns of the moment, but it soon became a watchword of U.S. policy in the Western Hemisphere.

The Monroe Doctrine was invoked in 1865 when the U.S. government exerted diplomatic and military pressure in support of the Mexican President Benito Juárez. This support enabled Juárez to lead a successful revolt against the Emperor Maximilian, who had been placed on the throne by the French government.

Almost 40 years later, in 1904, European creditors of a number of Latin American countries threatened armed intervention to collect debts. President Theodore Roosevelt promptly proclaimed the right of the United States to exercise an “international police power” to curb such “chronic wrongdoing.” As a result, U. S. Marines were sent into Santo Domingo in 1904, Nicaragua in 1911, and Haiti in 1915, ostensibly to keep the Europeans out. Other Latin American nations viewed these interventions with misgiving, and relations between the “great Colossus of the North” and its southern neighbors remained strained for many years.

In 1962, the Monroe Doctrine was invoked symbolically when the Soviet Union began to build missile-launching sites in Cuba. With the support of the Organization of American States, President John F. Kennedy threw a naval and air quarantine around the island. After several tense days, the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw the missiles and dismantle the sites. Subsequently, the United States dismantled several of its obsolete air and missile bases in Turkey.

(Information excerpted from Milestone Documents [Washington, DC: The National Archives and Records Administration, 1995] pp. 26–29.)



All comments from YouTube:

@chris7299

That was the first album i listened to when I was 4 or 5 years old. That song got stuck in my brain!!! It's still one of the coolest tunes out there.

@phonefolders8812

Same here. I still dance alone listening this music

@robertochiarazzo5554

Io ne avevo 20 ed ero nel pieno della mia adolescenza bei tempi

@chrisreott2180

This song screams to me. It is probably my favorite song (this version). This album is top of the list too.

@chrisgodlaproductions3106

Your not alone my friend

@Freeman-jw2jq

U know about culture

@christophersonawane

@Chris Godla I see people with the name Chris have good taste in music.

@chrisgodlaproductions3106

@chris sonawane absolutely 😎

@bruceallen6016

Excellent song that tells a story. Thumb up.

@Shamanix000

Ah, the Blues Brothers... All my best musics in life.
25 years ago, I was already a fan. It is the first VHS tape I bought. And the first DVD as well in my collection. And my most listened CD albums (I had to buy them multiple times since I reached the maximum limit of using a CD and the first one stop being usable!)
It was also the music I listened when I was at hospital for 1,5 month, and it helped very much.
One of the most important reasons for me to travel one day in the USA...
"I've got everything I need... almost."

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