Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searchin'." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Gardner was still touring with The Coasters as late as 2005, although he is the only surviving original member. Gardner is now semi-retired and has handed the reins over to his son Carl Jr.
In 1987, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, thus becoming the first group to be inducted (the other inductees at the time were solo acts). In 2000, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. In 2004, "Young Blood" was #414 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak" were part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The band's song "Down In Mexico" appears on the new film, Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.
D W Washburn
The Coasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard a sweet voice say
D. Double-u Washburn
This is your lucky day
A hot bowl of soup is waiting
A hot bowl of soup and a shave
D. Double-u Washburn
We picked you to save
Can′t you hear the flügelhorn?
Can't you hear the bell?
Even you can be reborn
You naughty ne′er-do-well
If you don't get out of that gutter
Before the next big rain
D. Double-u Washburn
You're gonna wash right down the drain
Up, up, c′mon get up
Get up off the street
If you can only make it to hands and knees
I know you can make it to your feet
D. Double-u Washburn
I said to myself
D. Double-u Washburn
Why don′t they go save somebody else
You see I got no job to go to
I don't work and I don′t get paid
I got a bottle of wine and I'm feelin′ fine.
And I believe I got it made
I'd like to thank all you good people
For comin′ to my aid, but I'm
D. Double-u Washburn
And I believe I've got it made
D. Double-u Washburn
And I believe I′ve got it made
The Coasters' song "D.W. Washburn" tells the story of a man down on his luck who is approached by a group of people trying to help him turn his life around. The lyrics are filled with references to the struggles of poverty and addiction, as well as the hope that can be found in community and self-improvement.
The song begins with the singer hearing a "sweet voice" calling out the name "D.W. Washburn" as if it were his lucky day. He is promised a hot bowl of soup and a shave, and is told that he has been picked to be "saved" by these people. The singer then warns him that if he doesn't get out of the gutter before the next big rain, he will be washed down the drain.
As the song progresses, Washburn is urged to get up off the street and try to turn his life around. He is told that even though he is a "naughty ne'er-do-well," he can still be reborn and become a better person. Washburn is initially resistant to this idea, singing that he has a bottle of wine and feels fine. However, by the end of the song, he thanks the people who have come to his aid and declares that he believes he has "got it made."
Overall, "D.W. Washburn" is a song about redemption and the power of community to help lift people out of difficult circumstances. The lyrics are filled with references to poverty, addiction, and despair, but ultimately suggest that with the right kind of support and encouragement, people can turn their lives around.
Line by Line Meaning
D. Double-u Washburn
Refers to the name of the singer in the song, who is a homeless person.
I heard a sweet voice say
The singer hears a voice telling him about his lucky day.
This is your lucky day
The voice tells the singer that he is about to receive help.
A hot bowl of soup is waiting
The help the artist is about to receive consists of a hot bowl of soup.
A hot bowl of soup and a shave
In addition to soup, the artist will also receive a shave.
We picked you to save
The person or people who spoke to the singer have chosen to help him specifically.
Can′t you hear the flügelhorn?
The flugelhorn is being played, possibly indicating a festive mood or a religious connotation.
Can't you hear the bell?
A bell is being rung, possibly in celebration or as a call to action.
Even you can be reborn
The voice encourages the artist to turn his life around and start anew.
You naughty ne′er-do-well
The voice is teasing the artist playfully, calling him a naughty person who doesn't do well for himself.
If you don't get out of that gutter
The singer is currently living in a gutter, and the voice warns him that he needs to leave if he wants to improve his life.
Before the next big rain
The voice tells the artist to leave the gutter before it rains again and he is washed away by the water.
Up, up, c′mon get up
The voice encourages the singer to get up from the gutter and start moving forward.
Get up off the street
Further encouragement for the singer to leave his current situation and start improving his life.
If you can only make it to hands and knees
The voice tells the singer that even if he can't stand up all the way, getting to his hands and knees is a good start.
I know you can make it to your feet
The voice believes that the artist can successfully stand up and begin moving forward with his life.
Why don′t they go save somebody else
The artist expresses disbelief that he was chosen to receive help, rather than someone else.
You see I got no job to go to
The singer explains that he is currently unemployed.
I don't work and I don′t get paid
Further emphasis that the singer is not currently employed and doesn't have a source of income.
I got a bottle of wine and I'm feelin′ fine.
Despite his current situation, the artist has found pleasure in drinking wine and is content.
And I believe I got it made
Even though he is homeless and unemployed, the artist believes that he is doing well enough and is content with his life.
Writer(s): Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davidvawter4859
Definitive version. Possibly the most underappreciated group in the history of rock & roll.
@lcopywriter5102
Fantastic slide show and amazing song by a classic group. I stared at the photos till my eyes popped. Who were these people... what stories could they tell?
@2009metisman
thanks for posting this song, it was on my mind all day
@paulberry6016
The originally & best
@tangobango9653
Homeless Dude at 0:16 fits DW to a tee!! What a great Ol’ song...also recorded by the Monkee’s. 🥴
@stevesewall
Best thing I ever head about the Monkee's
@TheAskTrixieChannel
I dunno, it's hard to hear this song WITHOUT Micky hamming it up. XD
@stevesewall
What a YouTube Discovery!!
@chantelibra5160
❤️
@thomastimlin1724
This version is quite comical itself...how did they record this without cracking, up and having to start over again several times. This one is a little more expressive than the Monkees version in a way. More of a group effort. with various lead vocal sharing for variety rather than relying solely on one lead singer. But yes Micky Dolenz' version is hysterical. Not exactly a Monkees format hit record though....if that is what the fans wanted at the time.