The raucous EP Howlin' at the Halloween Moon captured the band in its live element, performing five tracks from the first three albums along with spirited covers of the Flamin' Groovies "Jumpin' in the Night" and Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon's "Tallahassee Lassie." In 1990 the Del Lords recorded their final album, Lovers Who Wander, and although some of the rough edges were smoothed out, the graceful emotional conviction made their swansong just as appealing as any of their previous studio releases. Eric "Roscoe" Ambel officially quit the Del Lords in 1991, as he had already released a solo album, Roscoe's Gang. Eight years later the Restless label finally got around to releasing Get Tough: The Best of the Del-Lords.
About You
The Del Lords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What the words were was anybody's guess
But what the song meant
Everybody knew
And, baby, that's the way I feel about you
About you
That's how I feel about you
The midnight hour has come and gone
I'm singing with the radio
I'm driving home
Sometimes at night, when I'm alone in my car
That song comes on, I turn it up loud
I mash on the gas real hard
Real hard, that's how I feel about you
Whatever that song said really hit on the head
How I feel about you
Hey hey hey hey
I put that scratchy old record on late last night
It got a little crazy, had to turn out the light
I don't know how it do to me, baby, what it do to me
It always sounds so new to me
I don't care how long you live
Or how far you travel
There are some mysteries
That cannot be unraveled
You take that song from back in 60-X
It is what it is, oh baby, yes yes yes yes
Yes, that's how I feel about you
Whatever that song said really hit it on the head
How I feel about you
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
The Del-Lords' "About You" is a song that is steeped in nostalgia and longing. The opening verse suggests that there was a song from the past that was universally understood, even if no one knew what the lyrics were. This song is a symbol of something universally understood and felt, much like the love that the singer has for a particular individual. While the lyrics of this song were unknown, the feeling behind it was abundantly clear. This mysterious and timeless song serves as a metaphor for the indescribable emotions of true love.
The second verse continues the theme of nostalgia, with the singer driving home at night, listening to the radio. When the unidentified song comes on, the singer turns it up and mashes on the gas. The song evokes such powerful emotions in the singer that they are compelled to drive recklessly, fuelled by the same passion as the song. The singer compares the feeling they get when they hear the unidentified song to the emotions they feel when thinking about their loved one. The song is a reminder of how deeply the singer loves and how they feel about their beloved.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet expression of love that is both passionate and wistful. The mysterious song from the past serves as a symbol for the transcendent power of love, while the singers' driving becomes a dangerous metaphor for the intensity of their feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a song back in 1960-X
There was a popular song from the 1960s that is now a classic.
What the words were was anybody's guess
It was difficult to understand the exact message of the lyrics.
But what the song meant
Despite the ambiguous lyrics, everyone knew the overall feeling or emotion of the song.
Everybody knew
The song's meaning was universally understood.
And, baby, that's the way I feel about you
The same way everyone could understand the feeling of the classic song, the singer feels a strong and undeniable emotion towards the person they are addressing.
About you
The singer is specifically addressing someone they feel strongly about.
That's how I feel about you
The singer's feelings towards the person they are addressing are so strong and clear.
The midnight hour has come and gone
It is late at night.
I'm singing with the radio
The singer is listening to music and singing along.
I'm driving home
The singer is on their way back to their residence.
Sometimes at night, when I'm alone in my car
The singer is alone in their car at night, which often leads to moments of introspection or contemplation.
That song comes on, I turn it up loud
A familiar song that the singer enjoys playing loudly on their car's stereo system comes on.
I mash on the gas real hard
The singer is so passionate about the song even when they are driving, that they press the accelerator more than usual.
Real hard, that's how I feel about you
The singer feels equally and very passionately about the person they are addressing.
Whatever that song said really hit on the head
The meaning behind the song resonates strongly with the singer.
How I feel about you
The lyrics and melody of the song helped the singer articulate their feelings for the person they are addressing.
I put that scratchy old record on late last night
The singer listened to an old and worn out record late at night.
It got a little crazy, had to turn out the light
The song was so intense and emotional that the singer had to switch off the light to calm down.
I don't know how it do to me, baby, what it do to me
The singer doesn't know why or how the song has such a strong effect on them, just like their feelings towards the person they are addressing.
It always sounds so new to me
Despite listening to the song multiple times, it never gets old or loses its impact.
I don't care how long you live
The singer's feelings towards the person they are addressing are unconditional and not limited by time.
Or how far you travel
Physical distance is not a factor in the singer's affection for the person they are addressing.
There are some mysteries
Some things, such as the meaning behind a song or the depth of one's emotions, cannot be fully explained or understood.
That cannot be unraveled
These mysteries cannot be easily or completely understood or explained.
You take that song from back in 60-X
The classic song from the 1960s is a metaphor for the strong emotions the singer has towards the person they are addressing.
It is what it is, oh baby, yes yes yes yes
The emotions the singer feels towards the person they are addressing are intense, undeniable, and not to be overthought.
Hey hey hey hey
A musical interlude that repeats throughout the song.
Writer(s): SCOTT KEMPNER
Contributed by Chloe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robanhood
00:00 01 True Love (cuts in)
01:31 02 Get Tough
06:22 03 I'm Gonna Be Around
12:22 04 Cheyenne
16:30 05 Total Destruction to Your Mind (Swamp Dogg Cover) (Vocals by Eric Ambel)
21:26 06 Judas Kiss (Vocals by Eric Ambel)
27:28 07 Johnny 99 (Bruce Springsteen Cover) (Acappella with the whole band singing)
30:58 08 How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live
36:03 09 Wipeout (Instrumental) / I Play the Drums (Vocals by Frank Funaro)
41:24 10 Jumpin' In the Night (Flamin' Groovies Cover)
48:00 11 (Short Jam - Unknown)
48:38 12 Tallahassee Lassie (Freddy Cannon Cover)
Robanhood
00:00 01 True Love (cuts in)
01:31 02 Get Tough
06:22 03 I'm Gonna Be Around
12:22 04 Cheyenne
16:30 05 Total Destruction to Your Mind (Swamp Dogg Cover) (Vocals by Eric Ambel)
21:26 06 Judas Kiss (Vocals by Eric Ambel)
27:28 07 Johnny 99 (Bruce Springsteen Cover) (Acappella with the whole band singing)
30:58 08 How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live
36:03 09 Wipeout (Instrumental) / I Play the Drums (Vocals by Frank Funaro)
41:24 10 Jumpin' In the Night (Flamin' Groovies Cover)
48:00 11 (Short Jam - Unknown)
48:38 12 Tallahassee Lassie (Freddy Cannon Cover)
Wichita Clem
Wow! What a treat finding this. The Del Lords played their collective asses off live. Great versions of some band originals and several killer covers. Really good sound here and solid video.What's not to love about a band that busts out the Groovies Jumpin' in the Night.
Jen Almas
i love this band
John Brian Anderson
God protect the Del Lords
Steven Macanka
AMEN......................
MrRojeroo
New to me - Del Lords from the vault is always welcome. Met Eric in Crewe once. A total gent.
sandra too
There was also Elliott Murphy on the Bill with Chris Spedding playing guitar Ernie Brooks playing bass Sorry i cannot remember the drummer's name
Hells Angels providing a great security service
not everyday you shake hands with two of the best guitar players ever
(I was working with the Del-Lords)
Gazely Gaze
Thanks; I'll see if that one can also be dug out and posted here!
sandra too
@Gazely Gaze Hey i didn' t realize
in the end you can see Elliott !!!
Gazely Gaze
I found the Elliott Murphy gig - all down to you, thanks! Here: https://youtu.be/p59XZA195UU Please do put your recollections of it in the comments!