Barbara Keith began her career at the Café Wha? in Greenwich Village, following in the footsteps of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Cosby and many others who got their start in that hallowed dive. She was soon recording for MGM/Verve, A&M, and Warner Brothers. Her songs have been covered by such diverse artists as Tanya Tucker, Barbra Streisand, The Dillards, Melanie, Hank Snow, Lowell George and others. “The Bramble and the Rose” has become a folk standard – often receiving the ultimate compliment of being mistaken for a traditional song.
Her husband Doug Tibbles had a whole other life before drumming – A native of Los Angeles, he was a TV writer for such shows as “The Munsters”, “Bewitched”, “Andy Griffith”, “My Three Sons”, “Family Affair”, and many more.
Unhappy with show business in general, Barbara gave back her major label advance, Doug quit his one-day-old job as story editor for “Happy Days”, and they went underground. Doug took up drums and son John took up bass at age eleven. Reclusive by choice, the band moved from L.A. to Western Massachusetts to write and woodshed. They began playing the occasional show while recording in their cellar.
When best selling author Elmore Leonard (“Get Shorty”, “Jackie Brown”, “Out of Sight”) walked in the Troubadour in L.A. one night looking for inspiration for his sequel to “Get Shorty”, he discovered The Stone Coyotes.
They became the model for Chili Palmer’s next adventure, “Be Cool”. Leonard said, “ It was music I could understand…straight ahead rock and roll with a twang. And there are good stories going on in the songs.” He included their lyrics in the book and dedicated it to them. He and the band made a string of appearances together around the country with a Words and Music Tour – from New York’s Mercury Lounge to L.A.’s Viper Room.
More recently with five songs on "Dog the Bounty Hunter", they gained national attention, but it is the grass roots, word-of-mouth response to their music that continues their momentum.
“The Stone Coyotes are a rare wild beast in a domesticated music industry.”
- Rolling Stone Online
“The Stone Coyotes’ hefty sound melds AC/DC’s charging power chords with a country troubadour’s literate observations.”
- New York Magazine
“The Stone Coyotes crank out unpretentious rock that has grime on its fingers and transcendence in its heart.”
- The Nashville Scene
“Poised to be the coolest husband-wife-and-son rock and roll trio ever…Those wary of a hype short on substance should rest assured – this family has the chops to back it up.”
- The L. A. Weekly
“Powerful and gritty, with just a hint of sweetness and sorrow.”
- Real Detroit Weekly
“Likely one of the festival’s best discoveries… The Stone Coyotes rocked and shocked the Horseshoe audience Saturday night with their AC/DC meets Patsy Cline sound.”
- Toronto Now
When Parliament Convenes
The Stone Coyotes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Callin' down to the street
"I'll find you on the corner
You know - where we always meet
The Doctor, he just called me on the phone
Who's that in the alley?
Dog snoopin' for a bone
I'll be a big man someday, you'll see
I have a vision
I've got a poet's soul inside of me"
"Watch out, my baby
You're my darling one"
"Don't worry about me, Mama
I'm the seventh son of a seventh son"
You know, I see it
But it's only in my dreams
All the houses brought to order
When Parliament convenes
"I'm just a young boy
In my natural prime
Watch me walkin'
Down the rickety steps of time
I'm going to meet my friend
I sing a song to tell the truth
This is the second chapter
From the pages of my youth"
Then a car pulled up
And a window rolled down
A glint of steel
"Hit the ground! Hit the ground!"
Pop pop, pop pop pop
And then all was still
The blood ran down the street
Another casket filled
I saw that mother crying
She rocked him where he lay
The pavement was his cradle
As his life slipped away
"Doctor! Doctor!
Can you bring my sweet boy back?
Doctor! Doctor!
He was the victim of a sneak attack"
And all the lords and ladies
In respect they stepped aside
When they heard the sirens scream
And the white doors open wide
I heard that mother crying
"Who would come to do him harm?"
She called across the ages
"Lay down your arms!"
The Stone Coyotes' song "When Parliament Convenes" tells a story of a young boy who leaves his home to meet a friend on the street. His mother warns him to be careful, but the boy is confident in his abilities and tells his mother that he is the seventh son of a seventh son. Despite his mother's worrying, the boy heads out and meets his friend. However, their meeting is interrupted by a car pulling up, and someone shooting. The boy's friend is killed, and the boy is left traumatized by the event. The song describes the aftermath of the shooting, with the mother's grief and a call for an end to violence.
The opening lines of the song create a vivid picture of the setting. The boy leans out of the window and calls down to the street, emphasizing the distance between his home and the outside world. The repetition of the phrase "you know - where we always meet" highlights the comfort and familiarity of the boy's routine. However, the final line of the verse, "Dog snoopin' for a bone," adds a hint of danger to the situation.
The chorus of the song expresses the boy's dreams of a peaceful world. He imagines all the houses "brought to order" when Parliament convenes, suggesting a utopian society where everyone works together for the greater good. However, the reality of the world outside is much darker than the boy's dreams.
The second verse of the song describes the boy's confidence and creativity. He sees himself as a young man with a "poet's soul," and he sings a song to his friend as they walk together. The sudden violence of the shooting is a stark contrast to the boy's innocent creativity, and the mother's grief emphasizes the tragedy of the event.
Overall, "When Parliament Convenes" is a powerful song that captures the pain and confusion of gun violence. The boy's innocence and creativity highlight the senselessness of the tragedy, while the mother's grief reminds us of the devastating impact of violence on families and communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Leaning out the window
Looking out the window
Callin' down to the street
Shouting down the street
"I'll find you on the corner / You know - where we always meet
"I'll meet you on the usual corner
The Doctor, he just called me on the phone
The doctor just called me
Who's that in the alley? / Dog snoopin' for a bone
Who's in the alley? / A dog looking for a bone
I'm goin' out, Mama / I'll be a big man someday, you'll see
I'm leaving, Mom / I'll be successful someday
I have a vision / I've got a poet's soul inside of me"
I have a dream / I'm artistic
"Watch out, my baby / You're my darling one"
"Be careful, my child / You're my beloved"
"Don't worry about me, Mama / I'm the seventh son of a seventh son"
"Don't be concerned, Mom / I'm lucky"
You know, I see it / But it's only in my dreams
I have an idea / But it's unrealistic
All the houses brought to order / When Parliament convenes
When the government meets / Everything falls into place
"I'm just a young boy / In my natural prime
"I'm young and healthy
Watch me walkin' / Down the rickety steps of time
See me walking / Through the ups and downs of life
I'm going to meet my friend / I sing a song to tell the truth
I'm meeting my friend / I'm honest
This is the second chapter / From the pages of my youth"
This is my second story / About my past
Then a car pulled up / And a window rolled down
A car stopped / And someone rolled down a car window
A glint of steel / "Hit the ground! Hit the ground!"
A shiny object / "Get down! Get down!"
Pop pop, pop pop pop / And then all was still
Gunshots / And then it went quiet
The blood ran down the street / Another casket filled
Blood flowed / Someone else died
I saw that mother crying / She rocked him where he lay
I saw the mom cry / She held her child's body
The pavement was his cradle / As his life slipped away
The pavement was his bed / As he died
"Doctor! Doctor! / Can you bring my sweet boy back?
"Doctor! Doctor! / Can you revive my son?
"Doctor! Doctor! / He was the victim of a sneak attack"
"Doctor! Doctor! / Someone attacked him by surprise"
And all the lords and ladies / In respect they stepped aside
The important people / Showed respect
When they heard the sirens scream / And the white doors open wide
When they heard the ambulance / And the doors opened
I heard that mother crying / "Who would come to do him harm?"
I heard the mom say / "Who would hurt him?"
She called across the ages / "Lay down your arms!"
She said for everyone / To stop fighting
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind