They enjoyed working together so much that they decided to create an album together. Co-written by all the group members, the songwriting and recording were accomplished over a ten-day period at Dave Stewart's house, as Dylan was due to go out on tour. Their first studio album, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 was released on October 18, 1988. The band members were credited under various pseudonyms, all sons of a fictional Charles Truscott Wilbury, Sr. The album was immediately dubbed as one of the top 100 albums of all time by Rolling Stone, and was a critical and commercial success, spawning several successful singles and eventually reaching triple-platinum sales status in the US. Additionally, it was nominated for several awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1989.
The death of Orbison on December 6, 1988 prevented further full collaborations, and the band continued without him. In 1990, they released a second studio album titled Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3. The intentional misnumbering is attributed to Harrison's sense of humor; additionally, the pseudonyms for all members were changed. The album met with less success than its predecessor, and the group eventually disbanded in 1990, their final released recording being the song "Nobody's Child", the title track of a benefit album released to benefit Romanian orphans.
In 2007, a compilation of both albums was released, entitled The Traveling Wilburys Collection. As well as both of the original albums, the release included bonus tracks and music videos; additionally, previously uncredited session drummer Jim Keltner, who appeared in some of the group's music videos, was listed as a member of the group, as was Dhani Harrison, the son of George who had assisted in some parts of the overdubbing of the previously unreleased material.
Poor House
Traveling Wilburys Lyrics
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Lookin' like a queen
Serving me with papers
Calling me obscene
Woman, I've tried so hard
Just to do my best
They're gonna put me in the poor house
And you'll take all the rest
Up all day
Down all night
Working on the job
Everything I do is wrong
I always end up right
Woman, I tried so hard
Done all I can do
They're gonna put me in the poor house
Keep all the best for you
Oh-oh in the poor house
(I don't get it)
Oh-oh in the poor house
If I drove a pulpwood truck
Would you love me more?
Will you bring me diamonds
And hang around my door
Woman, I've done my best
They're ain't much left for me
They're gonna put me in the poor house
And throw away the key
(In the poor house)
Oh-oh in the poor house
You walk in, half past nine
Lookin' like a queen
Serving me with papers
Calling me obscene
Woman, I've tried so hard
Just to do my best
They're gonna put me in the poor house
And you'll take all the rest
(In the poor house)
Oh-oh in the poor house
(In the poor house)
Oh-oh in the poor house
The opening lines of the Traveling Wilburys song "Poor House" describe a scene of conflict and tension between two people. The singer is being served with papers by a woman who looks like a queen, and he feels he is being unfairly blamed for something obscene. The lyrics suggest that he has been striving to do his best, but he is struggling to keep up with the demands of his job and the expectations of his partner. He fears that he will end up in the poor house, while his partner will take everything else.
The repeated lines "Oh-oh in the poor house" underscore the sense of desperation and hopelessness that permeates the song. The singer is trapped in a cycle of poverty and failure, with no clear way out. He asks if he would be loved more if he had a better job or more money, but it seems like a futile gesture. In the end, he can only resign himself to his fate, knowing that he has done all he can to make things better.
Overall, "Poor House" is a poignant reflection on the struggles of working-class life and the difficulty of finding a way out of poverty. The song is a reminder that many people face these kinds of challenges every day, and that the systems and structures that create poverty and inequality are deeply entrenched.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk in, half past nine
You came in quite late in the night
Lookin' like a queen
You looked beautiful and regal
Serving me with papers
Giving me documents, which may contain legal claims or demands
Calling me obscene
Accusing me of saying or doing something inappropriate
Woman, I've tried so hard
My dear, I've made every effort possible
Just to do my best
Simply to perform at my highest level
They're gonna put me in the poor house
I'll soon be broke and unable to afford basic necessities
And you'll take all the rest
You'll get whatever is left after I am done paying everything else off
Up all day
Working hard throughout the daylight hours
Down all night
Tired and exhausted during the nighttime
Working on the job
Spending most of my time working at the job
Everything I do is wrong
My actions always seem to result in something negative
I always end up right
Ultimately, things seem to work out well for me
Done all I can do
There's nothing else left that I can do to improve the situation
Keep all the best for you
You get to keep all the beneficial aspects of our relationship
(I don't get it)
This doesn't make any sense to me
If I drove a pulpwood truck
If I worked in a menial job as a wood transporter
Would you love me more?
Do you base your love for me on my job or my material possessions?
Will you bring me diamonds
Would you buy me luxurious gifts?
And hang around my door
And wait outside my house for me
They're ain't much left for me
There's hardly anything left for me
And throw away the key
Lock me up and throw away the key
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynn, Tom Petty, George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind