Mr Shuck And Jive
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson Lyrics
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Everybody loves a hero it don't matter if they've heard the tale before
And tell us of the time when almost everybody knew you were a star
And how intelligent you are
Prove that you're alive Mr Shuck and Jive
You can tell us of the man who stole your fortune and nearly ruined your life
Or better still the one about the TV and the couch and your best friend's wife
Tell us of grand projects never finished with somebody else to blame
Just never did arrive Mr Shuck and Jive
[ piano ]
If you can get yourself together kindly write a criticism of this song
How it's exquisitely constructed and yet mechanical and somehow slightly wrong
And you can put it in your book about the enemy you never even met
You know you just might make it yet
But somehow you'll survive Mr Shuck and Jive
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson's song "Mr Shuck and Jive" speak to the idea of self-promotion and self-aggrandizement. The singer is addressing someone they refer to as "Mr. Shuck and Jive," who is essentially a braggart and a self-promoter. The song opens with the singer encouraging Mr. Shuck and Jive to retell his war stories, despite the fact that everyone has likely heard them before. The singer goes on to ask Mr. Shuck and Jive to talk about his past successes and how intelligent he is, essentially poking fun at his need to constantly promote himself.
The second verse takes a bit of a darker tone, with the singer asking Mr. Shuck and Jive to talk about the man who stole his fortune and nearly ruined his life or the story about the TV, the couch, and his best friend's wife. These stories suggest that Mr. Shuck and Jive may have had some significant setbacks in his life, but the way he tells them adds a level of theatricality and exaggeration.
The final verse seems to take a bit of a sarcastic turn, with the singer suggesting that Mr. Shuck and Jive could write a criticism of the song itself, highlighting its mechanical construction and slight wrongness. The line "You know you just might make it yet, but somehow you'll survive" suggests that the singer doesn't really believe that Mr. Shuck and Jive is as successful as he claims to be, but that somehow he'll continue to survive and promote himself regardless.
Overall, "Mr Shuck and Jive" can be seen as a commentary on the culture of self-promotion and the way that some people are so focused on presenting a certain image of themselves that they lose sight of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell us once again this morning old friend how did you win the war
Please regale us with your tales of glory and how you emerged victorious in battles, my dear friend
Everybody loves a hero it don't matter if they've heard the tale before
No matter how many times people have heard the story of a hero, they will always have fondness for them
And tell us of the time when almost everybody knew you were a star
Please do share with us the memories of when you were at the height of your fame and when everyone took notice of you
And how intelligent you are
Don't forget to mention your intellect and how exceptional it is
Prove that you're alive Mr Shuck and Jive
Show us that you still exist and are still relevant, Mr. Shuck and Jive
You can tell us of the man who stole your fortune and nearly ruined your life
Please feel free to narrate the story of the person who wronged you, robbed you of your wealth, and almost destroyed your life
Or better still the one about the TV and the couch and your best friend's wife
Or maybe you could tell us the more scandalous version of the story involving the television, the couch, and your friend's partner
Tell us of grand projects never finished with somebody else to blame
Why don't you enlighten us on the projects that you started but never completed and conveniently attribute the fault to someone else?
And all the reasons that your fame
Give us all the reasons why your fame
Just never did arrive Mr Shuck and Jive
never really took off or materialized as expected, Mr. Shuck and Jive.
If you can get yourself together kindly write a criticism of this song
If you're capable of it, please provide us with a critique of this particular piece of music
How it's exquisitely constructed and yet mechanical and somehow slightly wrong
Elaborate on how meticulously the song is put together, yet it seems to lack any genuine emotion or soul, leaving it somewhat disingenuous, in your opinion
And you can put it in your book about the enemy you never even met
Feel free to include it in your book about an enemy you've never even had the chance to encounter
You know you just might make it yet
You never know, maybe you'll achieve success you've always desired
But somehow you'll survive Mr Shuck and Jive
Regardless, you'll always manage to stay afloat and survive, Mr. Shuck and Jive
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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