Randy Newman: Kingfish (Roots American Populism)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Great song from the Randy Newman album Good Old Boys, in the voice of Huey "Kingfish" Long.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huey_Long)

"Ain't no Standard Oil men gonna run this state
Gonna be run by little folks like me and you"

I was reminded of this song by a discussion of progressivism vs. populism, and
the popularity if John Edwards' rhetoric among self-described moderates. When people
feel screwed, Anti-corporatism can have wide appeal that transcends left and right:

Kingfish
There's a hundred thousand Frenchmen in New Orleans
In New Orleans there are Frenchmen everywhere
But your house could fall down
Your baby could drown
Wouldn't none of those Frenchmen care

Everybody gather 'round
Loosen up your suspenders
Hunker down on the ground
I'm a cracker
And you are too
But don't I take good care of you

Who built the highway to Baton Rouge?
Who put up the hospital and built you schools?
Who looks after shit-kickers like you?
The Kingfish do

Who gave a party at the Roosevelt Hotel?
And invited the whole north half of the state down there for free
The people in the city
Had their eyes bugging out
Cause everyone of you
Looked just like me

Kingfish, Kingfish
Everybody sing
Kingfish, Kingfish
Every man a king

Who took on the Standard Oil men
And whipped their ass
Just like he promised he'd do?
Ain't no Standard Oil men gonna run this state
Gonna be run by little folks like me and you

Kingfish, Kingfish
Friend of the working man
Kingfish, Kingfish
The Kingfish gonna save this land

[demnan]

1. Goodl Old Boys was a Masterpiece

I obtained a copy on LP when it came out. I've always loved Randy Newman. He has so much to say and says it in a sophisticated way. Frank Zappa was that way too. So I show my age.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Long time ago I was supposed to interview Randy Newman, but he was running late, so he

said I could ask him one question.

So I asked him if Senator Russell Long got a royalty payment for "Every Man a King" each time a copy of GOOD OLD BOYS was sold. (It was Huey Long's campaign theme song, and Huey wrote the lyrics, and Russell was an heir, and Newman performs the song on that album.)

Randy Newman said, "You know... I've never thought of that. I guess he does."

So I stumped Randy Newman (or nailed him, as Colbert would say), but stumping the subject isn't very good interview technique.

[Anouka]

3. what is roots american?

i'd never heard of the term before.