This is just your basic, fun little toe-tapping, booty-wagging swing daddy rockers. It’s very straightforward, but it also has some really cool lyrics courtesy of Difford and Tilbrook. It’s a sad tale of a poor girl who’s had bad luck with a man once again, and everything just keeps going wrong. Still, you can’t help smiling while the song plays.
There’s a really nice honky tonk piano solo as well, followed by a neat guitar solo. Just a good old fun song, and I love it.
Here’s a link to a live performance
And of course, the lyrics:
She wants to give up love for good
She kicks the fence and splits the wood,
She cries her eyes out in the rain
She swears aloud and so again,
She feels messed around.
She takes her coat off as it pours
The passing daytime she ignores,
Sits with a problem on a bench
And with her heel she digs a trench,
She feels messed around.
She rips her skirt and tears her dress
Climbing over his garden fence,
Mud on her mourning as tears still fall
She’s in no mood for his love at all,
She feels messed around
Her door won’t shut, her match won’t light,
The bulb went out, her skirts too tight,
She feels messed around.
The words don’t match, her heart won’t heal,
The phone won’t pip, her fruit won’t peel,
She feels messed around.
She left herself open for him all the time
But always kept off of his cloud,
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Have come to mess her around
Why Don’t You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)? is one of those songs that pretty much anyone can relate to. A simple tale of love gone wrong–the type that Hank Williams did so well–it’s also got a good beat and you can dance to it.
There’s a cute video someone did using footage from the Our Gang comedies
And of course, the lyrics:
Well,Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do
How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
My hair’s still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used To Do.
Ain’t had no lovin’ like a huggin’ and a kissin’
in a long, long while
We don’t get nearer or further or closer
than a country mile;
Why don’t you spark me like you used to do
And say sweet nothin’s like you used to coo
I’m the same old trouble that you’ve always been through
So, Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do.
Well, why don’t you be just like you used to be
How come you find so many faults with me
Somebody’s changed so let me give you a clue
Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do.
Ain’t had no lovin’ like a huggin’ and a kissin’
in a long, long while
We don’t get nearer or further or closer
than a country mile;
Why don’t you say the things you used to say
What makes you treat me like a piece of clay
My hair’s still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why Don’t You Love Me like you used to do.
The first time I heard this song was after purchasing the Clash’s Give ‘Em Enough Rope. I’d love to tell you that I loved that album, but ultimately I found it disappointing. That doesn’t mean there weren’t some excellent tracks, but the songs just weren’t as consistently good as most of their other albums.
However, this particular song stuck with me from the word “It’s”. The honky-tonk feel, the simple, pleasant tempo, the jaunty tone versus the seriousness of the lyrics, it’s all there. Just a great song, and one I think is highly under-appreciated.
And of course, the lyrics (courtesy of London’s Burning):
IT’S LUCY IN THE SKY AND ALL KINDS OF APPLE PIE
SHE GIGGLES AT THE SCREEN ‘COS IT LOOKS SO GREEN
THERE’S CARPETS ON THE PAVEMENTS
AND FEATHERS IN HER EYE
BUT SOONER OR LATER, HER NEW FRIENDS WILL REALISE
THAT JULIE’S BEEN WORKING FOR THE DRUG SQUAD
WELL IT SEEMED LIKE A DREAM, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
STASH IT IN THE BANK WHILE THE TABLETS GROW HIGH
IN THEIR MILLIONS
AND EVERYBODY’S HIGH (HI, MAN…)
BUT THERE’S SOMEONE LOOKING DOWN
FROM THAT MOUNTAINSIDE
‘COS JULIE’S BEEN WORKING FOR THE DRUG SQUAD
AND IT’S TEN YEARS FOR YOU
NINETEEN FOR YOU
AND YOU CAN GET OUT IN TWENTY-FIVE
THAT IS IF YOU’RE STILL ALIVE
AN’ THEN THERE CAME THE NIGHT OF THE GREATEST EVER RAID
THEY ARRESTED EVERY DRUG THAT HAD EVER BEEN MADE
THEY TOOK EIGHTY-TWO LAWS
THROUGH EIGHTY-TWO DOORS
AND THEY DIDN’T HALT THE PULL
TILL THE CELLS WERE ALL FULL
‘COS JULIE WAS WORKING FOR THE DRUG SQUAD
THEY PUT HIM IN A CELL, THEY SAID YOU WAIT HERE
YOU’VE GOT THE TIME TO COUNT ALL OF YOUR HAIR
YOU’VE GOT FIFTEEN YEARS
A MIGHTY LONG TIME
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A PHYSICIST
BUT NOW YOUR NAME IS ON THE MAILBAG LIST
JULIE’S BEEN WORKING FOR THE DRUG SQUAD
GUMBO!