Trouble: Lookin’ For Trouble

Steve Goodman: Lookin‘ For Trouble

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When I think of Steve Goodman, I think first of his wonderful sense of humor. Next, I think of his warmth, and the love for his characters that comes through in songs like The Dutchman. (Yes, I know Goodman didn’t write The Dutchman, but his performance brings out this quality, and it also shows up in his writing.) At first listen, Lookin’ For Trouble is another matter. Goodman’s base of operations was Chicago, and here that city’s blues comes out through him. But listen again. The song is a piece of advice to someone who might still be able to benefit from it. In this take on the blues, all is not lost. Goodman’s narrator is singing this to someone he wants to help, and what comes through most is how much he cares.

Incidentally, Lookin’ For Trouble is a song that I first encountered in a wonderful performance by Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore. Later, I found an equally wonderful version by Red Molly. Both were too recent to include in this post, but, if you like this, you will want to seek out those versions as well.

Retrospective: The Dutchman

The first thing I wanted to celebrate in my history with Star Maker is the folk-blogger sub-group. Not that we have ever given ourselves a formal title, and certainly not one so clunky. But there are three of us, and when we want to post folk music here, we often check with each other to see who will take the song. And we often find that it was a good thing we asked. In considering what song to post for this, I saw only one option: The Dutchman. Let me explain.

Michael P Smith: The Dutchman

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It all began when Susan joined us. She and I quickly discovered that anything by Joni Mitchell was a duplication risk. Later, we added Dar Williams, and sometimes Tracey Grammar to the list. But during Silly Songs week, I posted a song by Steve Goodman. I had always assumed that Goodman had written The Dutchman, and blithely said so. Susan set me straight in the comments. The song is actually by Michael P Smith, and later that week, Susan introduced me to his work by posting The Princess and the Frog. That song has become a favorite in my family. So, even though The Dutchman was never posted before on Star Maker, it is my first choice for this theme.

Steve Goodman: The Dutchman

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Alert readers will have noticed that I said there were three folk bloggers here. The third is Boyhowdy. If you have ever visited his own excellent blog, Cover Lay Down, you know that he specializes in folk cover songs. (If you haven’t visited there, you really must do so as soon as you finish with this post.) So, now that I know that Steve Goodman’s Dutchman is one of the greatest folk covers in history, it seemed all the more appropriate to start this week with the song. Boyhowdy and Susan, thank you so much for your friendship. I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.

Jailbait: Don't Do It Department

Jim Croce: Five Short Minutes

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Steve Goodman: Death Of A Salesman

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Here are two more musical examples that show what can happen to a guy who involves himself with under aged girls. And again, as in my previous post, neither of these condone, but rather they show the consequences.

Sports: A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request

Steve Goodman: A Dying Cub Fan‘s Last Request

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As I write this, baseball season is drawing to a close. The Cubs have not been eliminated from postseason contention yet, but it looks more and more likely. Steve Goodman would have understood. Goodman obviously loved music. His other great love was the city of Chicago in general, and the Cubs in particular. I’m sure he didn’t have to do any research to come up with the names of the players used in this song.

In 1969, Steve Goodman was diagnosed with leukemia. His musical career began the next year. The whole time he was making his wonderful music, Goodman lived with the knowledge that he was on borrowed time. He finally succumbed in 1984. Goodman was in the position to do something very few people can do: he put a last wish in a song for all to hear. After his death, Goodman’s ashes were indeed scattered over Wrigley Field. Shortly thereafter, the Cubs began a run of respectability that continues to this day. But even with Goodman watching over them, the Cubs have yet to reach the World Series. They are, after all, the Cubs.

The Bountiful Feast: Chicken Cordon Bleus

Steve Goodman: Chicken Cordon Bleus

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We’re doing Thanksgiving at my brother’s house tomorrow. He and his wife keep a kosher organic vegetarian household. But, out of deference to the family, they’re making chicken. So it won’t be nearly as bad as what Steve Goodman describes here.

(Actually, Bro and Mrs. Bro are great cooks. I’m looking forward to it.)

Silly Songs: Lincoln Park Pirates

Steve Goodman: Lincoln Park Pirates

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There are probably many people who know the song, “City of New Orleans” because of Arlo Guthrie’s hit version. Many of these people have probably heard some version or other of the classic folksong, “The Dutchman”. A still smaller subset knows that both of these songs were written and originally performed by Steve Goodman. If you then explore the Goodman songbook, you quickly discover that he had a great sense of humor.

“The Lincoln Park Pirates” is Goodman’s description of the parking situation in Chicago at the time he wrote the song. I’ll let him take it from there.

Footwear: Red Ball Jets

Steve Goodman: Red Ball Jets

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What are Red Ball Jets?

Just let Steve Goodman tell you…

If you want to read a great book about the amazing Steve Goodman, check the comments to this post for info! (And maybe even the comments to this post if Clay is on his game.)

Advice: Read Between The Lines and Come From The Heart

If I was going to leave behind a mixed tape of advice songs for my kids, these would be the first two songs. Both are chock full of great advice:



Steve Goodman: Between The Lines [purchase]

The day you’re born they sign a piece of paper
That will certify the date of your birth
And the day you die they sign another
Just to prove you’ve gone back to the Earth

Between those two pieces of paper
There is the truth that is so hard to find
The story of your life is written
But you must read in between the lines

When you're young you think it don’t matter
If you leap before you look
But those old folks are wiser and sadder
From the chances that they took

Now when your chance comes along you must take it
Just be careful and take your time
And the chances are good you will make
If you can read in between the lines…

When someone tells you they “love you”
And “no one has ever loved you more”
It is wise to stop and consider
How many times they might have said that before

Because when love leaves you crying
Then you will surely lose your mind
And you might have known love was lying
If you could read in between the lines

Guy Clark: Come From The Heart [purchase]

When I was a young man my daddy told me
A lesson he learned, it was a long time ago
If you want to have someone to hold onto
You're gonna have to learn to let go

You got to sing like you don't need the money
Love like you'll never get hurt
You got to dance like nobody's watchin'
It's gotta come from the heart if you want it to work

Now here is the one thing that I keep forgetting
When everything is falling apart
In life as in love, what I need to remember
There's such a thing as trying too hard