Everybody Knows Somebody from Badajoz
Riverboat Mysteries: Tales of the Enigmatic World Downstream
Lyrics
Little boy found, little boy lost, down by the river,
Describing a little boy who is both found and lost by the river.
away from the coast, in a little row boat, diamond shaped, taking a nap
The boy is in a small boat, shaped like a diamond, away from the coast, and taking a nap.
and day dreaming away.
Emphasizing the boy's state of daydreaming while in the boat.
Open my eyes, what do I see? Riverboat man's staring at me, moving slowly
The narrator wakes up to see a riverboat man staring at him, slowly moving with a rusty can.
his big strong hand, draining the water with a rusty can.
The riverboat man has a big strong hand and is draining water with a rusty can.
And I can tell he's into something good enough to tell me nothing. It doesn't matter what we do, he's always moaning river blues.
The riverboat man seems involved in something good but remains mysterious, always expressing river blues.
Looky here, boy, this is a bait, put it on the hook, now we gotta wait, keep it still,
The riverboat man gives the narrator bait to put on a hook, suggesting fishing.
see what you do,
Instruction to keep the bait still and wait for a catch.
we might catch a black bass and a catfish, too...
Hopes of catching a black bass and a catfish while fishing.
And I can tell he's into something good enough to tell me nothing. Sweat is dripping from his head
The riverboat man sweats, and there is mention of a guilded wooden leg.
and clinks the guilded wooden leg.
Describing the riverboat man's physical state with sweat and a wooden leg.
I said “why is it so?”, he said “just because”.
The narrator asks why, and the riverboat man responds with a nonchalant "just because."
And he sang “Everybody knows somebody, everybody knows somebody from Badajoz”.
The riverboat man sings "Everybody knows somebody from Badajoz," hinting at a shared knowledge or connection.
Tied with a rope,
Reference to being tied with a rope, creating a visual image of connection or restriction.
tied to a tree, riverboat dances
The riverboat dances in the middle of the stream, adding a lively element to the scene.
in the middle of the stream. I'm holding the rod
The narrator holds the fishing rod, emphasizing involvement in the activity.
as good as I can,
Continuation of the narrator's effort to fish, maintaining focus on the riverboat man.
keeping an eye
The narrator keeps an eye on the riverboat man, reinforcing a connection or curiosity.
on the riverboat man.
Continued attention to the riverboat man's actions.
And I can tell he's into something good enough to tell me nothing. It doesn't matter what we do, he's always moaning river blues.
Reiteration that the riverboat man is involved in something mysterious, always expressing river blues.
Everybody knows somebody... Everybody knows somebody from Badajoz.
Repetition of the phrase "Everybody knows somebody from Badajoz," emphasizing the shared knowledge or connection.
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