Woody and Dutch on the Slow Train to Peking
Journey to Musical Roots: A Be-bop Midnight Map
Lyrics
Dutch took 'em on the slow train to Peking on La Brea Avenue
Dutch took them on a slow train to Peking on La Brea Avenue.
To find the Stax and Sun
They sought out Stax and Sun, likely referring to music studios.
They were reaching to get to
They were striving to reach these studios.
They was a rapping the flat scat
They engaged in rhythmic, improvised vocalization.
Diamond dialectos of points and taps
Using intricate language, a mix of points and taps.
Between the chicken and the back
Refers to the space between the front and back of a chicken, possibly metaphorical.
They drew themselves a be-bop
They created a be-bop midnight map, suggesting a musical journey.
Midnight map
A visual representation of their musical exploration.
They said "do you got a map the next joint?"
Asking if someone has directions to the next musical venue.
"Do you got a map the next joint?"
Repeating the inquiry, emphasizing the search for the next musical joint.
Pick it up on the night train
Picking up something on the night train, possibly a reference to musical influences.
Down on the corner of rhythm and blues
Refers to the meeting point of rhythm and blues on a street corner.
Where I have met all of my boys since
Where the narrator has encountered friends since 1952.
Back in '52
Bringing the influence of Stax and Sun into the narrator's life.
Bringing 'em Stax and Sun
Suggesting that Cleveland and Memphis have forgotten their musical roots.
'cause I think that Cleveland forgot
Asking if the listener enjoys the presented situation or content.
And Memphis forgot
Repeating the inquiry in a different context.
Where they were coming from
Questioning if the listener enjoys the rhythmic, improvised vocalization.
Do ya like it? Do ya like it like that?
Do you like it? Do you like it like that?
Do you like rapping the fat scat?
Repeating the inquiry, emphasizing the style of vocalization.
Woody and Dutch dance in the cell of fourteen
Woody and Dutch dancing in a confined space, possibly metaphorical.
Like a pill they do it all night
They engage in this activity throughout the night.
Spectators,
Observing spectators, possibly highlighting their performance.
White-walls, find and greased back
Describing the appearance of onlookers with white-walls and greased back, possibly referencing a specific style.
Every Saturday night
Regularly occurring every Saturday night.
Leaning in the scenery
Leaning in the scenery, possibly indicating a casual or relaxed attitude.
Picking up the kids
Picking up kids, suggesting a domestic aspect to their lives.
At the next door neighbors'
At the neighbors', possibly referring to a shared community or friendship.
"Yeah I know what you did
Acknowledging knowledge of someone's actions.
Yeah I got a room you can stay in
Offering a room if they agree to be quiet.
If you promise you won't make so much noise"
Confirming the promise of keeping noise down.
"No I won't"
Repeating the assurance of not making noise.
"No I don't!"
Reiterating the commitment to quietness.
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