Bring your own lampshade
Somewhere there’s a party
This song has just a slight early sixties vibe and shows their expanding repertoire.
Paul Westerberg has said Swingin Party drew on Sinatra’s version of Rodgers and Hart’s standard “Where or When” and The Springfield’s “Flying on the Ground Is Wrong.” It had a trace of Frank and Nancy Sinatra’s “Somethin’ Stupid” and Brian Hyland’s “The Joker Went Wild.” He said if you steal from everything nobody can put a finger on you.
The song’s oscillating rhythms and guitars provided a perfect backdrop for the lyrics.
This song was on their 4th studio album Tim. Yes, they named the album Tim which is pretty funny. It would be the last album founding member and lead guitarist Bob Stinson worked on.
Paul Westerberg: “We named it Tim for no reason at all”.This was the first time we named an album after it was done.We sat around a bar,we were gonna call it Whistler’s Mammy,Van Gogh’s Ear,or England Schmingland.”I think I said Tim and we sat and laughed for a few minutes and then we said,”Why not?”
Paul Westerberg: “One of the reasons we used to drink so much is that it was scary going up onstage. That’s one of the things ‘Swingin Party’ is all about” “The funny thing is, people think you must have all this confidence to get up onstage.”
New Zealand singer Lorde covered Swingin Party”= as the B-side to her second single, “Tennis Court.” The song peaked at #10 in the New Zealand singles chart in 2013.
Swingin’ Party
Bring your own lampshade
Somewhere there’s a party
Here it’s never ending
Can’t remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade
There’ll be plenty enough room in jail
If being alone’s a crime I’m serving forever
Being strong’s your kind
I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime
We hang side by side
At the swingin’ party down the line
On the prairie pavement
Losing proposition
Quitting school and going to work
And never going fishing
Water all around
Never learn how to swim now
If being alone’s a crime I’m serving forever
Being strong’s your kind
Then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime
We hang side by side
At the swingin’ party down the line
At the swingin’ party down the line
Bring your own lampshade
Somewhere there’s a party
Here it’s never ending
Can’t remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade
There’ll be plenty of room in jail
If being alone’s a crime I’m serving forever
Being strong is what you want
Then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime
We hang side by side
At the swingin’ party down the line
At the swingin’ party down the line
Catchin’ time
At the swingin’ party down the line
…
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a great song off of a great album. Paul was in the groove at this point in time- one of the best songwriters of the era.
Ha! I always wondered about the album title, though I don’t know this album that well. I love this song though. I love the breezy vibe it has.
It was a funny idea for an album to name it like a kid or something.
They really stretched with this one…I really like it.
need to listen to that one more time… kinda catchy. Good point he had on the “stealing from everybody”… mix up enough influences and you not only should avoid lawsuits but also come up with something brand new.
Love the line – Then I need help here with this feather. It doesn’t scan like the other lines but they manage to make it fit like it does!
Really good music. Reminds me a lot of Harry Nilsson.
It does a little…I never noticed that.
That’s an amazing first line. It’s a bit like the resignation and low key feel of All Shook Down.
That is the album I’m on now…it’s some good stuff.
Have you heard any of Dead Man’s Pop? It sounds more like the Replacements than Don’t Tell A Soul does.
Nope I’ve never checked it out, although I’ve been meaning too. I have all the albums on CD from back in the day, and haven’t checked out newer stuff. I have heard the two new songs from the greatest hits which are fine but not essential.
On Talent Show you can really tell a difference. It takes the sheen off. It is worth checking out.
I like this!
Cool… I’m glad you like it Jeff…they were diverse.
Is one of the dudes in that pic giving the bird? lol
Yep! lol
Nice music Max, very pleasant.
Nice tune! I like the guitar sound in particular.
Glad you liked it!
The Replacements make great music but…you know how I feel about the singer. I do love their music, tho…
You will like his singing in some songs coming up
I hope so.
Not the next one but the two after that…and you may know one of them
Love this song.