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Bring the Family: a tribute to love. Not the love that loses itself in vain romanticisms, or the one that demands to be described by idyllic poems. Here, there is only room for straightforward love, told with simple practicality and raw truth.
And if Bring is accompanied by deep, melodic, and even raw music, the result is well worthy: John Hiatt, the white man with a black voice, offers in 1987 a small Southern gem.
John Hiatt, was and is a renowned American singer-songwriter, who gained some popularity in the early '80s, and whose life and artistic career have often been marked by his strange and gloomy personality, typical of a Southerner, angry and embittered by his own failures and the end of his dreams, always distant and unattainable. These deep emotions can be captured in the records of the first wave. Later, the anger gives way to a small glimmer of happiness, only to transform into infinite disorientation. Bring The Family is born of all these emotions.
Accompanied by a strategic Southern quartet, the Goners, Hiatt makes his deep voice the fifth instrument, which, I bet, would manage to move even the coldest man on this earth! A prime example is "Have A Little Faith In Me", absolutely the most touching piece of the record, where the impressive and passionate voice is accompanied only by a sequence of grand piano chords. Other captivating moments of emotion can be found in the intense "Lipstick Sunset", the very sad "Stood Up" and the final acoustic strummed "Learning How To Love You".
Bring The Family also features more lively pieces, almost swinging, and "Memphis In The Meantime" is the most vibrant example: the hymn to his beloved dirty city, delightfully dirty and pleasantly violent. The same violence that is sought and pursued in "Alone In The Dark", where Hiatt seems able to spit out all the bitterness of a broken heart, always delivering everything with vigorous vocal strength.
Bring The Family: tales of virile love.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Memphis in the Meantime (03:59)
I got something to say little girl
You might not like my style
But we've been hanging around this town
Just a little too long a while
You say you're gonna get your act together
Gonna take it out on the road
But if I don't get outta here pretty soon
My head's going to explode
Sure I like country music
I like mandolins
But right now I need a telecaster
Through a vibro-lux turned up to ten
Chorus:
Lets go to memphis in the meantime baby
Memphis in the meantime girl
I need a little shot of that rhythm baby
Mixed up with these country blues
I wanna trade in these ol country boots
For some fine italian shoes
Forget the mousse and the hairspray sugar
We don't need none of that
Just a little dab'll do ya girl
Underneath a pork pie hat
Until hell freezes over
Maybe you can wait that long
But I don't think ronnie milsap's gonna ever
Record this song
Chorus twice
Bridge:
Maybe there's nothin' happenin' there
Maybe there's somethin' in the air
Before our upper lips get stiff
Maybe we need us a big ol whiff
If we could just get off-a that beat little girl
Maybe we could find the groove
At least we can get a decent meal
Down at the rendez-vous
'cause one more heartfelt steel guitar chord
Girl, it's gonna do me in
I need to hear some trumpet and saxophone
You know sound as sweet as sin
And after we get good and greasy
Baby we can come back home
Put the cowhorns back on the cadillac
And change the message on the cord-a-phone
But...
Chorus
07 Tip of My Tongue (05:53)
An empty house
Is the only thing standin'
Between our lives
And the speed of sound
Some words flew out
And made a crash landin'
No love survived
Not a trace could be found
CHORUS:
I broke your heart
With the back of my mind
From the tip of my tongue
To the end of the line
I walked away
And you stood there tremblin'
Like a leaf
In the autumn chill
Now this house won't say, no
What I'm still rememberin'
Three angry words
And a love that they killed
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
You couldn't say how much it hurt you
And I couldn't see the damage I'd done
'Til I watched the greatest love I've known
All come down to a slip of the tongue
Well I'd take it back
But time won't let me
No, time just takes
You further away
I watched you pack
A house full of memories
Where did you go
Lord, what did I say?
CHORUS
08 Your Dad Did (04:03)
Well the sun comes up and you stare your cup of coffee, yup
Right through the kitchen floor
You feel like hell so you might as well get out and sell
Your smart ass door to door
And the Mrs. wears her robe slightly undone
As your daughter dumps her oatmeal on your son
And you keep it hid
Just like your did
So you go to work just to watch some jerk
Pick up the perks
You were in line to get
And the guy that hired you just got fired,
Your job's expired
They just ain't told you yet
So you go and buy a brand new set of wheels
To show your family just how great you feel
Acting like a kid
Just like your dad did
And
BRIDGE:
You're a chip off the old block
Why does it come as such a shock
That every road up which you rock
Your dad already did
Yeah you've seen the old man's ghost
Come back as creamed chipped beef on toast
Now if you dont get your slice of the roast
You're gonna flip your lid
Just like your dad did, just like your dad did
Well the day was long now, supper's on
The thrill is gone
But something's taking place
Yeah the food is cold and your wife feels old
But all hands fold
As the two year old says grace
She says help the starving children to get well
But let my brother's hamster burn in hell
You love your wife and kids
Just like your dad did
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