At issue in this song is a man at the crossroads. He's down on his luck, down to his last dollar and considering giving it all up, even selling his beloved Martin O-15 to the Yellow Brick Man. Who is this Yellow Brick Man? A heroin dealer? A pawn shop owner? We can’t tell. Then, just as he's about to hand over his guitar and his dream, the Doobie Brothers show up, offering words of encouragement and hope.
-W. Berlind
lyrics
My luck’s all gone, I don’t have a dime I’ve got no food, I’ve got no wine Gonna pack up my guitar, I got this plan Yeah, I’m going to take her down the road to the Yellow Brick Man
Yellow Brick Man, hey hey hey What have you got for me today? Do you have a dollar, do you have five
Katie Kresek and Diana Kazakova
Do you have a hundred, to keep me alive? Can you help me out, cut me a deal? Yellow Brick Man, do you know how I feel? I’m giving you my sweet baby melody Yellow Brick Man, what you going to give me? What you going to give me?
A gift from my uncle, when I turned 13 And now I’ve shined her up good, she’s nice and clean I used to have a band, you should have heard us play
Now all I’ve got are these bills to pay
Yellow Brick Man, do you understand? I’m down on my luck, done all that I can Do you have a dollar, do you have five Do you have a hundred, to keep me alive? Can you help me out, cut me a deal?
Oh Yellow Brick Man, do you know how I feel? I’m giving you my sweet baby melody Yellow Brick Man, what you going to give me?
(solo)
I’ve got this habit that’s hard to feed She won’t be happy ‘till she makes me bleed Go on and put my baby up on your shelf And let her take a crack at someone else
Ah, Yellow Brick Man... come on Do you have a dollar, do you have five? Help me out, cut me a deal Yellow Brick Man, do you know how I feel I’m giving you my sweet baby Melody Yellow Brick Man, oh Yellow Brick Man What you going to give me?
credits
from Yellow Brick Man,
track released November 11, 2011
Colin McGrath-vocals, guitar, harmonica
William Berlind- organ, cowbell, tambourine
Mary Bragg- harmony vocals
Ian Riggs- bass
Robert DiPietro- drums
Charlie Burnham- violin
Brooklyn based songwriter Colin McGrath mines the crossroads of American music from the Appalachian Mountains to Tin Pan
Alley. A storyteller with a tendency for the theatrical, McGrath inhabits his characters with his rugged, earthy voice and nuanced guitar playing. McGrath won first place in The Wildflower! Songwriting Competition, and The Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival Competition....more
One of my good friends. Amazing songwriter and singer (his guitar playing's not too shabby either). I actually loved his music before I even knew him. He sings backgrounds on my record. Colin McGrath
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