Recorded in 1976. Still relevant today and more so.
Thank you Druid, enjoyed Melanie and am reminded of a girl named Ruth that was a fan of my DJ show during my recording studio years.
Ruth did some commercial talent work for me and asked me to become her manager hoping for success as a singer, but she was hampered by a long ackward last name so I suggested she change her name to Ruth Hitler because of the instant shock and familiarity it would bring.
Instead, Ruth got married as a way of settling everything.
You can't mess with a live radio oldies DJ. The Nickel Song by Melanie was in the top 40 in March of 1972.
Melanie was my first celebrity crush.
TIB
At 17 by Janis Ian.
At 17 by Janis Ian.
What's it about? I listened to it but no idea what it means.
I think the song says, "I am a cheap date, only a nickle, and I'm a sure bet, you aren't gambling with me.
Like many a good song, it has multiple layers. It seems pretty shallow on the surface, but...
"Well, I don't know so many things, but I know what's been going on, We're only putting in a little, to get rid of a lot that's wrong"
That reads like a protest against many of the ills of the world, and those (governments, large corporations, the rich) that mouth platitudes and slogans but spend little to fix them.
Thanks Carl. I guess that makes some sense of it.
You need to get out more often Jim.
I think I was born without the "music" gene. Does nothing for me.
Well you know that I'm not a gambler
But I'm being gambled on
They put in a nickel and I sing a little song
Da-da-da-da
They put in a nickel and I sing a little song
Well, I don't mind that they're lucky
But it seems that they always win
And gamblin' is illegal in the state of mind I'm in
And if I had a nickel for each time that
I've been put on
I would be their nickel man
And I'd sing a little song
They're only putting in a nickel and
They want a dollar song
They're only putting in a little to
Get rid of a lot that's
Wrong.
Well I don't know so many things
But I know what's been goin' on
We're only putting in a little
To get rid of a lot that's wrong
And if we had a nickel for each time that
We've been put on
We'd all be their nickel man
And we'd sing a nickel song
You know they're only putting in a nickel
And they win a dollar song
Oh, yeah, they're only putting in a little
To get rid of a lot that's wrong
Oh, they're only putting in a nickel
To win a dollar song
Songwriters: Melanie Safka