Jimmie Vaughan - All-American

Austin Chronicle - Jimmie Vaughan, All-American ^ | November 23, 2001: | MARGARET MOSER

[lormand]

......last section of article

Libertarian

Picking over a plate of barbecue back at the Iron Works, Jimmie Vaughan reflects on the times we live in. September 11 was the date of his record release party and in-store appearance, both canceled even before the World Trade Center collapsed "out of respect," but also because of an innate sense of duty.

That sense had him performing for George W. Bush's presidential campaign last year, and he refuses to be cowed by criticism of it. If there's anything more All-American to Vaughan than loving music, cars, and girls, it's the right to speak out.

"Listen, if the governor called you up and said, 'I need you to put on a show,' would you say, 'Hell, no! Fuck you!'? For a couple days I thought, 'Well, I don't know if I should do it or not.' I've never been political. I don't like musicians or actors telling me what I'm supposed to think. Barbra Streisand can kiss my ass."

Vaughan recalls with personal pride that he and Stevie played at the elder Bush's inaugural ball in 1988 and that the experience was "amazing." Still, he concedes that supporting the younger Bush last year "wasn't a very popular thing to do, and I shouldn't say this, but can you imagine if Gore was president with what's going on right now?

"I'm not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat, either. If I'm anything, I am Libertarian. Yes, I believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. That's what I believe in. The rest of it is a bunch of horseshit. All that politically correct stuff is just political bullshit.

"All the events [since September 11] have made me think. My father fought in World War II. I love this country. The life I've had, I've lived my dreams and make art. That's what I do, and I get to do it for a living. Partly because I chose it and pursued it, but also because of that Bill of Rights. I love this country. I love this town."

A town Vaughan and his band returned to after their East Coast dates, took a week off in, and then departed from for a West Coast tour to promote Do You Get The Blues? There's probably a Grammy nomination in the album's future, and doubtless a few showcases, festival gigs, and European dates to follow. The album is already garnering critical acclaim and that adds to the luster of the hometown guitar hero's star. That and the good life are what some would call lucky.

"I'm not 'lucky,'" swears Vaughan. "I worked hard at it. But I'm 50 years old, and it's better than ever. I'm totally happy. I play guitar every day. That's what I do. I have the greatest job in the world. I never tire of it."

[lormand]

Jimmie Vaughan is one of my favorite blues guitarist. I was pleasantly surprised to read what he says about the negative reaction he received from the Commie libs in the music scene and elsewhere here in Austin, Texas.

The above snippet is the last section of the article (the best part).

[DallasMike]

Jimmie and Stevie are Dallas boys who done well for themselves. Real well.

[lormand]

This is the first time I have ever heard of "Tick Tock" as being a socialist song. It is plausible though.

One of my biggest guitar heros is Jimi Hendrix. I cringe when listening or watching footage of him slamming the US. Like Jimmie Vaughan, I hate it when art meets politics. What saves Hendrix as an artist is the fact that he was a ground breaking musician/guitarist. On the other hand, Barbara Streisand is in no way a pioneer or standout in her artistic realm. I think that I can make better intonations after a huge tex-mex feast with plenty of beans.

[lormand]

Tick Tock
by Jimmy Vaughan / Nile Rodgers / J.L. Williams

One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dream
That all the people of the world got together on the same wavelength
And began helping one another
Now in this dream universal love was the theme of the day
Peace and understanding, and it happened this way.
The sick, the hungry, had smiles on their faces
The tired and the homeless had family all around
The streets and the cities were all beautiful places
And the walls came tumblin' down.
People of the world all had it together,
Had it together for the boys and the girls,
Children of the world look forward to a future,
Remember
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock people,
Time's tickin' away.
Remember that
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock people,
Time's ticking away.
I had a vision of blue skies from sea to shining sea
All the trees in the forest stood strong and tall again
Everything was clean and pretty and safe for you and me,
The worst of enemies became the best of friends
People of the world, all had it together,
Had it together for the boys and the girls,
Children of the world look forward to a future,
Remember, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock people,
Time's ticking away
Remember that, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock people,
Time's tickin' away.

I remember a great English professor that I had in college. When we studied poetry, he gave an example of the extent that some people go to interpret written words. His example was
"The Red Wheelbarrow"
by William Carlos Williams

so much depends upon
a red wheel barrow
glazed with rain water
beside the white chickens.

Using the 5 main senses that humans possess, touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste, this poem can only be interpreted as a poem about a red wheel barrow soaked with rain water next to some white chickens.

Some people will interpret "The Red Wheelbarrow" about passion and sex between the innocence of chickens and that of a red hot wheel barrow just asking for it.

I think that I could easily defend "Tick-Tock" as NOT being a socialist song.

[nunya bidness]

FYI