My Gen X Playlist: Joey – Concrete Blonde

Bloganuary writing prompt

Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

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A son once asked his father how he chose the names of the children in their family. His father replied:

“I looked out the window when your sister was born and I saw the beautiful sunrise. It was so beautiful, we named her Sunshine.”

“When your brother was born, I looked out the window and saw a strong, powerful horse running across the fields. We named your brother Colt.”

“Why do you ask, Two Dogs Fucking?”

Stupid guy humor. I couldn’t help it. That’s what popped into my head today. I bet you at least cracked a little smile.

Most of the songs with names on the playlist have female names. I thought I’d add a male name for gender balance. Concrete Blonde released Joey in 1990. The lyrics were there, but it took a little time to get them down on paper.

The song is sung from the perspective of a woman who is in love with an alcoholic. Napolitano mentioned in her book Rough Mix that the song was written about her relationship with Marc Moreland of the band Wall of Voodoo.

According to Napolitano, she avoided writing the lyrics to “Joey” until the last possible moment due to the difficult nature of the subject matter.

“I knew what I wanted to say, but I wasn’t looking forward to saying it. So it was the last vocal that I recorded. And I remember Chris every day, “Do we have vocals to ‘Joey’ yet? Do we have words to ‘Joey’ yet?” And I’m like, “Not yet.” So I literally wrote them in a cab. I knew what I was going to say, it’s just a matter of clouds forming and then it rains. The lines are forming in my head and they’re all in my head, and I know the chorus, and I know what I’m going to say. It’s just a matter of fine tuning the details and how I’m going to lug it out. . . The clouds all formed and it rained. And then it happened. And that was it. And it was just there.”

– Wikipedia

I’ve lost a few friends to the disease. It’s an everyday struggle and I can’t imagine the pain. Wishing a little peace to those who battle it everyday.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Joey...
Baby...
Don't get crazy
Detours, fences...
I get defensive....

I know you've heard it all before
So I don't say it anymore
I just stand by and let you
Fight your secret war

And though I used to wonder why
I used to cry till I was dry
Still sometimes I get a strange pain inside
Oh Joey if you're hurting so am I

Joey...
Honey...
I've got the money

All is forgiven. Listen....listen...

But if I seem to be confused
I didn't mean to be with you.
And when you said I scared you
Well, I guess you scared me too
But we got lucky once before
And I don't want to close the door
And if you're somewhere out there
Passed out on the floor...

Oh...
Joey, I'm not angry anymore

And if I seem to be confused
I didn't mean to be with you.
And when you said I scared you
Well I guess you scared me too...

But if it's love you're looking for
Then I can give a little more
And if you're somewhere drunk and
Passed out on the floor...

Oh...
Joey, I'm not angry anymore
Angry anymore, angry anymore