@ShaunMac, I absolutely agree. Great lyric. This song is full of them. The stripped down one man and his guitar version here really serves the song well.
For anyone unaware, a spitback is a methadone dose placed into an addicts mouth at the clinic but secretly not swallowed. The dose, which later would have been spit back out, is later sold or traded, in this case for "six pack and cigarettes and such."
The mention here of spitbacks, traded for six packs or cigarettes sitting next to cold cuts and good sandwiches is so casual that its rather haunting to me, as removed from that world as I am. It makes for a very powerful lyric and a damn fine song.
Are 'spitbacks' not controlled after (so called) use in methadone clinics ? I don't like the idea of romanticize 'junkie girls' because an addiction is terrible enough. And mr. Becker is the first one to be aware of that.
@t.vd.kuilen I think it's a fact of life for artists to comment on what they have gone through. The list of popular songs with addiction as a background or theme is quite long. I don't think it condones or romanticizes. It does not judge, either.
In my view it shows the fragility of the human psyche, but of course, everyone will have their own perception. Art at its best :-)
What's the connection with this big selfportrait of Vincent van Gogh ? Does Vincent symbolizes the eternal 'suffering artist' ? If so, that's an outdated romantic view of the 19th century on art. He wasn't an addict but very ill in his head and at that time there was no medication against manic depression. Not all artists have a fragile human psyche, luckily.
There is most definitely a live version....with a verse and talking intro not included here in the dining room. By the way, are you signed up for the Walter Becker Newsletter...? Hummm?
And because this little ditty seems to have a life of its own, we've come across it yet again in the DAT stacks...and it's a real surprise. We'll get to that one too, some day.
Schmear?
6 packs for spitbacks. Hell of a lyric.
great song - donald should record it - or somebody should - steel guitar in there. a modern country classic
@ShaunMac, I absolutely agree. Great lyric. This song is full of them. The stripped down one man and his guitar version here really serves the song well.
For anyone unaware, a spitback is a methadone dose placed into an addicts mouth at the clinic but secretly not swallowed. The dose, which later would have been spit back out, is later sold or traded, in this case for "six pack and cigarettes and such."
The mention here of spitbacks, traded for six packs or cigarettes sitting next to cold cuts and good sandwiches is so casual that its rather haunting to me, as removed from that world as I am. It makes for a very powerful lyric and a damn fine song.
Are 'spitbacks' not controlled after (so called) use in methadone clinics ? I don't like the idea of romanticize 'junkie girls' because an addiction is terrible enough. And mr. Becker is the first one to be aware of that.
@t.vd.kuilen I think it's a fact of life for artists to comment on what they have gone through. The list of popular songs with addiction as a background or theme is quite long. I don't think it condones or romanticizes. It does not judge, either. In my view it shows the fragility of the human psyche, but of course, everyone will have their own perception. Art at its best :-)
@paul
What's the connection with this big selfportrait of Vincent van Gogh ? Does Vincent symbolizes the eternal 'suffering artist' ? If so, that's an outdated romantic view of the 19th century on art. He wasn't an addict but very ill in his head and at that time there was no medication against manic depression. Not all artists have a fragile human psyche, luckily.
Oh my. What a song. I love the fragility of it. Chills! Thank you so much for this. Happy 2019 y'all.
@D-Mod: Just curious, was a demo ever recorded of Methadone Clinic or is the live version all that exists?
to tell you the truth, I don't know! Never heard a demo but that doesn't mean much
There is most definitely a live version....with a verse and talking intro not included here in the dining room. By the way, are you signed up for the Walter Becker Newsletter...? Hummm?
And because this little ditty seems to have a life of its own, we've come across it yet again in the DAT stacks...and it's a real surprise. We'll get to that one too, some day.
Oh yeah, I get the newsletter, and enjoyed the New Year's treat!
Look forward to hearing one of these other versions one day perhaps.