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Little Village — Do You Want My Job
Album: Little Village
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1003









Released: 1992
Length: 5:33
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Cool breezes from the mountains blow
As I wake up and dress to go
On the island dawn is breaking
In the harbour tanker's waiting
From the land of the rising sun
They bring their old plutonium
And we unload it in the bay
For two dollars forty cents a day

Chorus:
Do you want my
Do you want my
Do you want my
Do you want my job

I hump the stuff I take the cash
So my kids can wear Adidas
And if you live here home you know
We ain't got no place else to go

I remember when the air was sweet
And I brought home the fish to eat
Now we buy Spam from the grocery store
Cause you can eat the fish no more

Chorus
Comments (59)add comment
I hope John H is touring.

Saw him with Sonny Landreth.  Quite the show. 
Posted 7 months ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
The smooth laid-back music belies the sadness of the lyrics.
Posted 1 year ago by BBoyes    [ Reply ]
Great band. Great album. Was fortunate to see them live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. So much talent in one place, it was difficult to know where to look  ...but Jim Keltner was totally mesmerising 
Posted 1 year ago by TonyM    [ Reply ]
WHY is this not the question?
Posted 1 year ago by islanduo    [ Reply ]
no
Posted 1 year ago by Manbird    [ Reply ]
I adore this but can I have "lipstick sunset" too (being greedy)
Posted 3 years ago by Kelvinclifford    [ Reply ]
Love me some Eco ~ Conscious art !
~~~Ocean Arts Alliance~~~
Posted 3 years ago by surfrider4life    [ Reply ]
 chinaski wrote:
Ohhh BIll, so smooth of you to segue from Easy Star All-Stars w/ Toots and the Maytals cover of Radiohead's Let Down to this! Sweet! Just the same the song lyrics belie the harshness of the actual musical track: "Now we buy Spam from the grocery store
Cause you can eat the fish no more"
It'd be really cool to segue from this to some Hawaiian Slack Key.


Aloha 
long live Buttons Kaluhiokalani
Posted 3 years ago by surfrider4life    [ Reply ]
If your job is playing in a music band, then yes, absolutely. I don't want my current job anymore 
Posted 4 years ago by Sofa_King    [ Reply ]
Now the land of the rising sun is just going to release their old plutonium into the sea and the currents take it to us for free.
Posted 4 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
My fav on this album is Nick Lowes track "Fools Who Knows"  There is a stellar version of it live on youtube from Letterman
Posted 5 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
Ohhh BIll, so smooth of you to segue from Easy Star All-Stars w/ Toots and the Maytals cover of Radiohead's Let Down to this! Sweet! Just the same the song lyrics belie the harshness of the actual musical track: "Now we buy Spam from the grocery store
Cause you can eat the fish no more"
It'd be really cool to segue from this to some Hawaiian Slack Key.
Posted 5 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
Awesome!
Posted 5 years ago by glassman    [ Reply ]
I heard this a few weeks ago in a club . . . Love the song and the lyrics!
Posted 5 years ago by orrinc    [ Reply ]
I can so hear John Hiatt's voice.  What a dream group:  Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner in addition to Hiatt.  Too bad they only made one album.
Posted 5 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
Sunday night, what a song. 
Posted 6 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
Do-wop, do-wop, mahjong.
 
Posted 7 years ago by ODAD    [ Reply ]
mmmmm outstanding  : )
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 grahamdillabough wrote:
I always liked this album.  Too bad these guys didn't do more.

 

 
The irony here is that, although the album—both self-admittedly and critically—was less than successful, a number of the songs, including this one, have worn rather well.
Posted 8 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
I always liked this album.  Too bad these guys didn't do more.

 
Posted 8 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
 DBCinCA wrote:
I've enjoyed the work of all these guys separately and together (this same line up -Hiatt, Cooder, Lowe and Keltner - played together on Hiatt's "Bring the Family" album). But nothing on this disc ever grabbed me.
 
yep,
i kept waiting for the bus and either i missed it
or they never got it started 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
Nick Lowe later said, "Little Village was really good fun. Unfortunately, the record we did was no good."
Posted 8 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
Great album. Had the pleasure of seeing this supergroup at George Mason U in northern VA back in the 90s. And I still have my LV t-shirt.

But wondering why this song? It's nice but not among the best on the disc IMO.
Posted 8 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
swell sounds of the big island in a way, mahalo
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
The song "Big Love" on this album has more of Ry Cooder's wonderful slide guitar and is one of my all time fave's.

"I need love as big as an ocean
I need love that can't be crossed
A love in perpetual motion
I need a love that won't get lost
Do you know where this love can be found? 
Do you know where this love can be found?
Open up your eyes; take a look around
Do you know where this love can be found?
'Cause I'm a full-grown man
And I'm lookin' for a big love
I need a love gonna move this mountain
I need a love that I can't hide away
I need a love gonna lift me up to that drinking fountain
Just like my Daddy did in my younger days......."

 

Posted 15 years ago by inmanart    [ Reply ]
This sounds like something out of The Lion King soundtrack
Posted 18 years ago by panda    [ Reply ]
Move over Sufjan, this is the worst song on RP's playlist.
Posted 18 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
Again, no. Please stop bugging me about it - this is like aural spam.
Posted 18 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
No. No, I do not. Thanks for asking, though.
Posted 19 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
MrSpaz wrote:
Is he singing about being irradiated 'cause he unloads Plutonium from Japanese ships for $2.40/day? What a terrible sentiment! Nice song though. :)
Hey Mister Tally-man, tally me plutonium; Daylight come but I can't tell 'cause I already glow!
Posted 19 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Is he singing about being irradiated 'cause he unloads Plutonium from Japanese ships for $2.40/day? What a terrible sentiment! Nice song though. :)
Posted 19 years ago by MrSpaz    [ Reply ]
shevek wrote:
Ry Cooder is my favorite white guitar player. I love people like Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and Jimmy page, for sure, but Ry's technique embraces more styles, and his influences appeal more to me than those of any other guitar player I have heard. And I don't know why, but I get the feeling that he must be a great guy to hang around with and chat , maybe while having a couple of cold beers by some sunny beach...
Gotta agree on Ry (Although David Lindley is also pretty versatile). Saw him open for Clapton years ago. I like his acoustic stuff but one of my favorites with him is Jammin' With Edward. It's Nicky Hpokins and Mick Bill and Charlie from the stones. 'Edward' is Nicky Hopkins and the whole CD sounds like it's just rehearsal jamming. Very Cool!
Posted 19 years ago by Cdog    [ Reply ]
Can we hear David Lindley's version from Twango Bango Deluxe? Nice live track.
Posted 19 years ago by outerspace    [ Reply ]
I love the Hawaiian twinky-twinkys. They make the song. Makes we want May to rush into July so I can sit on my porch and get slowly blasted under the cavana!!
Posted 19 years ago by Moaner    [ Reply ]
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
The vinyl lp of this sounds very very good.
Yeah, the musicians are playing a lot more focused on that version... :P
Posted 19 years ago by nufterinck    [ Reply ]
Ry Cooder is my favorite white guitar player. I love people like Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and Jimmy page, for sure, but Ry's technique embraces more styles, and his influences appeal more to me than those of any other guitar player I have heard. And I don't know why, but I get the feeling that he must be a great guy to hang around with and chat , maybe while having a couple of cold beers by some sunny beach...
Posted 19 years ago by shevek    [ Reply ]
camworld wrote:
I thought this was an Israel Kamakiwiwo'ole song I hadn't heard yet, but not quite.
I thought the same. :-) This doesn't have the depth of his voice, though. Of course, there's a big difference in bodies between John Prine and Izzy, RIP.
Posted 19 years ago by betterdaze    [ Reply ]
The vinyl lp of this sounds very very good.
Posted 19 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
DBCinCA wrote:
I've enjoyed the work of all these guys separately and together (this same line up -Hiatt, Cooder, Lowe and Keltner - played together on Hiatt's "Bring the Family" album). But nothing on this disc ever grabbed me.
Not even "Solar Sex Panel"? Gotta like a tribute to baldness! As for this tune, it's pretty "eh", but I do like the Ry Cooder guitar sound in it.
Posted 19 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
jimmy buffet and marc ribout?
Posted 19 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
Nice combination of talents... an 8.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
DBCinCA wrote:
I've enjoyed the work of all these guys separately and together (this same line up -Hiatt, Cooder, Lowe and Keltner - played together on Hiatt's "Bring the Family" album). But nothing on this disc ever grabbed me.
Yes, I know what you mean. This disc was a big disappointment to me, too.
Posted 20 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
I've enjoyed the work of all these guys separately and together (this same line up -Hiatt, Cooder, Lowe and Keltner - played together on Hiatt's "Bring the Family" album). But nothing on this disc ever grabbed me.
Posted 20 years ago by DBCinCA    [ Reply ]
jeremyleo wrote:
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a Little Village II.
I forgot how much I like this CD. Thanks for playing it. My fingers are crossed as well.
Posted 20 years ago by fusionmuze    [ Reply ]
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a Little Village II.
Posted 20 years ago by jeremyleo    [ Reply ]
Nice, but I like David Lindley & Wally Ingram\'s version from Twango Bango Deluxe much better. (p.s. - my upload was accepted but I haven\'t heard it played here yet. hint, hint!)
Posted 21 years ago by whifford    [ Reply ]
I feel like I want to cry or something . I know it reminds me of CSN&Y \"this old house\" from the American Dream back in 88.
Posted 21 years ago by ladyj    [ Reply ]
Blech! Made me change the station!
Posted 22 years ago by tdogboy    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by lyn: This CD is out of print
It comes up from the CDNow link and is on sale!
Posted 22 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
I also saw these guys live, and for the first third of the concert they seemed like they hadn\'t found their groove. And then they got it, and the audience tuned up their receptors, and they made *sublime* music for the rest of the night. More please. This CD is out of print
Posted 22 years ago by lyn    [ Reply ]
Got the feeling there were too many chiefs in command in this little village. Unfocused, therefore.
Posted 22 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
First heard this a few years back on KCRW, when Ry Cooder was a guest on Chris Douridas\' morning show. An excellent song, nice to hear it here. :)
Posted 22 years ago by Cy    [ Reply ]
I thought this was an Israel Kamakiwiwo\'ole song I hadn\'t heard yet, but not quite.
Posted 22 years ago by camworld    [ Reply ]
Great choice Bill, this song has been on my personal playlist since the album came out.
Posted 22 years ago by elnadeau    [ Reply ]