Tony Joe White has accomplished much in the years since he emerged from his home in Louisiana’s swamp country and the hardscrabble circuit of Texas honky-tonks. His music is part of America’s soundtrack – sparse and elegant, filled with shadows, sadness and beauty. Nobody else writes songs like these – songs that evoke both the mysteries of the place were he was raised and the spirits that haunt us all in our most private, lonely moments. Nobody sings them like White either. That dark baritone, scarred and sweet, brings these songs to life like none other. Even so, others have memorably interpreted his songs, from Brook Benton’s unforgettable take on “Rainy Night in Georgia” in 1970 to Tina Turner’s intensely soulful rendition of “Steamy Windows.” Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, RoyOrbison, Dusty Springfield, Etta James – iconic artists in their own right have honored “the Swamp Fox” by cutting his tunes. Others have joined White, with Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Shelby Lynne among those who have paid tribute as guests on recent, theme-oriented projects such The Heroines and Uncovered..
DISCO BLUES
(Tony Joe White)
I love to party
I like to dance
And with the right woman I like to romance
But I've been out every night
Done wore out my shoes
And I got a severe case out of disco blues
And I've been going like this ...
I've been burning the candle at both ends
Stand out every night
Belittlin my hands've been shaking
And I know I don't treat my body right
But I got to boogie
Got to turn it loose
Well I believe I'm coming down with disco blues wow
I went out and bought myself some new boots
Thought I wanted to shine
I even traded in my old levi's
For a pair of Calvin Kleins
Keeping me running
Can't turn it loose mama
But I woke up this morning with them disco blues
Some ladies wear them split skirts
All the way up their thighs
They know that it hits you where it really hurts
You can see it in their eyes
Keeping me running
Can't turn it loose
But I believe I'm coming down with them disco blues
Wow disco blues
Got them disco blues
Woo it is keeping me running
Got to turn it loose
Cause I woke up this morning ya'all with them disco blues
Burning the candle
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