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Sep 13, 2006

Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Ain't that a Bitch · by Sach O


The Superman Lover himself

Ain’t that a Bitch

I’m currently planning to make a film around one of the late Johnny Watson’s 70’s funk songs, so naturally I’ve been playing a fair amount of his material. In addition to having an absolutely unique voice and being an extremely influential and innovative guitarist (check the credentials young’n); what most attracted me to Watson’s material is the honesty and subtlety of his songwriting. Today’s selection Ain’t that a Bitch may have been written in the mid 70’s, but its portrayal of worker alienation and low wages seems ripped directly out of today’s headlines. Check the first two verses:

I’m working 40 Hours
6 long days
And I’m highly embarrassed
Every time I get my pay
And they working everybody
Lawd they working poor folks to death
And when you pay your rent and your car notes
Ya ain’t got nothin left!
Ain’t that a Bitch!

lemme tell ya a few of my qualifications…

I program computers
I know accounting and psychology
I took a course in business
And can speak a little Japanese
Gotta work 2 years to get 1 week off with pay
And when I’m on my job I better watch what the hell I say!
Ain’t that a bitch!

surely there’s something slick goin on…
Surely there’s something slick…

Now tell me that doesn’t sound like 2006! If you like this track, I suggest copping the album of the same name, available at all fine retailers of records and tapes as well as all good file sharing outlets.

Comments for "Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Ain't that a Bitch"

  1. is it wrong or deplorable that I’ve never heard of this guy?

    RD


    — RD    Sep 13, 11:21 PM   

  2. I agree w/# 1. You just put this guy back on the map because I’m diggin’ this! Can you dig it baby, I can dig!


    — Queen Mother    Sep 13, 11:53 PM   

  3. It’s a real mother for ya’!
    http://dallaspenn.com/weblog/?p=130


    — Billy Sunday    Sep 14, 09:07 AM   

  4. I need to cop this…once I figure out how to work the office intercom.


    — amadeo78    Sep 14, 10:08 AM   

  5. Ha! I read that article during your best of week DP but I forgot that the record in question was a Johnny Watson one.

    Sitting in a paddy wagon for the funk with a more-than-funky homeless man: THAT’S dedication.


    — Sach    Sep 14, 12:41 PM   

  6. You’re Violatin


    — Felix    Sep 14, 05:27 PM   

  7. I am a huge Johnny Guitar fan. I play something from him just about every time I spin and I definitely my self made “best of” CD (vol 1 & 2) in the car pretty much at all times…ha.


    — kevin beacham    Sep 16, 05:20 AM   

  8. Who’s violating, Felix?

    Redman cleared the Superman Lover sample – you’d know that if you hadn’t downloaded the album last week.


    — David    Sep 16, 03:59 PM   

  9. could you write the whole song lyrics please ?(i’m french and i can’t understand all what he sings …because you know how “properly” he talks)


    — hugh    Oct 20, 04:18 PM   

  10. has anybody the full lyrics of “Ain’t that a Bitch?” J. guitar watson


    — walter    Jan 9, 11:00 AM   

  11. I’m shooting the film I mentioned in this post in a week.

    Seeing this on the front page freaked me out.


    — Sach    Jan 9, 11:08 AM