When the Morning Breaks, There You Are

A.G. Pyme & The Muffett Company - Son of a Poor Man

My father was poor. His father, and his father’s father, were also poor. It’s a bit of a legacy, poverty. I remember reading somewhere, someone saying that most Americans were just convinced they hadn’t gotten rich yet. Something about a lifetime of the fantasy that their ships just hadn’t come in, because no one really wants to admit they’re destined to a life of poverty, because the idea of a poor man is that he’s a lazy man. Never mind how wealth actually works.

I dunno. I’ve always found this song interesting. Are the lyrics observing someone, or are they reflecting the writer’s own misgivings about himself? They were originally from West Virginia, but relocated to Ohio. Neither exactly capitols of wealth or glamour. And the music is fuzzy and rough around the edges, but has this gilded little guitar line during the chorus, as if they’re acknowledging their table setting but bringing out the family heirloom silverware. Also, the chorus has a glam feel that is a bit ahead of it’s time with the handclaps-and it’s pretty hard to resist handclaps.

I wasn’t blown away by ‘Son of a Poor Man’ at first listen, but the riff in that chorus is a great hook, and a fine example of how rock n roll really is all attitude and confidence. And never pretty.

Like what what’s going on here? Bombs away in the comments!

Not into this song? Stick around for the next one, it may be what you didn’t know you needed! Remember, there are only two genres of music here at SERMONS!: good and bad, and I have too much to do to waste time on bad music.