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Greg Brown — Downtown
Album: 44 & 66
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 360









Released: 1980
Length: 4:20
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Well, yes, I could stay home, read a book or two,
Try to get a little bit better at some of these bad things I do.
But the night it is young; so am I for a while,
So I put on my hat and coat and pants and my boots and smile.
And I'm a gonna go

[Chorus:]
Downtown, downtown tonight,
I'm a gonna go all around the town, check out all the sights,
I will be back in the mornin', feelin' bad or good,
Well, I do what I want, and I don't do what I should.

Well, some people tell me that they love the mountains best,
Far as I can see it's just one big wilderness.
I've seen squirrels writin' tickets, dolphins drivin' cars,
Blowfish blowin' tubas, grizzly bears in the bars.
And I'm a gonna go

[Chorus]

Well now if you've ever checked it out, you know just what I mean,
There's always a few surprises in that same old scene.
You might meet some fella who can really blow the horn,
Make you glad for a change you done got born.
Don't ya wanna go

[Chorus]

Yes, I might get lucky, run into my friend, Jane,
Walk to her apartment in the shiny city rain.
Put on a little record; I get so long and tall,
I wish I was the wallpaper; Jane could be the wall.
And I'm a gonna go

[Chorus]

Yeah and when those lights come up, so soon, so soon,
We might sit and play some music in that trashed-out livin' room.
Keep playin' that music 'til the dawn's early light,
Laugh like no one's business,
Man ain't that the life.
And I'm a gonna go

[Chorus]

Have you ever known the magic hour just before the dawn?
When the mornin' is still sleeping, but the night is not yet gone.
And you're walkin' home from some little joint with someone you love,
With the moon and stars and the bells and birds all ringin' up above.
Don't ya wanna go

[Chorus]
Comments (71)add comment
Whew... nice PSD hit.   Any Greg Brown is far better than "Emancipator — When I Go"
jadewahoo wrote:
It has been a full month since this song was played. C'mon Bill... up its rotation!
 
it's been a year now, hmmm probably sucks huh?

{#Cowboy}not bad

This is really horrid.
This guy sounds nothing like Bob Dylan!!!{#Roflol}
I like!!
Cool song.
He was just here in town last night. I'm sad that I missed him.
This reminds me of the now defunct Edmonton Alberta, Canada band who called themselves "The George Bushes" I think their site is still up if you google them
horstman wrote:
What Bob Dylan might sound like if he could sing.
That's just plain wrong. But hysterical.
Sounds like he swallowed Bob Dylan...anyone have a stomach pump handy?
GREAT SONGWRITING!
Finger-pickin' good.
great song; swingy and cheeky. Greg Brown is a wordsmith; thank god for the Edmonton Folk Music Festival
supdawgs wrote:
And I can mooch fat donkeys
Googled it. And first entry was this comment list for this song. Shit, I think I broke the space time continuum.
prickelpit96 wrote:
"aicmfd" ?? I've no idea...
And I can mooch fat donkeys
lawman wrote:
You are Bob Dylan of Blood on the Tracks, aicmfd 8 anyway!
"aicmfd" ?? I've no idea...
A true toe tapper and what a great hook-"I do what I want and a don't do what I should"
You are Bob Dylan of Blood on the Tracks, aicmfd 8 anyway!
jadewahoo wrote:
It has been a full month since this song was played. C'mon Bill... up its rotation!
Now it gets played too often I think. Or maybe I'm starting to hear it on regular radio...
Luv'n this little diddy! ...purchaced it from itunes and include it on my ipod when I'm at the gym ...fun and upbeat! Not to mention the goodly times I've had ...doing what I want and not what I should ...distant memories now but enuf to bring a smile
jadewahoo wrote:
I like this guy's voice. He can really play it as an instrument.
the instruments are pretty good too.
It has been a full month since this song was played. C'mon Bill... up its rotation!
I like this guy's voice. He can really play it as an instrument.
from a 7 to an 8 growing on me. Thanks.
"I do what I want, but I don't do as I should". Just what I was like 20 years ago, and now it's precisely the other way around :sniff:
What Bob Dylan might sound like if he could sing.
I've seen him live several times and he's an audience pleaser, but not nearly so appealing in the studio.
Really not my thing.
Honorable Mention in Most Facial Hair Displayed on Album Cover, 2006
Bob Dylan rules.
never heard of this guy. pretty good stuff
Very Very cool! OScar
I like it, but I did think it was Dylan. No doubt there's an influence there.
mgoldman wrote:
Her name is Prudence Johnson. She has a few albums out on her own. See: (click here)
She really makes this song. Very nice!
I really like this... perky & flirty...
Her name is Prudence Johnson. She has a few albums out on her own. See: (click here) maplebed wrote:
Anybody know who the woman doing backup is?
This is great stuff! More more more!
Anybody know who the woman doing backup is?
Please play anything by Greg Brown. I love him.
Led Zepp followed by Greg Brown...ONLY on RP
Used to hear him live all the time in Iowa City, IA when I was there for college. Great artist. Glad he's getting more exposure now.
I've got friends who worship this guy. FIrst time I've heard him. I love it! love the klezmer-y clarinet. play more of him, please!
First time I've ever heard Greg Brown. What a great song! I want to hear more.
More Greg Brown on RP! MORE!
I really liked it, never heard it before, but I was wondering WHY I'd never heard this Dylan track before and mostly was wondering who was doing the FEMALE vocals with Dylan. That's the only reason I checked the playlist! Boy, is my face red... :headshake:
trancefussion wrote:
As far as I am concerned Greg Brown has his very own style, and it ROCKS!
i appreciate him more now that i've heard more of him. this song still sounds to me like something off "desire" or "blood on the tracks," tho...
bluedot wrote:
Why not just listen to REAL Dylan? . What a blatant ripoff! . This dude needs to get his OWN style! . When he does, he'll ROCK! .
As far as I am concerned Greg Brown has his very own style, and it ROCKS!
perfect! A 6.8 rating is a laughable description of this song, really makes me wonder about the tastes at RP.
This is excellent - let's hear it more often! :nodhead:
The more greg brown the better
"...forget all your troubles, ...forget all your cares, and go..."
RP never ceases to amaze me. Greg Brown! Downtown!! I haven't heard this version before. Thanks for playing :)
Dotman wrote:
About as close to dylan as you can get Dot
Correct.
xkolibuul wrote:
Dude, just how much GB have you heard?! Or should I say, how little? You are the proud (apparently) owner of the least informed statement I have ever seen on RP.
Well said. GB & BD are two distinctly different artists. Haven't heard this tune yet, maybe it confused the guy (or maybe he's had a severe head injury?) My fave Greg: the Dream Cafe CD. Funny, sad, bitter, happy, and the song "sleeper" has one of my fave lines ever: "I will take you with my children through the clover to the creek when orion's gone a-hunting through the fields our wishes seek and we all will love each other like sugar in our tea... sleeper come, and go with me" For a single dad with three kiddos, that give me hope!
bluedot wrote:
Why not just listen to REAL Dylan? . What a blatant ripoff! . This dude needs to get his OWN style! . When he does, he'll ROCK! .
Dude, just how much GB have you heard?! Or should I say, how little? You are the proud (apparently) owner of the least informed statement I have ever seen on RP.
Well, here is yet another artist I had never even heard of before RP. I've heard several bits by him now, and so far like everything I've heard. Brother Bill, you're giving me a sort of second musical education in my middle years; thanks again.
Having heard a variety of Greg Brown's songs, it never seemed to me that he was trying to copy Bob Dylan's style. Having read these comments, I can now hear similarities in their voices; but I still think Greg Brown is distinctive. Excellent singer/songwriter. Also check out his daughter: Pieta Brown (has 2 songs in the RP rotation).
Why not just listen to REAL Dylan? . What a blatant ripoff! . This dude needs to get his OWN style! . When he does, he\'ll ROCK! .
truly an amazing musician! If you ever have a chance to check him out live, make sure you do.
Originally Posted by Platypus: too cool.
I never would have imagined I'd live so long as to see anything from Iowa rate the classification "too cool". I have, and he is.
Not as good as Lull It By, but catchy.
This is why I stay uptown. :roll:
too cool.
Agreed, Dot. I thought it was the D-man sounding unusually coherent until I checked the playlist. Nice tune.
About as close to dylan as you can get without getting burned. watch your fingers. Dot
Great harmonica. I really like this tune.