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Paul Kelly — Dumb Things
Album: Under the Sun
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1037









Released: 1989
Length: 2:27
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Welcome, strangers, to the show
I’m the one who should be lying low
Saw the knives out, turned my back
Heard the train coming, stayed out on the track
In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of a dream
I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings
I’ve done all the dumb things

Caught the fever, heard the tune
Thought I loved her, hung my heart on the moon
Started howling, made no sense
Thought my friends would rush to my defence
In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of a dream
I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings
I’ve done all the dumb things

And I get all your good advice
It doesn’t stop me from going through these things twice
I see the knives out, I turn my back
I hear the train coming, I stay right on that track
In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of a dream
I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings
I’ve done all the dumb things
I melted wax to fix my wings
I’ve done all the dumb things
I threw my hat into the ring
I’ve done all the dumb things
I thought that I just had to sing
I’ve done all the dumb things
Comments (48)add comment
 tm wrote:

this is fucking brilliant!!!



It's bloody brilliant, mate!!
This album has particular resonance for me.

In 1988 my friend and I drove around the entire Australian continent in our 1974 Ford Falcon station wagon, and Paul Kelly provided the sound track.

His music is rich in Australian cultural references, and every time I hear a song from the album I am transported to those times, those places. 

It was a wonderful experience, and my friend and I still regularly remind each other of events from the trip.
 janac13 wrote:

It's the 21st of December here in Oz so happy Gravy Day to all. I'm lucky to see the great man tonight on his Making Gravy tour. Pity Bill doesn't have Australias unofficial Christmas Anthem "How to make Heavy".



I think you mean "How to make gravy"
so, this is now on the rock mix played daily. interesting trend.
 coloradojohn wrote:

YOW! Ain't this a late '80s kick in the head? Reminds me of Split Enz, The Replacements, and others like it on the radio at the time...



yes!! what a time that was.
 MuscularTeeth wrote:

An Aussie Music Legend. 




GREAT TUNE!!  I never heard of him, prior to RP. That is why we come here.   Thanx RP!  
An Aussie Music Legend. 
R-r-r-r-r-r-r-ockin'!!!!
 tm wrote:

this is fucking brilliant!!!




Ah hell yeah.
Paul Kelly is and always will be one of the top ever for me. Would love to hear more of him on RP.
The more I hear this tune, the more I like it!!  Thanx RP!
Great Tune!!  I never heard of him before.  Thanx RP!
 westslope wrote:

..... and the Coloured Girls.


Huh, oh.  Am I allowed to enjoy this song or is it quote unquote racist?




That means you'll also have to abandon "Walk on the Wild Side," the lyrics of which I'm pretty sure are the origin of this name.
Paul Kelly is my favourite classic Oz-Rocker
this is fucking brilliant!!!
Freaking **LOVE** this tune!!! Thank you!!
Paul Kelly's a legend!
Strines rock! Ripper! :)
How have I never heard this before? 
This guy has a fantastic body of work. Wish RP would play more.
..... and the Coloured Girls.


Huh, oh.  Am I allowed to enjoy this song or is it quote unquote racist?
I believe I heard this song for the first time recently when it was put to good use during a party scene in the Australian series The Heart Guy. Hearing it here makes me wonder if I heard it many moons ago but it didn't sink in. 
What a blast from the past during the dull days of self-isolation!
I lived in Australia in 1989 and wore out this cassette in my Walkman.
Another Bolt Out of the Blue from RP! Now, I got to get up and dance!!
Another thumbs up for Adelaide along with Cold Chisel/Jimmy Barnes amongst others
Paul Kelly on RP - you little beauty!
It's the 21st of December here in Oz so happy Gravy Day to all. I'm lucky to see the great man tonight on his Making Gravy tour. Pity Bill doesn't have Australias unofficial Christmas Anthem "How to make Heavy".
 elrayox wrote:
 A joy to hear  Paul Kelly on RP,,recently attended a open concert air concert in Perth . he had Steve Earle as a  backup artist...more of both please.  all new fans to paul kelly should check out his GOSSIP album... his best IMO.
 

Most certainly!!! His catalogue deserves to be heard beyond just this song.
 jcyr wrote:
Midnight oil...


 barbarabush450 wrote:
Mexican Radio?


This makes me wonder if anyone has ever mistaken Wall of Voodoo for Midnight Oil (or vice versa).
 aspalathin wrote:
I've done all the dumplings...
 
With gravy?
This reminds me of the theme song for True Blood done by Jace Everett, "Bad Things". Of course this was years before that...
Midnight oil...
Mexican Radio?
 A joy to hear  Paul Kelly on RP,,recently attended a open concert air concert in Perth . he had Steve Earle as a  backup artist...more of both please.  all new fans to paul kelly should check out his GOSSIP album... his best IMO.
I've done all the dumplings...
Yowza!  Back of the rack or what?  I love how RP takes me back to "the good ol' days" of the 80's.  Thank you!
YOW! Ain't this a late '80s kick in the head? Reminds me of Split Enz, The Replacements, and others like it on the radio at the time...
 janac13 wrote:
Nothing better than Mr Kelly blasting out if the stereo whilst lounging in the pool in the middle of the Brisvegas heatwave. A real oz legend.

 
Brizvegas, the bane of Briz civic community.
Revved-up blues - like!
Nothing better than Mr Kelly blasting out if the stereo whilst lounging in the pool in the middle of the Brisvegas heatwave. A real oz legend.
so good to hear paul kelly on RP, lets hear more especially from his early albums, yeah
 
Haven't heard much of his recent music, but his albums from the mid to late 80s and the early 90s are outstanding.  Great stuff!  
More would be welcome here Bill.

Whoa...recognized this voice in an instant. Would love to hear something from "So Much Water Close To Home" Bill.

Cities of Texas would be a good start 


A great Aussie talent and still going strong.
doesn't sound that old- nice.
{#Bananapiano}
Image resultMore Mr Kelly Bill.  Thanks.


Great to hear this one!  A nine.
{#Bananajam}