Powder Blue
| "Powder Blue" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Ween | |
| from the album 12 Golden Country Greats | |
| Written | c. early 1993 |
| Released | July 16, 1996 |
| Recorded | November 2–8, 1995 |
| Studio | Bradley's Barn (Mount Juliet, Tennessee) |
| Length | 4:15 (with Muhammad Ali sample) 3:14 (without Muhammad Ali sample) |
| Label | Elektra Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Ween |
| Producer(s) | Ben Vaughn |
"Powder Blue" is a song by Ween from the 1996 album 12 Golden Country Greats.
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Creme de Menthe (demo, 1993)
- 12 Golden Country Greats (1996)
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording and Composition[edit | edit source]
"Powder Blue" is in the key of C major.
The lead vocal is sung by Gene Ween, and the song also showcases the instrumental playing of the Nashville studio musicians, specifically showcasing Bobby Ogdin (piano), Charlie McCoy (harmonica), and Russ Hicks (pedal steel), who are each introduced by name in the song.
When introducing a 1993 performance, Dean Ween stated, "This is for Ed Wilson, who taught me this fuckin' taster," suggesting that Wilson is the author of the recurring guitar lead used as a refrain throughout the song.
Muhammad Ali Speech[edit | edit source]
As originally recorded for the album, the song's finale included an extended audio clip of boxer Muhammad Ali delivering one of his famous trash-talking speeches. The speech was included on the song as Ween were watching a lot of Muhammad Ali at the time.[1] Following legal action from Ali's lawyers, that portion of the song was censored, causing the song to end abruptly before the speech starts. Only the first pressing of the CD contained the intact song. All further pressings contained the censored version, which is still the only commercially available version of the song today.[2]
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
"Powder Blue" predates the country sessions and was played live several times with DAT deck accompaniment in 1993. It was then apparently shelved until the 1996 12 Golden Country Greats tour, where it was played with the Shit Creek Boys. Ever since, it has been played with moderate regularity.[3]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Powder blue
Powder blue
What can you do?
She's powder blue
Powder blue
Powder blue
What can you do?
She's powder blue
I'll be true
My powder blue
It's all for you
It's all for you
Powder blue
Powder blue
The seventh son of Orion
With me too
Oh, powder blue
How do you do?
Come walk with me now
Powder blue
Powder blue
Powder blue
It's all for you
It's all for you
Powder blue
Oh, powder blue
I've got this feelin'
Powder blue
Oh, powder blue
Powder blue
It's in my head
For you
I'll be true
My powder blue
It's all for you
It's all for you
Bobby Ogdin on the piano
Thanks, Bobby
Mr. Charlie McCoy, harmonica
Oh, Charlie
Russ Hicks, steel guitar
And ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to present
Muhammad Ali
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Band Members Named in the Song, Love, Sung by Gene Ween, Sung by Others
Personnel[edit | edit source]
- Gene Ween – vocals
- Dean Ween – [?]
- Buddy Harman or Gene Chrisman[?] – drums
- [?] – bass
- [?] – guitar
- Russ Hicks – pedal steel guitar
- Charlie McCoy – harmonica, arranger
- Bobby Ogdin – piano
- The Jordanaires – backing vocals
- Ben Vaughn – producer, mixing
- Bobby Bradley – engineer