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John Hiatt — Buffalo River Home (acoustic)
Album:
Avg rating:
6.1

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Total ratings: 363









Released: 0
Length: 5:02
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I've been taking off and landing
But this airport's closed
And how much thicker this fog is gonna get
God only knows
Just when you think that you've got a grip
Reality sneaks off, it gives you the slip
As if you ever knew what it was
Takin' you down the lime

Tearing through the cotton fields and bus shelters
Of the South runnin' helter skelter
Down through the Mississippi Delta
With no place to call your own
Mixing up drinks with mixed feeling
All along the paint was peeling
Down to an Indian blanket on a pony
With no rider in the flesh and bone
Lookin' for his buffalo river home

I've been circling the wagons
Down at Time Square
Trying to fill up this hole in my soul
But nothing fits there
Just when you think you can let it rip
You're pounding the pavement in your daddy's wingtips
As if you had someplace else to go
Or a better way to get there

Tearing through the cotton fields and bus shelters
Of the South runnin' helter skelter
Down through the Mississippi Delta
With no place to call your own
Mixing up drinks with mixed feeling
All along the paint was peeling
Down to an Indian blanket on a pony
With no rider in the flesh and bone
Lookin' for his buffalo river home

Now there's only two things in life
But I forget what they are
It seems we're either hangin' on a moonbeam's coattails
Or wishing on stars
Just when you think that you've been gyped
The bearded lady comes and does a double back flip
And you run off and join the circus
Yeah you just let that pony ride

Tearing through the cotton fields and bus shelters
Of the South runnin' helter skelter
Down through the Mississippi Delta
With no place to call your own
Mixing up drinks with mixed feeling
All along the paint was peeling
Down to an Indian blanket on a pony
With no rider in the flesh and bone
Lookin' for his buffalo river home
Lookin' for his buffalo river home
Comments (103)add comment
Nice feel to this song. I don't hear any similarity to Jimmy Buffett ( {#Sick} ) except for the mixing drinks line. I much prefer Hiatt.
Posted 12 years ago by DeemerDave    [ Reply ]
Had to turn this off...all the dogs in an 10 mile radius started howling.
Posted 12 years ago by BalesBub    [ Reply ]
 TwinEngine wrote:
  Forest267 wrote:
>>>>>>>>I'm hearing a little Thrasher, Neil Young.
...I was thinking the same thing.
 
Me three. I'll take Thrasher please. Someone tell me Neil came first, right?

There's a lawsuit here for one of them if Cat Stevens can go after the Flaming Lips for "Fight Test" vs "Father and Son"...

 

so is it crappy audio, or am I listening in a can?  not too impressed, jimmy buffetesque.

Posted 12 years ago by zeelandhills    [ Reply ]
His voice is not at its best. But I adore this song, and the artist, so I'm willing to allow for a lot of flexibility. This hits just the right note for me tonight (long story, not worth explaining.)  I have always and will always love John Hiatt's music. Naysayers, feel free to naysay. We all have our reasons for loving or hating an artist.

Me?  I'm really tired, and all I want is to sink into music and sleep until about 2012.
Posted 12 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Love it...don't get all the negativity, but oh well. I've always felt Hiatt captures the feeling of the South perfectly in his songs. I've lived in the Mississippi Delta, and let me tell you...driving out on the back roads on a hot, incredibly humid day *feels* like this song...
Posted 12 years ago by jbwiv    [ Reply ]
 Papernapkin wrote:

Only an idiot would say such a thing.
 
I'm not feeling much love in the room!
Posted 13 years ago by Pieter    [ Reply ]
I usually love John Hiatt but this, not so much. Can someone with more musical knowledge than I tell if the guitar is off-key? There's a couple of chords that really clang.
Posted 13 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]
The original is faster and better, with a swirly guitar sound.
Posted 13 years ago by complicated    [ Reply ]
He really shouldn't have done that to "The Thrasher".
Posted 13 years ago by listen_n_sf    [ Reply ]
 bachbeet wrote:
I like Hiatt but this one is not among his best.
 
I think this is a great song, and I dig John Hiatt, but this version is not so good.  He misses a LOT of chords, and that really bugs me.

Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
boring, too hick, too country. Me no like :(
Posted 13 years ago by sailorgirl    [ Reply ]
I like Hiatt but this one is not among his best.
Posted 13 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
Good songwriter...weak and shaky voice. Nearly everything he's written is nearly always outdone by other artists. Oh well...not terrible. I've heard worse.
Posted 13 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
 CatFitz wrote:

I gagged when he paired 'helter-skelter' with 'Mississippi delta.'  Chee-zee cunt-tree crap.


 
craft .

Posted 13 years ago by peacockangel    [ Reply ]
8 ~ only because there are better versions  {#Dance}
Posted 13 years ago by peacockangel    [ Reply ]

I gagged when he paired 'helter-skelter' with 'Mississippi delta.'  Chee-zee cunt-tree crap.


Posted 13 years ago by CatFitz    [ Reply ]
Not that bad!
Posted 13 years ago by tasart55    [ Reply ]
I've been  John Hiatt fan for some time - this isn't one of my favorites, but it's a nice coming of age tune. Storyteller indeed - I give it a 7.2.  {#Cool}
Posted 14 years ago by George_Tirebiter    [ Reply ]
Artists who I know in real life get 9's, no exceptions! 
Posted 14 years ago by james_of_tucson    [ Reply ]
wow this just get worse as it goes.
Posted 14 years ago by dogpound    [ Reply ]
 Pieter wrote:

Personal attacks on those that don't share your taste in music is a pretty pointless exercise don't you think?

 
 
Only an idiot would say such a thing.
Posted 14 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
  Forest267 wrote:
>>>>>>>>I'm hearing a little Thrasher, Neil Young.
...I was thinking the same thing.
 
Me three. I'll take Thrasher please. Someone tell me Neil came first, right?

There's a lawsuit here for one of them if Cat Stevens can go after the Flaming Lips for "Fight Test" vs "Father and Son"...

Posted 14 years ago by TwinEngine    [ Reply ]
 lophrequa wrote:

true to your name h8rhater! come now lets {#Group-hug}
 
I'm in!
Posted 14 years ago by Pieter    [ Reply ]
I Love John Hiatt; his lyrics and music are both great and his voice is unique. He's also great live.
Posted 14 years ago by wendyleefrancis    [ Reply ]
 h8rhater wrote:

Brought to you from the kangaroo-dbag-home.  Keep it switched off, mate.

 
true to your name h8rhater! come now lets {#Group-hug}

Posted 14 years ago by lophrequa    [ Reply ]
 h8rhater wrote:

Brought to you from the kangaroo-dbag-home.  Keep it switched off, mate.
 
Personal attacks on those that don't share your taste in music is a pretty pointless exercise don't you think?

 
Posted 14 years ago by Pieter    [ Reply ]
 Pieter wrote:
This is terrible.

"Mixing up drinks with mixed feelings" made everyone in the room crack up laughing just before it got switched off.
 
Brought to you from the kangaroo-dbag-home.  Keep it switched off, mate.

Posted 14 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 sfListener wrote:
I'm hearing a little Thrasher, Neil Young.
 
...I was thinking the same thing.


Posted 14 years ago by Forest267    [ Reply ]
 Antigone wrote:
Well, to all the naysayers, I have to say that I think John Hiatt is amazing, a great songwriter, with a unique voice. I've seen him live (with Richard Thompson!) and he's GREAT!
 
Is a "naysayer" a horse impersonator?

I'll get me coat... :o)

Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 Antigone wrote:
Well, to all the naysayers, I have to say that I think John Hiatt is amazing, a great songwriter, with a unique voice. I've seen him live (with Richard Thompson!) and he's GREAT!
 
Couldn't agree more. Hiatt has been a favorite since he reached
the charts in 1987, after struggling for 13 long years. He is truly a
gifted song writer and performer.

Posted 14 years ago by drife    [ Reply ]
Hiatt is an amazing songwriter and performer with a unique voice. Love to hear more of him here on RP.
Posted 14 years ago by alaken    [ Reply ]
This is terrible.

"Mixing up drinks with mixed feelings" made everyone in the room crack up laughing just before it got switched off.
Posted 14 years ago by Pieter    [ Reply ]
I prefer the full band version, but it's a "10" for the songwriting.

Brilliant.
Posted 14 years ago by megisi    [ Reply ]
I'm hearing a little Thrasher, Neil Young.
Posted 15 years ago by sfListener    [ Reply ]
Not one one his best efforts, but John Hyatt is always good. {#Cowboy}
Posted 15 years ago by LennytheB    [ Reply ]
MBE really doesn't like this song.
Posted 15 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
frednic wrote:
Sounds like a talented song writer stuck with a unique voice that wouldn't make it on American Idle.
Anyone WITH talent doesn't make it on American Idol.
Posted 15 years ago by countyman    [ Reply ]
Well, to all the naysayers, I have to say that I think John Hiatt is amazing, a great songwriter, with a unique voice. I've seen him live (with Richard Thompson!) and he's GREAT!
Posted 15 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
Classic John Hiatt song. One of his best.
Posted 15 years ago by CCinSB    [ Reply ]
This is bloody awful! It's like being at an open mic out in the suburbs and the MC is too polite to cut him off.
Posted 15 years ago by luca77    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a talented song writer stuck with a unique voice that wouldn't make it on American Idle. inindian wrote:
Sounds like a guy attempting to sing while drinking coffee and eating a sandwich!
Posted 16 years ago by frednic    [ Reply ]
and noisy!
Posted 16 years ago by Manbird    [ Reply ]
The great thing about refreshing the "Now Playing" list just before a song ends is finding that the next song is by John Hiatt in time to hit "mute" before he gets anything out. Ahhhh.
Posted 16 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
Ugh. His voice sounds like a New Yorker faking a Southern accent.
Sounds like a guy attempting to sing while drinking coffee and eating a sandwich!
Posted 16 years ago by inindian    [ Reply ]
god i need to listen to more john hiatt...putting it on my list of things to do
Posted 16 years ago by freeone1    [ Reply ]
Anyone know the story with this album? Can't find it on Amazon...
Posted 16 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]
junebaby65 wrote:
Another critically loved artist with a bad voice...sigh....
I couldn't agree more. It's unfortunate singers with a bad voice sell CDs.
Posted 16 years ago by sunny_day    [ Reply ]
go_ski_mully wrote:
MY KIND OF SET! Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, John Hiatt! 10, 10, & 10!
Esp. when you include the David Byrne song that preceded the above, I feel like I have tuned into the "Male vocalists with extremely annoying voices" channel.
Posted 16 years ago by pevend    [ Reply ]
No. Different band. themotion wrote:
no, that's the morphine.
Posted 16 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Another critically loved artist with a bad voice...sigh....
Posted 16 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
Marina1 wrote:
This song sends chills down my spine ....
no, that's the morphine.
Posted 16 years ago by themotion    [ Reply ]
MY KIND OF SET! Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, John Hiatt! 10, 10, & 10!
Posted 16 years ago by go_ski_mully    [ Reply ]
john hiatt is super excellent.
Posted 16 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
This song sends chills down my spine ....
Posted 16 years ago by Marina1    [ Reply ]
passsion8 wrote:
I really like most of his songs - as long as they are performed by anyone else! Bonnie Raitt. Suzy Bogguss. ANYone else. Yarf.
Don't know if you're a Willie Nelson fan or not but he does a great version of a John Hiatt song called The Most Unoriginal Sin on his Across the Borderline album. That's a great record, a real nice assortment of cover songs by artists such as Dylan, Cohen, Peter Gabriel and others, plus a couple Nelson originals. Highly recommended if it sounds like your cup of tea.
Posted 16 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
Now there's only two things in life but I forget what they are
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
A guy with his guitar. Not over produced and quite refreshing.
Posted 17 years ago by oldsinger    [ Reply ]
HOORAY! A really gooooooooodddd version of a really good song.
Posted 17 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
Geecheeboy wrote:
This is fantastic. Sounds exactly like he did in his solo show in Greenville SC a while ago. Warts and all.
He did this one in North Charleston on his tour with Lyle, Guy clark, and Joe Ely. Great show!!!
Posted 17 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
OUCH! A really badddddddddddd version of a really good song.
Posted 17 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
I really like most of his songs - as long as they are performed by anyone else! Bonnie Raitt. Suzy Bogguss. ANYone else. Yarf.
Posted 17 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
Sorry gang...this song rocks....
Posted 17 years ago by eman    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
Ugh. His voice sounds like a New Yorker faking a Southern accent.
That's cuz he's from Indiana!
Posted 17 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
please stop - you're killing us
Posted 17 years ago by mperetz    [ Reply ]
Ugh. His voice sounds like a New Yorker faking a Southern accent.
Posted 17 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
This is fantastic. Sounds exactly like he did in his solo show in Greenville SC a while ago. Warts and all.
Posted 17 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
Gee Bill, the studio cut of this is a gem. This version doesn't do Hiatt justice. Odd, because he's so bang on live, re-interpreting his own songs. We all have off nights, but fortunately, nobody records ours!
Posted 17 years ago by MCKY    [ Reply ]
I have to agree unfortunately. I'm a huge Hiatt fan, and this song is one of his best, but this version lacks any energy or conviction. It's certainly not going to win him any new fans on RP...
Posted 17 years ago by Rtschnell    [ Reply ]
Great song, not the best performance of it.
Posted 17 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
Nice...
Posted 17 years ago by kgish    [ Reply ]
John is the man...good tune. Catch one of his shows - anyone will be a believer then.
Posted 17 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
Truely an unsung American hero...no matter what those with no taste say...
Posted 17 years ago by eman    [ Reply ]
Which open mike night squeezed this guy out, he STINKS!@
Posted 17 years ago by mysteryplane    [ Reply ]
ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......
Posted 17 years ago by laprincessa    [ Reply ]
Moak wrote:
Yeah, Waits then John Hiatt... now I'm properly grounded to start off my day right
And now, on a Saturday night, ready for bed. Was his guitar way out of tune?
Posted 18 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
palexis wrote:
Does anyone else hear a not so good version of Neil Young's Thrashers here?
YES! Thanks for coming up with the title, I was just sitting at my desk humming the tune and trying to remember the lyrics.
Posted 18 years ago by Eagan    [ Reply ]
Yeah, Waits then John Hiatt... now I'm properly grounded to start off my day right
Posted 18 years ago by Moak    [ Reply ]
Amazing. Not too many people have John Hiatt's songwriting talent. Gotta love it.
Posted 18 years ago by babygirl614    [ Reply ]
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Posted 18 years ago by -relayer-    [ Reply ]
Ah, and I thought he was singing about a Buffalo Mobile Home! Mr. Hiatt remains among my favorite singers around, regardless of what box librarian types want to put him in. This is a likeable example of what he can do.
Posted 18 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
Wow, it's been a while since I've been up to the Buffalo River. What a beautiful place. ...the song ain't half bad either. (click here)
Posted 18 years ago by Zygomatic    [ Reply ]
GregX59 wrote:
Why the need to put him (or ANY music) in a box? Hiatt can rock with the best of them, can twang with the best of them, and can write a song equal to anyone.
I totally agree. "Paper Thin" and "Something Wild", "Drive South," "Slow Turning" - these are all good rockers. I saw John Hiatt in concert in about 1987 - he was doing a triple-bill with the Robert Cray Band and Stevie Ray Vaughn, at the L.B. Day Amphitheater in Salem, Oregon. It was just him and his guitar, and he was awesome. It was the first time I'd ever heard "Slow Turning," and as soon as the concert was over, I went out and bought it. John Hiatt has probably forgotten more about songwriting than most of today's "favorites" ever knew.
Posted 18 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Glen wrote:
Just saw John Hiatt last night as part of the songwriter's workshop with Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, and Joe Ely. A great show and John Hiatt played a couple of great new songs. This is an outstanding version of this song!
I was lucky enough to see these guys in a workshop setting (without Mr. Lovett) back in Chicago in '89 or '90. A great night... Hiatt sang a bit of his (as far as I know) unreleased hit break-up song, "Til His Penis Came Between Us"...
Posted 18 years ago by MrMan    [ Reply ]
Love the original on "Perfectly Good Guitar", but this acoustic version just stinks. Please play the original.
Posted 18 years ago by GreenJello    [ Reply ]
palexis wrote:
Does anyone else hear a not so good version of Neil Young's Thrashers here?
John's music is just good time rock-n-roll fun. I would take his voice, gruff as it is, over Neil Young's anyday.
Posted 18 years ago by NiceGuy2005    [ Reply ]
Does anyone else hear a not so good version of Neil Young's Thrashers here?
Posted 18 years ago by palexis    [ Reply ]
catmaven" And his twang is sort of teeth-grating.
Couldn't have put it better than that. He always seems so affected to me. Nice tunes and thoughts, but turn down the hick thang a little...
Posted 18 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
The Buffalo River? I've never heard this song. Is this about the Buffalo river in Arkansas?
Posted 18 years ago by southern_duality    [ Reply ]
Where did this version come from? The top info is inaccurate, as usual. :?:
Posted 19 years ago by Bodhisattva    [ Reply ]
catmaven wrote:
Are you sure this singer shouldn't be classed as country? That little yodel at the end especially makes me suspect so. :? :-s
Why the need to put him (or ANY music) in a box? Hiatt can rock with the best of them, can twang with the best of them, and can write a song equal to anyone.
Posted 19 years ago by GregX59    [ Reply ]
One of our better songwriters. More John Hiatt, please - Tennessee Plates, or Paper Thin among others.
Posted 19 years ago by theodore    [ Reply ]
Was just uploading a couple of songs from the "It'll come to you: The Songs of John Haitt" when this came on. For fans of his songwriting this CD is an impression group of covers from Patty Griffin to Buddy Guy. Nick Lowe to Willie Nelson. Hopefully one or two will be shuffled to the playlist.
Posted 19 years ago by rickf    [ Reply ]
Glen wrote:
Just saw John Hiatt last night as part of the songwriter's workshop with Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, and Joe Ely. A great show and John Hiatt played a couple of great new songs. This is an outstanding version of this song!
Man, you suck. Where was this? Nice tune from John.
Posted 19 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
Just saw John Hiatt last night as part of the songwriter's workshop with Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, and Joe Ely. A great show and John Hiatt played a couple of great new songs. This is an outstanding version of this song!
Posted 19 years ago by Glen    [ Reply ]
fitz368 wrote:
Depends on the country music, a lot of the new stuff I think of as Britney Spears for farmer wannabees. Tacky, commercial, sell me a truck and beer and stick a fork in my eye.
99.9% of all commercial country radio sucks. However, if you look beyond Nashville, or country radio, there is some great stuff out there.
Posted 19 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
Johray63 wrote:
As if it's illegal! Isn't Country the white men's Blues? Makes it perfectly justified for John Hiatt to sing it (whatever you may think of its quality).
Depends on the country music, a lot of the new stuff I think of as Britney Spears for farmer wannabees. Tacky, commercial, sell me a truck and beer and stick a fork in my eye.
Posted 19 years ago by fitz368    [ Reply ]
" Down to the Mississippi delter..." An 8.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
The music takes me to "Had to cry today" by Blind Faith...Same melacholic feeling
Posted 19 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
catmaven wrote:
Are you sure this singer shouldn't be classed as country? That little yodel at the end especially makes me suspect so.
As if it's illegal! Isn't Country the white men's Blues? Makes it perfectly justified for John Hiatt to sing it (whatever you may think of its quality).
Posted 19 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
I don't know how original this man is, but his vocal lines do repeat each other a lot . . . He probably sings better than Bob Dylan and a bit better than Tom Waits . . . . despite that, his voice is oddly comforting. If only his tunes were less monotonous. And his twang is sort of teeth-grating. Are you sure this singer shouldn't be classed as country? That little yodel at the end especially makes me suspect so. :? :-s
Posted 19 years ago by rKokon    [ Reply ]
Without really trying, this man has carved out a place of his own in american music. He has an unkempt voice and loose guitar style but he's his own man and a true original.
Posted 19 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]