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James McMurtry — Where'd You Hide The Body
Album: Where'd You Hide The Body
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 532









Released: 1995
Length: 3:31
Plays (last 30 days): 0
You look across the table with those guilty eyes
So many mornings now, I shouldn't be surprised
When you lash out at me then you scream out in the night
What could you have done to get in such an awful fright?

Is it all that bad that you think I shouldn't see?
Well who're you gonna talk to if you can't tell me?

Where'd you hide the body?
Where'd you stash the loot?
Just keep your hands where I can see them
So I don't have to shoot

There's a smoking pistol at your side
That you swear it's not the one
Where'd you hide the body?
Where'd you get the gun?
Where'd you hide the body?
Where'd you get the gun?

When cornered you complain about the state of your career
And you look intently straight ahead, pretending I'm not here
And you look me in the eye and say "It's not about us"
And you tell me I'm so silly to be making such a fuss

So everything's okay except you're nervous as a cat
But what's it say about me if you think I'd fall for that?
Come on

Where'd you hide the body?
Where'd you stash the loot?
Just keep your hands where I can see them
And maybe I won't shoot

There's a smoking pistol at your side
And you swear it's not the one
Where'd you hide the body?
Where'd you get the gun?

Where'd you hide the body?
Where'd you ditch the gun?
Just keep your hands where I can see them
Make no attempt to run

You used to always throw me off your trail
But I guess those days are through
Where'd you hide the body?
What's consuming you?
Where'd you hide the body?
What's consuming you?
Comments (78)add comment
His Warren Zevon side:  "Send lawyers, guns & money!"
 dbheckman wrote:
Ahh, James McMurtrey. Never tire of his music. What a storyteller. 

 
Thought it was Toby Keith at first...
 No doubt. Not sure how you can listen to this station and be bored by McMurtrey. bstevens1951 wrote:
Sorry you were born w/o both ears and a soul.
 

leafmold wrote:
This guy bores the Hell out of me.

 

 


Excited for his UK tour - I think it'll be solo.
 
mediamarv wrote:
This and "Where'd You Get That Red Dress?" are two songs I never tire of. If you get the chance to see him in Austin, upstairs at the Continental Club Gallery is the place. Usually solo. Comfortable sofas and good beer available. Paradise (so to speak).

 


Ahh, James McMurtrey. Never tire of his music. What a storyteller. 
This and "Where'd You Get That Red Dress?" are two songs I never tire of. If you get the chance to see him in Austin, upstairs at the Continental Club Gallery is the place. Usually solo. Comfortable sofas and good beer available. Paradise (so to speak).
Sorry you were born w/o both ears and a soul.
 

leafmold wrote:
This guy bores the Hell out of me.

 


This guy bores the Hell out of me.
 Cynaera wrote:
I found this link, and had to share it:

Occupy Alaska  I think I remember how to convert it to a clickable link, but if it doesn't work, I'll try something else. It's definitely worth a read. Pictures, too.

I have new respect for the man - not that I didn't respect him before, but this puts him over the top on my "cool-meter."

SERIOUS WARNING:  I keep getting a Malware blocking message, so travel at your own risk. I have good protection, but some of you might not. Please be careful.

 

miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...

 

Love that voice
I have been asking my wife this question for nearly 10 years now.
I have not seen her naked for that long.
McMurtry is always an instant PSD event for me.
This should be the theme music for a police procedural set in Montana or North Dakota, chronicling the adventures of homicide detectives who work in rural counties.

This is one of my favorite McMurtry songs but he must not like it because I've never heard him play it.

I've been a fan for years.  I used to see him whenever he came through Northern California (I saw him maybe 5 times).  I've been in Austin for about 4 years now and have probably seen him a dozen more times here and he's never played this tume.

He and his band are great and you should see them if you get the chance, but I think he's gotten into kind of a rut.  There are a few core songs that he plays every show.  Over the years he's added a few new ones when a new album comes out (only 2 studio albums in the past 10 years) but basically a show from 8 years ago is about the same as one from today.



 ChicoCyclist wrote:
Really like Darren's drumming on that track.  He's got a great snap on that snare!

Edit - hmm, not sure that it is Darren Hess on that album.  I'll have to check the album liner when I get home.

 
That's Jim Brock on drums, probably brought in by Don Dixon, who produced the album. My guess also is it was Dixon who persuaded McMurtry to sign with Sugar Hill, which issued his next three albums and for whom Dixon, wife Marti Jones, and fellow traveler Jamie Hoover (Spongetones) also recorded. Brock at this time was pretty much the "house drummer" for Dixon, Jones, and Hoover.

 nagsheadlocal wrote:

Levelland never ceases to amaze me. The lines:

"Don't think she's seen the sky
Since we got the satellite dish"
 

Strike home with me for a number of reasons.  
 
"And I can see the marching band, doing the best they can, to play Smoke on the Water, Joy to the World"...there is an amazing live acoustic version of this song on Youtube

I found this link, and had to share it:

Occupy Alaska  I think I remember how to convert it to a clickable link, but if it doesn't work, I'll try something else. It's definitely worth a read. Pictures, too.

I have new respect for the man - not that I didn't respect him before, but this puts him over the top on my "cool-meter."

SERIOUS WARNING:  I keep getting a Malware blocking message, so travel at your own risk. I have good protection, but some of you might not. Please be careful.

 clemnarnold wrote:

there are several great songs on this album.  for those interested, this is his best album in my humble opinion.

 
Levelland never ceases to amaze me. The lines:

"Don't think she's seen the sky
Since we got the satellite dish"
 

Strike home with me for a number of reasons.  
8->9.  Getting better every time I hear this.
 clemnarnold wrote:

there are several great songs on this album.  for those interested, this is his best album in my humble opinion.


 
.................and off to Itunes. Thanks for the heads-up

there are several great songs on this album.  for those interested, this is his best album in my humble opinion.


Thanks for the heads up on this track, just downloaded it. I didn't realize until a few months ago James is the son of Larry McMurtry, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Lonesome Dove and other novels.
This guy puts me at ease. As Bill furthers my education..........
I'm liking what I am hearing from this artist here.  Very perceptive lyrics in this piece.
Very talented guy.
Really like Darren's drumming on that track.  He's got a great snap on that snare!

Edit - hmm, not sure that it is Darren Hess on that album.  I'll have to check the album liner when I get home.

"Killing The Blues" followed by "Where'd You Hide The Body". Bill's having fun today. {#Lol}
Tonight on an all-new Criminal Minds....

{#Cheesygrin}
If I could get this 97 Saab running by Saturday, I'd drive west to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to hear him as headiliner at the Steel Bridge Festival. Heck, I'd even sleep in the backseat before driving back to Michigan the next day. Is Wisconsin as far east as he goes? Why do all you Westerners get him all the time? I'm one of those not-as-skinny, not-as-many folks he sings of. Love him.

{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Motor}
Gartholamundi wrote:
one of my favorite songs on one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite songwriters. and it jams! {#Music}

i just love the sublimely understated singing style of McMurtry, and his constantly thoughtful, and often half-sarcastic lines.

one of my favorite posts, from one of my favorite members, about one of my favorite...

one of my favorite songs on one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite songwriters. and it jams! {#Music}

i just love the sublimely understated singing style of McMurtry, and his constantly thoughtful, and often half-sarcastic lines.
Good music .... what's the hassle? ... open your ears!!

https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:h9frxztjldse


 Antigone wrote:
I ADORE Marti Jones! Why would BillG not like her?
 
Not sure, check the uploads. Everything was rejected.
Personally, I think Used Guitars was one of the best albums of the 80's.
It's got a young Sonny Landreth all over it.

 Excelsior wrote:
Dear lord, this guy is boring.  {#Yawn}
  ex·cel·si·or (k-sls-r) n. Slender, curved wood shavings used especially for packing

 Excelsior wrote:
Dear lord, this guy is boring.  {#Yawn}
 
McMurtry > trolls

 Excelsior wrote:
Dear lord, this guy is boring.  {#Yawn}
 
I bet you're one of those folks who makes statements (at a party) like "Bob Dylan/Bruce Springsteen/Kurt Cobain can't sing."

I just want to scream, "Attention: Captain Obvious is in the room!".

Buy an i-Pod and amuse yourself, for Christ's sake.

I swear to God I was writing this before Nirvana came up. I think we must be "synced up" tonight, Bill. What a hoot. I haven't had an experience like that in a loooooong time. {#Meditate}

Dear lord, this guy is boring.  {#Yawn}
Pretty good song.
{#Yawn}
How about ditching this bozo to make some room on the playlist for someone with talent? I can't see where all these high ratings are coming from.
Antigone wrote:
I ADORE Marti Jones! Why would BillG not like her?
Great question....!
oldman wrote:
Strange opinion, for awhile in the 80's, he was like T-Bone Burnett, he really produced a string of well received albums. Not sure what you refer to as a "hit". Not much top 40 gets played here. Besides Don Dixon wound marrying Marti Jones, who Bill seems to have a negative bent towards. That's what makes the world go around. I like this whole album.
I ADORE Marti Jones! Why would BillG not like her?
bokey wrote:
Ugh-is produced by Don Dixon.That guy couldn't buy a hit if he was in Yankee Stadium.
Strange opinion, for awhile in the 80's, he was like T-Bone Burnett, he really produced a string of well received albums. Not sure what you refer to as a "hit". Not much top 40 gets played here. Besides Don Dixon wound marrying Marti Jones, who Bill seems to have a negative bent towards. That's what makes the world go around. I like this whole album.
JM is a big favorite of mine and I've seen him and the Heartless Bastards play on many occasions but I've never heard him play this song. I wonder what the story is. I think it's one of his best songs and he does play other stuff from this period.
bokey wrote:
Ugh-is produced by Don Dixon.That guy couldn't buy a hit if he was in Yankee Stadium.
Neither can the Yankees
sharkartist wrote:
What a gem we have in McMurtry. His imagery and tales of human folly are blended so seamlessly with that lovely sound of his Telecaster. Always a treat when he comes around in rotation.
agree
What a gem we have in McMurtry. His imagery and tales of human folly are blended so seamlessly with that lovely sound of his Telecaster. Always a treat when he comes around in rotation.
meower215 wrote:
moist egg salad
Makes me Fart.
Rickvee wrote:
JM is great to see in a live setting but I can never get into his recordings. But go see him live - he can play some serious guitar.
He has a live CD that is smokin' hot.
bokey wrote:
Ugh-is produced by Don Dixon.That guy couldn't buy a hit if he was in Yankee Stadium.
This is off an excellent CD from McMurtry, full of songs like this one. PurplePrincess wrote:
Loved this story telling song and the easy sliding style. Never heard this artist before, maybe will become a new favorite. Reminded me just a tiny bit of Chris Smither. Thanks RP, what great selection, I like almost everything you play.
I agree that seeing McMurtry live is the way to go. We flew to Austin in June to see him at Threadgill's - outside under a stormy Texas summer evening sky was amazing. For the best taste of JM pick up his Live in Aught-Three CD. It will kick your ass.
sharkartist wrote:
What a great songsmith and storyteller!
Agreed.
Loved this story telling song and the easy sliding style. Never heard this artist before, maybe will become a new favorite. Reminded me just a tiny bit of Chris Smither. Thanks RP, what great selection, I like almost everything you play.
Great lyrics; such an interesting metaphor. I dig the music, too.
What a great songsmith and storyteller!
Nice tune, solid 8 from me.
JM is great to see in a live setting but I can never get into his recordings. But go see him live - he can play some serious guitar.
JM is the man even if he's a freak!
Jack_Jefferson wrote:
I agree. "We Can't Make it Here..." is right on the money and needs to be heard by more people. It belongs on RP.
Walrus_Gumbo wrote:
ABSOLUTELY!!! I've been turning on as many folks as I can to the song! Come on RP help me out!!!
Bill played it last week or so. Really interesting song.
Ugh-is produced by Don Dixon. That guy couldn't buy a hit if he was in Yankee Stadium.
bokey wrote:
Great title
Great title, great lyric. I like this guy.
Great title
Glockman45 wrote:
9
What - millimeters?
I saw the man live at SXSW. He gives you chills. His albums are actually a little too polished sometimes. But his lyrics cut right through. He and his father are national treasures.
moist egg salad
BikeCoachDave wrote:
A solid 9. Man, this is why I love R.P. I would have likely never heard this anywhere else. Superb.
At least half the cd purchases and iTunes downloads in our household are the direct result of hearing a song on RP.
9
A solid 9. Man, this is why I love R.P. I would have likely never heard this anywhere else. Superb.
orpheus wrote:
heard a great fucking song of his, I think it's called "We Can't Make it Here Anymore," a total accurate and right on treatise on the current state of "working" America, outsourcing, etc. Radio stations won't play it because it's too controversial. Bill?
ABSOLUTELY!!! I've been turning on as many folks as I can to the song! Come on RP help me out!!!
Yeah, this is most excellent. I gave it a '9'.
orpheus wrote:
heard a great fucking song of his, I think it's called "We Can't Make it Here Anymore," a total accurate and right on treatise on the current state of "working" America, outsourcing, etc. Radio stations won't play it because it's too controversial. Bill?
I agree. "We Can't Make it Here..." is right on the money and needs to be heard by more people. It belongs on RP.
Clever. Catchy. 7.
heard a great fucking song of his, I think it's called "We Can't Make it Here Anymore," a total accurate and right on treatise on the current state of "working" America, outsourcing, etc. Radio stations won't play it because it's too controversial. Bill?
YUCK - I dont like it...
Was just listening to this at work, where there is no RP Bill, good taste!, glad to be home!