The Doobie Brothers — I Cheat The Hangman
Album: StampedeAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 619
Length: 6:32
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The days grow short, the nights are gone
Since you were here, I can't go on
I cried for you, to no avail
Now my life runs cold when the night winds wail
But I cheat the hangman, cheated him many times before
The bell that tolls the hour has turned sweet lips to sour
Yes, I cheat the hangman and even when life has flown away
I leave a kiss behind
The rain that fell upon my stone
Like tears you cry I shared alone
I walk the night, I cannot sleep
The love you spend you cannot reap
The glow of love will then shine
Lighted windows stare at the lonely stranger there returning home
Only lighted windows stare at the lonely stranger there returning home
Since you were here, I can't go on
I cried for you, to no avail
Now my life runs cold when the night winds wail
But I cheat the hangman, cheated him many times before
The bell that tolls the hour has turned sweet lips to sour
Yes, I cheat the hangman and even when life has flown away
I leave a kiss behind
The rain that fell upon my stone
Like tears you cry I shared alone
I walk the night, I cannot sleep
The love you spend you cannot reap
The glow of love will then shine
Lighted windows stare at the lonely stranger there returning home
Only lighted windows stare at the lonely stranger there returning home
Comments (83)add comment
Thank you RP for jarring my memory banks. This was my first concert without a chaperone. Good times.
coloradojohn wrote:
Thank you, coloradojohn, for reminding me of those days. Somehow the music sounded better then.
Wow... One of those spooky songs I remember hearing way late at night on the old FM transistor radio by the bed, at low volume, with the soughing of the breeze and the symphony of the night insects audible behind. Gave me wild dreams, for sure! Nice nostalgia buzz.
Thank you, coloradojohn, for reminding me of those days. Somehow the music sounded better then.
My very first concert was the Doobies 75/76 (?). Good times!
Still loving this in '23.....my favorite Doobies song.
Takes me back to sitting alone in my 72 Ford van at 3am after doing the clubs and slipping this into the 8 track player.
bimmerfan739 wrote:
Yeah, their early stuff was the best!
Really digging my reintroduction to early Doobies here on RP.
Yeah, their early stuff was the best!
Really digging my reintroduction to early Doobies here on RP.
Jack Colton: [picking up a magazine] Dammit man, the Doobie Brothers broke up! Shit! When did that happen?
Joan Wilder: How long have you been down here?
Jack Colton: Forever.
Joan Wilder: How long have you been down here?
Jack Colton: Forever.
Saw the doobs at Red Rocks 1988… spectacular show
KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Yep.
You get away from the classic rot stuff and into album cuts that haven't been played into the ground... this is what you get.
Listen to "Clear As the Driven Snow", "The Captain and Me", "Ukiah", "Mamaloi ", "Toulouse Street ", "Another Park, Another Sunday" or,"Neal's Fandango".
These are never played on the airwaves.
"Clear As The Driven Snow" is the Doobie Brothers' "Stairway To Heaven" as far as I'm concerned. A Pat Simmons classic. Incredible musicians.
Yep.
You get away from the classic rot stuff and into album cuts that haven't been played into the ground... this is what you get.
Listen to "Clear As the Driven Snow", "The Captain and Me", "Ukiah", "Mamaloi ", "Toulouse Street ", "Another Park, Another Sunday" or,"Neal's Fandango".
These are never played on the airwaves.
"Clear As The Driven Snow" is the Doobie Brothers' "Stairway To Heaven" as far as I'm concerned. A Pat Simmons classic. Incredible musicians.
helluva intro n finish
I didn't know the Doobies could sound like this. Interesting.
Ahhhhh.... the pre-Michael McDonald years. Such good stuff. At least that's what this fool believes.
coloradojohn wrote:
Yes! I had very similar nights back in sleepy rural Illinois in the 70s-80s. Miss those nights.
Wow... One of those spooky songs I remember hearing way late at night on the old FM transistor radio by the bed, at low volume, with the soughing of the breeze and the symphony of the night insects audible behind. Gave me wild dreams, for sure! Nice nostalgia buzz.
Yes! I had very similar nights back in sleepy rural Illinois in the 70s-80s. Miss those nights.
Took me back in time. Love it❤
This and "Toulouse Street" are my two favourite DB songs.
Now that is a Classic Rock Deep Cut!
KZOK HD2 (102.5 FM, the HD2 version being the last FM channel I listen to regularly occasionally still) might even play it!
I'm really digging the sound effects in this one...and I'm not even in an altered state right now.
**EDIT** I haven't listened to FM Radio in about 7 months now, except recently on a road trip to OR, and boy am I glad I've given it up!! LONG LIVE RP!!
1902canoe wrote:
Couldn't agree more! The overplayed Doobies songs were written by Tom Johnston. Patrick Simmons wrote some absolutely beautiful music. And then there were the Michael McDonald years as well. By the way Jeff Skunk Baxter is a consultant to the U.S. Defense Department these days.
My personal favorite on this album is NEAL'S FANDANGO. The deeper cuts on these Doobies records are awesome. Thanks RP!!
Couldn't agree more! The overplayed Doobies songs were written by Tom Johnston. Patrick Simmons wrote some absolutely beautiful music. And then there were the Michael McDonald years as well. By the way Jeff Skunk Baxter is a consultant to the U.S. Defense Department these days.
My personal favorite on this album is NEAL'S FANDANGO. The deeper cuts on these Doobies records are awesome. Thanks RP!!
Yeah! Always loved how it spaces off into like Moody Blues>Alan Parsons>ELO and even shades of Beatles at the end!
stegokitty wrote:
Same here. Thought it was a new song when it went instrumental.
First time I've heard this. Love it. I wasn't aware DB did stuff like this in their early days. I'll be investigating further.
Same here. Thought it was a new song when it went instrumental.
Boring.
Good song off their last (and weakest?) Tom Johnston era album.
The instrumental finale feels tacked on, but it sounds great, so who cares.
The instrumental finale feels tacked on, but it sounds great, so who cares.
ahhh this is the record with skunk baxter from steely dan playing guitar, quite nice and underplayed
Wow... One of those spooky songs I remember hearing way late at night on the old FM transistor radio by the bed, at low volume, with the soughing of the breeze and the symphony of the night insects audible behind. Gave me wild dreams, for sure! Nice nostalgia buzz.
love the mix here at RP : )
One of the nice things about turntables and vinyl - I got to listen to all the songs before having to get up, lift the needle and flip the record to stop the annoying end-of-record click.
r-
Tom C.
r-
Tom C.
KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Yep.
You get away from the classic rot stuff and into album cuts that haven't been played into the ground... this is what you get.
Listen to "Clear As the Driven Snow", "The Captain and Me", "Ukiah", "Mamaloi ", "Toulouse Street ", "Another Park, Another Sunday" or,"Neal's Fandango".
These are never played on the airwaves.
Also, Without You. A thundering rocker that's unlike other Doobie cuts. Light years past easy listening Top 40 pap like What A Fool Believes.
Yep.
You get away from the classic rot stuff and into album cuts that haven't been played into the ground... this is what you get.
Listen to "Clear As the Driven Snow", "The Captain and Me", "Ukiah", "Mamaloi ", "Toulouse Street ", "Another Park, Another Sunday" or,"Neal's Fandango".
These are never played on the airwaves.
Also, Without You. A thundering rocker that's unlike other Doobie cuts. Light years past easy listening Top 40 pap like What A Fool Believes.
This blows chunks.
stegokitty wrote:
Yep.
You get away from the classic rot stuff and into album cuts that haven't been played into the ground... this is what you get.
Listen to "Clear As the Driven Snow", "The Captain and Me", "Ukiah", "Mamaloi ", "Toulouse Street ", "Another Park, Another Sunday" or,"Neal's Fandango".
These are never played on the airwaves.
First time I've heard this. Love it. I wasn't aware DB did stuff like this in their early days. I'll be investigating further.
Yep.
You get away from the classic rot stuff and into album cuts that haven't been played into the ground... this is what you get.
Listen to "Clear As the Driven Snow", "The Captain and Me", "Ukiah", "Mamaloi ", "Toulouse Street ", "Another Park, Another Sunday" or,"Neal's Fandango".
These are never played on the airwaves.
treatment_bound wrote:
That's gotta be pretty rare, as that single stalled @ #60.
Do you still have that nice slice of nostalgia from 40 YEARS AGO?
Alas, when I moved away from home I left my 45s in my bedroom closet and I didn't make it home in time when they put the house up for sale.
That's gotta be pretty rare, as that single stalled @ #60.
Do you still have that nice slice of nostalgia from 40 YEARS AGO?
Alas, when I moved away from home I left my 45s in my bedroom closet and I didn't make it home in time when they put the house up for sale.
SOP
and that trumpet man! Wow
One correction. The release date was '75.
and that trumpet man! Wow
One correction. The release date was '75.
Before I looked I thought it was America...
First time I've heard this. Love it. I wasn't aware DB did stuff like this in their early days. I'll be investigating further.
xtalman wrote:
70's Doobies were the best Dobbies.
And Dobby rolled the most magical doobie.
70's Doobies were the best Dobbies.
And Dobby rolled the most magical doobie.
Another great song. As songs go.
cayenne wrote:
That's gotta be pretty rare, as that single stalled @ #60.
Do you still have that nice slice of nostalgia from 40 YEARS AGO?
I had this on 45. Wow.
That's gotta be pretty rare, as that single stalled @ #60.
Do you still have that nice slice of nostalgia from 40 YEARS AGO?
Heard this played last night (18hrs or so ago), on my way home from work. Had to return to the site to add my comment.
Thanks RP. I didn't know Doobies had this in their repertoire. Thanks. This is such a great listen. Thanks.
Thanks RP. I didn't know Doobies had this in their repertoire. Thanks. This is such a great listen. Thanks.
For a bad ass band that cut its teeth as a darling of the Angels, they produced stuff like this, "Toulouse Street," and "White Sun," the latter surprisingly a Tom Johnston composition (this and "Toulouse" are Simmons's).
mrbox wrote:
70's Doobies were the best Dobbies.
Reason #37 why I love RP. Who else plays "I Cheat the Hangman?" - The 70s Doobies were underrated. - Thanks, Bill!
70's Doobies were the best Dobbies.
Unexpected treat to hear this in the midst of music nothing like this and from a completely different era. Variety is the spice of life.
never have heard this Doobie Brothers song, wow
Reason #37 why I love RP. Who else plays "I Cheat the Hangman?" - The 70s Doobies were underrated. - Thanks, Bill!
æããã (natsukashii) - feeling nostalgic
I had this on 45. Wow.
I'm thrust back to a night 35 (?) years ago making out with my now wife, when we were 17, on her Mom's sofa.
MoxyP wrote:
"Daughters of the Sea" was my favorite deep album cut to play back in my AOR days because it always got calls asking what band was playing. And yes, I was nearly scarred for life, too, but I still appreciate some of the more obscure cuts, like this one, Daughters of the Sea, Slatkey Soquel Rag, and Toulouse Street.
Please, Bill? More of the mystery Doobies?
I'll upload Daughters of the Sea and see what happens.
"Daughters of the Sea" was my favorite deep album cut to play back in my AOR days because it always got calls asking what band was playing. And yes, I was nearly scarred for life, too, but I still appreciate some of the more obscure cuts, like this one, Daughters of the Sea, Slatkey Soquel Rag, and Toulouse Street.
Please, Bill? More of the mystery Doobies?
I'll upload Daughters of the Sea and see what happens.
Pearhead wrote:
I'll try my luck with Daughters of the Sea from Vices.
Man, I'd love to hear "Daughters of the Sea" on RP! Haven't heard it in forever, but if my recollection is accurate it would fit in well here. "Another Park, Another Sunday" would be another good one.
rubenbeagle wrote:
judging from the dates on the posts, it looks like this one has been gathering some dust.....too bad, really a great song.
Me agree.
judging from the dates on the posts, it looks like this one has been gathering some dust.....too bad, really a great song.
I am not a fan of the DBs by any means, but this song is excellent.
Xeric wrote:
This being, then, from before Michael McDonald came along and destroyed the band.
I recall seeing the Doobies in concert a few years ago, midway through the set Patrick Simmons addressed the crowd and said, "Michael McDonald couldn't be here tonight because he's sick (of us!)
MinMan wrote:
Whoa Nelley - this really sounds dated.
yea but it was pretty cool stuff in concert in 1975. seem to remember lots of fog and a really big ass mirror ball....
Thanks Bill, an excellent song, haven't heard this in a long time. The 6.5 rating is too low.
This is great Jazzy Doobies!
My wife and I used to make out to this when we were 18!
Whoa Nelley - this really sounds dated.
96 Degrees in the Shade segue to I Cheat the Hangman... lyrically astute indeed! Good job BillG!
man I like this. makes me wanna burn though
Pearhead wrote:
That lead would be Patrick Simmons.
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter ala Steely Dan adds a great touch to this LP as well.
This being, then, from before Michael McDonald came along and destroyed the band.
I'd almost forgotten about this song, but I recognized it the second I heard the guitar intro. Love it.
MoxyP wrote:And Toulouse Street is a no-brainer must.
"Daughters of the Sea" was my favorite deep album cut to play back in my AOR days because it always got calls asking what band was playing. And yes, I was nearly scarred for life, too, but I still appreciate some of the more obscure cuts, like this one, Daughters of the Sea, Slatkey Soquel Rag, and Toulouse Street.
Please, Bill? More of the mystery Doobies?
Last played 2004? Looks like this one has been lost "at sea" once again. Shame....damn shame the scars run so deep and silent Bill.
Sounds a bit like a David Crosby tune....
Wow...hadn't heard this one for a long time. Thanks Bill; good call.
Oh...and what brighthue said is spot on, too.
Oh...and what brighthue said is spot on, too.
tvman wrote:
Oh, how I hated the Doobies in the '70's and '80's. Overplayed, overexposed, over "Blackwatered".
Then I heard "Cheat the Hangman"...
Bill has an amazing ability to hear the best each artist has to offer and pluck the gems from the rubble of commercial radio. Others with this level of sensitivity have given up but Bill turns it into a wonderful benefit for listeners and musicians.
zipper wrote:
Always nice to be surprised that way. 
As was I.
As am I.
Always nice to be surprised that way.
Love the Doobies... but I thought this song was a bit boring.
Pearhead wrote:
Agreed. I'll try my luck with Daughters of the Sea from Vices. But.....I'd just about bet that Bill has some misguided aversion to the Doobs given that there's so little (1 including this one :? ) in the library. They got sooo much airplay in his early years, it probably scarred him for life...but hey...that's no reason to avoid some rather exquisite 
deep cuts....... man.
"Daughters of the Sea" was my favorite deep album cut to play back in my AOR days because it always got calls asking what band was playing. And yes, I was nearly scarred for life, too, but I still appreciate some of the more obscure cuts, like this one, Daughters of the Sea, Slatkey Soquel Rag, and Toulouse Street.
Please, Bill? More of the mystery Doobies?
deep cuts....... man.
catmaven wrote:
The quality of the lead singing voice is sweet and haunting. Who is he? The song itself seems rather diffuse, but maybe it is just too complex for me. Anyway, amazing that such a subtle group ever got radio airplay. They have a great sense of dynamics and drama.
That lead would be Patrick Simmons.
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter ala Steely Dan adds a great touch to this LP as well.
this is good!
The quality of the lead singing voice is sweet and haunting. Who is he? The song itself seems rather diffuse, but maybe it is just too complex for me. Anyway, amazing that such a subtle group ever got radio airplay. They have a great sense of dynamics and drama.
fatport wrote:
Funny, I was just thinking the same thing.
As was I.
drH wrote:
Never cared much for Doobie Brothers, part 1. But this is a hell of a song!
Funny, I was just thinking the same thing.
Never cared much for Doobie Brothers, part 1. But this is a hell of a song!
nice old tune....many memories
Oh, how I hated the Doobies in the '70's and '80's. Overplayed, overexposed, over "Blackwatered".
Then I heard "Cheat the Hangman".
Brilliant. Only Doobe song worth anything.
Congrats, Bill for finding this one.
Now, if you could just dig out "This Masquerade" by Leon Russell off of "Carney". It's the original, not the nasty that George Benson put out.
Good job, William!
Pearhead wrote:
Agreed. I'll try my luck with Daughters of the Sea from Vices. But.....I'd just about bet that Bill has some misguided aversion to the Doobs given that there's so little (1 including this one :? ) in the library. They got sooo much airplay in his early years, it probably scarred him for life...but hey...that's no reason to avoid some rather exquisite deep cuts....... man.
yes, deep cuts would be nice. like "neil's fandango". or "clear as the driven' snow".
deep cuts....... man.
Good Pick
veegez wrote:(1 including this one :? ) in the library. They got sooo much airplay in his early years, it probably scarred him for life...but hey...that's no reason to avoid some rather exquisite deep cuts....... man.
STAMPEDE is a good representation of the "Good" Doobie Brothers. Lots of great overlooked songs from this album, and the VICES album also. Hope this gets played.
Agreed. I'll try my luck with Daughters of the Sea from Vices. But.....I'd just about bet that Bill has some misguided aversion to the Doobs given that there's so little deep cuts....... man.
yes, there is some good doobies out there. of course, there are some don\'t be\'s. i think this belongs in former group.
STAMPEDE is a good representation of the \"Good\" Doobie Brothers. Lots of great overlooked songs from this album, and the VICES album also. Hope this gets played.