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Hot Tuna — Keep on Truckin'
Album: Burgers
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 601









Released: 1972
Length: 3:37
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Well now keep on truckin' mama,
truckin' my blues away
Keep on truckin' mama,
truckin' my blues away
Here you come mama big as sin,
tell what you been doin'
by the shape you're in

So keep on truckin' mama,
truckin' my blues away

If you been doin' what I think you been doin' baby,
can't do that 'round here
You been doin' what I think you been doin' baby,
can't do that 'round here
Here you come mam big as hell,
tell what you been doin' by way you smell

So keep on truckin' mama,
truckin' my blues away

What's that smell like fish pretty baby,
I really would like to know
Tell me What's that smell like fish oh mama,
I really would like to know
That ain't puddin' baby ain't no pie,
it's the stuff that I got you by

So keep on truckin' mama,
truckin' my blues away

Now yes you gotta leave this mornin',
get your yas yas outta my door

Now yes you gotta leave this mornin',
get your yas yas outta my door
Ashes to ashes mama,
dust to dust,
what-cha gonna do when that damn thing rusts

So keep on truckin' mama,
truckin' my blues away
Comments (63)add comment
Keep on trucking Tuna Caught a whole bunch of their shows since the 70s Good memory’s Jack And Jorma Cool and Friendly
Jorma  : )   fab-you-lowsa fingers man
 Proclivities wrote:

Yes, it is a pretty standard "rag" chord progression - the sort that was around long before Arlo Guthrie was born, and there are probably thousands of songs before and since with very similar progressions.  

 
And that's what makes it a good jam. I can imagine them sitting around playing this for themselves.

Yeah, it's raunchy but, remember, we all were kids once.


Always a pleasure to hear, any time...anywhere.

And about Jack's custom acoustic bass: https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/06/26/bass-of-the-week-jack-casadys-ribbecke-guitars-diana-bass/
Jack Casady is still truckin. Saw him with Peter Rowan last Saturday night. He plays a rather odd looking bass that looks like a cross between a standup and a more typical electric bass, while sitting in a chair. From his appearance, he could be an old bluegrass bassist, oddly enough, from his appearance. Still can get into some driving runs.
 capandjudy wrote:

It is a pretty standard rag but I agree that there are better tunes on this LP. 

 
Yes, it is a pretty standard "rag" chord progression - the sort that was around long before Arlo Guthrie was born, and there are probably thousands of songs before and since with very similar progressions.  
Catchy!!
Very funny , Hot Tuna , after a discussion about radioactive tuna on the last song thread.......
 Canlistener wrote:
crap
 

 
Are you completely unintelligent ... I thought it was only the Uk where people are unable to read and write ... presumably Muddy Waters would be reviewed in a similar fashion ...
crap
 
Very nice number! 
Jorrrrmaaaaa! My all time favorite album!  https://jormakaukonen.com/tour.php

Hey drictor, I was checking out your Burgers LP and when I opened it to admire the photos of the band inside there was all this dry dusty vegetative matter in the crease. Whats up with that?
What a great album that was/is.  Wore the grooves off back in the day...
Classic Tuna - THANKS RP!
 inbagt wrote:
This song is gross, old, and terrible.

 

You're not wrong
This song is gross, old, and terrible.
Phlebo is in Ephes Dammim, . peergeois..
Is she a MILTT?
 capandjudy wrote:

It is a pretty standard rag but I agree that there are better tunes on this LP. 
 

 
Hardly a rip-off of Alice's Restaurant. Someone's been smokin' skunk. 
https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/tuna-basquaise {#Hungry}{#Chef}
 danmaiullo wrote:
Alice's Restaurant rip-off. Someone's been at the Jimmy Page school of composition.

 
It is a pretty standard rag but I agree that there are better tunes on this LP. 
 
 danmaiullo wrote:
Alice's Restaurant rip-off. Someone's been at the Jimmy Page school of composition.

 
Beat me to it! Love the Jimmy Page bit though.
haha I get it. très sophistiqué
Alice's Restaurant rip-off. Someone's been at the Jimmy Page school of composition.
Papa John Creach on violin for you sports fans.
Yeehaw, I just gotta love that distinctive twang, funk n drawl of Jorma and Jack on this one in particular...Saw 'em jam way back when! 
 dirtbagpook wrote:
Chewy licks, tasty bass line equals a yummy HT Song.
I see R. Crumb's Keep On Truckin floating by...
 
Pretty fun tune, though I prefer Eddie Kendricks' song of the same name.  As to Robert Crumb's opinion of the phrase:

"Was I now a "spokesman" for the hippies or what? I had no idea how to handle my new position in society! ... Take Keep on Truckin'... for example. Keep on Truckin'... is the curse of my life. This stupid little cartoon caught on hugely. There was a D.J. on the radio in the seventies who would yell out every ten minutes: "And don't forget to KEEP ON TR-R-RUCKIN'!" Boy, was that obnoxious! Big feet equals collective optimism. You're a walkin' boy! You're movin' on down the line! It's proletarian. It's populist."
Thought this was "Alice's Kitchen" at first.

just saw them a couple weeks ago at the capitol theatre in port chester, ny.  larry campbell sat in the entire show.
hot damn did they tear it up!!  the bowlegged woman was so good'n'dirty {#Cowboy}


Another first for me on RP! 
Great lyrics!
Keep on truckin' is right! I hope the Grateful Dead took notes. 
 Suddenly I'm 12 years old listening to my buddy's older brothers records! Wow! More fun than humans deserve!
Just saw them in Kyoto a few weeks ago, still got it!
{#Guitarist} 
I'm in my trailer and shakin ma ass out the window
 Eight to Nine Mama!! {#Dancingbanana}
Fun and glad to hear it here on RP. I could almost hear Ringo Starr covering this with his All Starr Band.
More Hot Tuna!
HOT DAMN, sounds like home made music......
Chewy licks, tasty bass line equals a yummy HT Song.
I see R. Crumb's Keep On Truckin floating by...
It's pretty much obligatory to post the image below. I'm surprised nobody's done it yet...

Keep on truckin poster
He said "truck."
 Jelani wrote:
"...You can have anything you want at Alice's restaurant..."

 
It's a pretty standard ragtime/folk chord progression, probably well over 100 years old.
 Jelani wrote:
"...You can have anything you want at Alice's restaurant..."

 
"Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track..."



According to an interview w/ Jorma, the name of the band came from that exact line.

 
Walrus_Gumbo wrote:
What's that smell of fish, oh baby? Really would like to know.
 


 talibanismurder wrote:
Hot F$%king Tuna!!!!
  bump


 Jelani wrote:
"...You can have anything you want at Alice's restaurant..."

 
Yes, but that is a familiar melody, chunky blues was the Hot Tuna recipe and they did it really well!!!{#Jump}
 iam_overlord wrote:
Sounds like a lot of fun to play. Not so much fun to listen to.
 
Listen to the "Water Song" Then get back to us.
Ahhh! Memories! I saw Hot tuna at the Altamont Speedway on December 6th, 1969. Spectacular show.
"...You can have anything you want at Alice's restaurant..."
GORGEOUS!
 TerryS wrote:
Years ago I was given a rather tasty grey Hot Tuna T-shirt and wore it from time to time, never guessing that it had provenance.
Still got it. come to think of it.
 
Are you sure it relates to the band?  Hot Tuna was also a small surf clothing brand in Australia that was eventually bought out by K-Mart I think.  I gotta say I don't know that I would particularly want to be associated with either the clothing or this song. 
Years ago I was given a rather tasty grey Hot Tuna T-shirt and wore it from time to time, never guessing that it had provenance.
Still got it. come to think of it.
Sounds like a lot of fun to play. Not so much fun to listen to.
 vandal wrote:
lame
 
That good?

I've been listening to this on the CD and I think I have the lyrics deciphered:

Now keep on truckin' mama,
truck my blues away.
I said, keep on truckin' mama,
truck my blues away.
Here you come baby big as sin.
Tell what you been doin' by the shape you're in.
So keep on truckin' mama,
now truck my blues away.

You been doin' like I think you been doin',
can't do that ‘round here,
I said you been doin' like I think you been doin',
can't do that round here.
Here you come mama big as hell.
Tell what you been doin' by the way you smell.
So keep on truckin' mama,
truck my blues away.

Now what's that smell like fish oh babe,
I really would like to know.
Tell me what's that smell like fish pretty mama,
I really would like to know.
That ain't puddin' baby that ain't pie.
It's the stuff that I got you by.
So keep on truckin' mama,
truck my blues away.

Yes you gotta leave my house this mornin',
get your yes yes out of my door.
I said yes you gotta leave my house this mornin',
get your yes yes out of my door.
Ashes to ash, baby, dust to dust.
What you gonna do when that damn thing rusts?
So keep on truckin' mama,
truck my blues away.


What's that smell of fish, oh baby? Really would like to know.
Hot Tuna? And Burgers?
tell what you've been doin' by the way you smell!
eastcoast wrote:
I think not
A little drunk last night I'm afraid, hence may harsh comments. It was not directed at this ditty in particular, but to it and the four tunes preceeding it!!!
I think not MrCaps wrote:
What is this, crap hill billy night?
What is this, crap hill billy night.
fish!
Hot F$%king Tuna!!!!