This song is a tribute to Bob Dylan. It contains lyrics from various Dylan songs, including a mention of Dylan's "Tangled Up In Blue." Some of the words come directly from Dylan's track "Idiot Wind": "They say I shot a man named Gray and took his wife to Italy. She inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me. I can't help it if I'm lucky."
Apparently, Dylan felt the "tribute" infringed too closely on original work, and he sued the group for unauthorized use of his lyrics. According to VH1, he received a large, out-of-court settlement in 1995.
The video had a sports theme and featured former quarterback Dan Marino (the band were huge Miami Dolphins fans), golfer Fred Couples, and various ESPN anchors.
The line, "Put on a little Dylan sitting on the fence" is a reference to a band they used to play with called Dillon's Fence.
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Suggestion credit: Shaggy - Bristol, CT
Cracked Rear View became the biggest-selling album in the history of Atlantic Records, as Hootie & the Blowfish were welcomed with open arms on pop and adult contemporary radio stations looking for a safe alternative to the '90s grunge sound. Tim Sommer, who signed the band in 1993, said: "I never underestimate the value of karma in the success of Hootie & the Blowfish. They never expected to be a famous band or even to be signed. They would still be playing regardless of whether they'd signed to Atlantic or were doing it for $200 and a case of beer."
Regarding the lyrics, "I'm such a baby 'cause The Dolphins make me cry," fans of the Miami Dolphins had lots to cry about in the ensuing years as the team often struggled to make the playoffs. Asked in 2011 if the Dolphins still make him cry, Rucker replied: "Thank God no. I got over that a couple years ago. I don't know if I could take another 1-15 season."
The titular stuffed bear sings this at karaoke in the 2015 movie Ted. "This is how everybody sang in the '90s, he says."
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 14th 1995, the ABC-TV network aired the special 'Sinatra: 80 Years My Way'... One of the acts to appear was Hootie and the Blowfish; they performed "The Lady Is A Tramp", a song that was used in the 1957 Frank Sinatra movie 'Pal Joey'... On the day the special aired Hootie & the Blowfish had two songs on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; "Only Wanna Be With You" was at #20, while "Time" was at #31... Just under eight weeks earlier on October 15th "Only Wanna Be With You" peak at #6 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the Top 10 for eleven consecutive weeks... "Time" would peak at #14 {for 2 non-consecutive weeks} on January 21st, 1996.
Elmer from AustraliaChad Details of Dylan's settlement with Hootie can be found here: http://entertainment.ha.com/itm/music-memorabilia/autographs-and-signed-items/bob-dylan-and-hootie-and-the-blowfish-signed-agreement-total-2-items-/a/7006-50043.s#47584758096
Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaFinally found it! Have a funny parody, "Only Got a 3 inch Tool" & knew it was a familiar tune, but couldn't place it. . . Memorable line, "But. . . when. . .I'm. . . coming out of the pool. . . I only got a 1 inch too-oo-ool!"
Denise from Pembroke Pines, FlThe line "Sitting on a fence" is also taken from a Dylan song from the same album that has Tangled Up in Blue and Idiot Wind, album 'Blood On the Tracks'. The song is 'You're a Big Girl Now.' "Bird on the horizon Sittin' on a fence He's singin' his song for me at his own expense And I'm just like that bir, singin' just for you I hope that you can hear Hear me singin' through these tears."
This is one of the most beautiful songs I know. The lyrics are heartwrenching and the guitar work, kind of Spanish in places, is beyond pretty. Even the harmonica at the end is touching and beautiful. Another song about his wife I suppose,as they were splitting up when this album was recorded. Blood On the Tracks is full of amazing songs, Meet Me in the Morning, Buckets of Rain, simple Twist of Fate...one of my 'desert island' albums!
Adam from York, PaHey brian, if you ever come threw pennsylvania, specifically the gettysburg area, turn on 96.1, 97.3, or 98.5. Those stations have the songs that were played before i was born. I'm 15, and like you, cannot stand my generation's music. Honestly, some days I feel like a fifty year old man in a fifteen year old's body.
Adam from York, PaHey guys, I gotta tell you something funny. My dad had the cracked rear view album on cassette a few years back and when he got a new car that didn't play cassettes he threw it out. This christmas I got him an Eagles greatest hits album, a brooks and dunn greatest hits album, the some girls rolling stones album, a greatest hits tom petty and the heart breakers album, a toto super hits album, the R.E.M. Document album (best R.E.M. Album ever) and , you guessed it, the Hootie and the Blowfish Cracked Rear View album on CD. It was his favorite Hootie and the Blowfish album and it went full circle, he hadn't seen the some girls album since college, and he'd never had a tom petty album. It wound up costing me the most worthy fifty dollars of my life. Also, the place i went had a buy 3 used albums get one free deal so i saved four bucks.
Brian from Boston, MaLook Hootie was never my favorite but I liked some of their stuff.This had to be the most overplayed music of the 90's.All that having been said I still would welcome that type of music on the radio today.What have we got now lady Gaga and Justin Beiber.At least they had guitar oriented music with melody.I can not stand the soulless electronic s--t on the radio today with an electronic beat.All anyone knows about songwritting today is the beat.Wich they get from a computer.no musicians required.it is amazing to me that someone can become a "musician' without any knowlege of how to play an instument.
Joe from Portland, MeI was wondering who/what he is referencing when he sings about "she inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me."
Mark B. Stoned from Desperate Hot Springs, CaI'm not an expert on Bob Dylan's lyrics, so could anyone tell me if "Idiot Wind" and "Tangled Up in Blue" are the only songs of his referenced in this song?
Musicmama from New York, NyThis song makes me think of a rejection letter from Wallace Shawn,the longtime editor of the New Yorker:
"Your manuscript is both good and original. However, the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good."
Andrew from Atlanta, GaThe band should be sued for recording this song period. "the dolphins make me cry?" Come on.
Sara from Greenville, AlThe original idea for this video had the band swinging at golf balls and riding camels. It was nixed b/c they were worried about the ethical treatment of the camels. It's a good thing, too. If they had used this idea, they may have had PETA on their backs.
Sara from Greenville, AlThat last comment came from Sara, Greenville, Alabama. And Dylan suing someone for paying tribute to him? That's a nice way to say thank you.
Sara from Greenville, AlThe gutair Darius plays was not his own. He forgot his, so a fan had to loan him his.
Chad from Reading, PaFirst of, I've never seen any proof that Dylan sued them over this song, I won't beleive it until someone shows me a reliable source that shows that he did indeed sue them, as far as I'm concerned it's just an internet 'legend'. Second Junichi Saga's book is a non-fiction, oral history piece about a Japanese gangster. The lines Dylan took are from oral history so they belong to no one. Do some research next time you try to call someone a coward.
Jerry from Minneapolis, MnI find it ironic that Dylan would sue the group for using his lyrics in a song paying tribute to him when he in fact was discovered stealing lyrics from some Japanese man. He was not even trying to pay tribute to that man. Dylan is such a coward.
Mo from Philadelphia, PaThis song also samples lyrics from another song on Bob Dylan's 1974 "Blood on the Tracks" album called "Idiot Wind".
Brian from Edmonton, CanadaThe video also features apperances from NBA basketball players Walt Williams and Alonzo Mourning, and ESPN sports broadcaster Chris Berman.
Jack from Raleigh, NcThe guys are also avid golfers and are as likely to be found at a charity golf event as not.
Jack @ Star FM in Raleigh
Suzie from North Myrtle Beach, ScHootie got their start in South Carolina! They used to play the club scene in the Myrtle Beach/North Myrtle Beach area for NEXT TO NOTHING, only ten years ago.
