John Hiatt — Walk On (live)
Album: Shredding The Document (single)Avg rating:
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Total ratings: 398
Length: 5:58
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Someone called out to you
And it sounded just like crying
On a street where nobody
Even knows your name
Your mind was getting high on the sweet air
As your spirit was flying
Steam rising from the sidewalks
Of New Orleans after an evening rain
Steam rising from the sidewalks
After an evening rain
And it only made the heat
Feel like it was walking even closer
As you headed up St. Charles
To catch a streetcar named Desire
Young couple struggling in the doorway
Like he was trying to force her
In the distance you swore
You could hear them open fire
Tires squealing in the distance
As you heard them open fire
Walk on, walk on
Don't look back
Don't ask questions
Don't you try to understand
Walk on, walk on
Straight back down to your hotel room
Where she lies waiting for her man
You're so afraid you might be losing love
That is makes you worry
And you wonder if she's ever seen this
Kind of fear in you
And you think of that young couple
In the doorway
And it makes you hurry
You wonder what kind of fear
They might be living through
Yeah you wonder if
They saw that fear in you
Walk on, walk on
Don't look back
Don't ask questions
Don't you try to understand
Walk on, walk on
Straight back down to your hotel room
Where she lies waiting for her man
And it sounded just like crying
On a street where nobody
Even knows your name
Your mind was getting high on the sweet air
As your spirit was flying
Steam rising from the sidewalks
Of New Orleans after an evening rain
Steam rising from the sidewalks
After an evening rain
And it only made the heat
Feel like it was walking even closer
As you headed up St. Charles
To catch a streetcar named Desire
Young couple struggling in the doorway
Like he was trying to force her
In the distance you swore
You could hear them open fire
Tires squealing in the distance
As you heard them open fire
Walk on, walk on
Don't look back
Don't ask questions
Don't you try to understand
Walk on, walk on
Straight back down to your hotel room
Where she lies waiting for her man
You're so afraid you might be losing love
That is makes you worry
And you wonder if she's ever seen this
Kind of fear in you
And you think of that young couple
In the doorway
And it makes you hurry
You wonder what kind of fear
They might be living through
Yeah you wonder if
They saw that fear in you
Walk on, walk on
Don't look back
Don't ask questions
Don't you try to understand
Walk on, walk on
Straight back down to your hotel room
Where she lies waiting for her man
Comments (95)add comment
yup
Love the guitarwork! 
Nice sheep, shame about the song. TFFPSD.
Worst chorus ever
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
So what's your excuse?
I used to be in the John Hiatt fan club. Literally. Last few years though I sort of wince when he comes on. Sorry to say he was more interesting when he was on heroin.
So what's your excuse?
I much prefer the fun and rollicking John Hiatt of Everybody Went Low and Master of Disaster. Sounds like he was on a bender in this one.
I'm usually a big John Hiatt fan, but this particular song and performance doesn't do much for me.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
There are so many better JH songs than this one (as I know you know). I saw him live with Richard Thompson and Roger McGuinn many years ago, and he rocked the house.
I used to be in the John Hiatt fan club. Literally. Last few years though I sort of wince when he comes on. Sorry to say he was more interesting when he was on heroin.
There are so many better JH songs than this one (as I know you know). I saw him live with Richard Thompson and Roger McGuinn many years ago, and he rocked the house.
He was really droning on there. Had to turn it off!
I used to be in the John Hiatt fan club. Literally. Last few years though I sort of wince when he comes on. Sorry to say he was more interesting when he was on heroin.
I just love this - he's great
I couldn't tell when one live song ended and this began! Excellent DJ'ing.
Like the song, too.
Like the song, too.
FlatCat wrote:
Um, yeah, he does. Right down to the gravelly voice. It's one of the reasons I love him.
Talk about "vocal stylings". He sounds like some sort of caricature of a southern/country accent. Is it real? Does he talk like that?
Um, yeah, he does. Right down to the gravelly voice. It's one of the reasons I love him.
Paul_Skybreakers wrote:
You call people negative if they speak their mind. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it's positive or negative. It doesn't make them a negative person. If you think something sucks, it's great to see that others share your opinion. Positivity cannot exist without negativity. If you were king, you'd send people to prison for being negative. With a smile on your face, probably.
Man... I love Amsterdam Luke Skybreaker. Why you gotta be like that?
You call people negative if they speak their mind. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it's positive or negative. It doesn't make them a negative person. If you think something sucks, it's great to see that others share your opinion. Positivity cannot exist without negativity. If you were king, you'd send people to prison for being negative. With a smile on your face, probably.
Man... I love Amsterdam Luke Skybreaker. Why you gotta be like that?
H8rhater for King... for a world where people don't slag the music just to annoy others and one where folks respect great song writers even if they don't like their voice.
The never ending mission of calling out these folks continues....
I mean, I know he's an awesome songwriter, and all that, but GAWD, his singing sucks. And his guitar playing ain't much better.
fredriley wrote:
It makes me want to shove a smelly sock in his mouth. Nothin' wrong with the guitar-playing, it's the singing that grates.
Why not a fresh-smelling sock, or a sock garter?
It makes me want to shove a smelly sock in his mouth. Nothin' wrong with the guitar-playing, it's the singing that grates.
Why not a fresh-smelling sock, or a sock garter?
h8rhater wrote:
F#ck me... H8rhater is never negative about the music, Fred.
You call people negative if they speak their mind. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it's positive or negative. It doesn't make them a negative person. If you think something sucks, it's great to see that others share your opinion. Positivity cannot exist without negativity. If you were king, you'd send people to prison for being negative. With a smile on your face, probably.
F#ck me... H8rhater is never negative about the music, Fred.
You call people negative if they speak their mind. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it's positive or negative. It doesn't make them a negative person. If you think something sucks, it's great to see that others share your opinion. Positivity cannot exist without negativity. If you were king, you'd send people to prison for being negative. With a smile on your face, probably.
Okay, I will reiterate something I've probably already posted regarding John Hiatt. I got to see him at the L. B. Day Amphitheater in Salem, Oregon in the 90's. He played a triple bill with Robert Cray and (gasp!) Stevie Ray Vaughan. I'd gone to see Mr. Vaughan, and he was awesome as always - he was there with a very small band (I discovered that a future co-worker was there, and had met Vaughan at a previous concert and had a gorgeous leather cowboy hat autographed by him - he beamed when she showed it to him, and said, "It'll look a lot better on YOU, darlin'." He was a very cool guy.)
And then John Hiatt came on, and I forgot that Stevie Ray was the reason I was there. Hiatt had just himself and his guitar (maybe there was a backup band, but I didn't notice.) He did "Slow Turning" and "Drive South" and right after that concert, I bought four of his CDs. (My electric bill didn't get paid that month, but it was well worth the money.)
Sure, there are better singers, better guitarists, better lyricists - but it isn't always about how all those things fit together. Sometimes, it's about one element that stands out and makes the other elements pretty, too. Hiatt, to me, has that gift. His vocals are hit-and-miss. His guitar virtuosity is sometimes questionable. But love him or hate him, one has to admire his tenacity and his perception of life. I think he and James McMurtry are two of my favorite storytellers these days. No, Jackson Brown does really great snapshots in time, but for a vast landscape-view, it has to be Hiatt and McMurtry for me.
Shutting up now. I hope.
And then John Hiatt came on, and I forgot that Stevie Ray was the reason I was there. Hiatt had just himself and his guitar (maybe there was a backup band, but I didn't notice.) He did "Slow Turning" and "Drive South" and right after that concert, I bought four of his CDs. (My electric bill didn't get paid that month, but it was well worth the money.)
Sure, there are better singers, better guitarists, better lyricists - but it isn't always about how all those things fit together. Sometimes, it's about one element that stands out and makes the other elements pretty, too. Hiatt, to me, has that gift. His vocals are hit-and-miss. His guitar virtuosity is sometimes questionable. But love him or hate him, one has to admire his tenacity and his perception of life. I think he and James McMurtry are two of my favorite storytellers these days. No, Jackson Brown does really great snapshots in time, but for a vast landscape-view, it has to be Hiatt and McMurtry for me.
Shutting up now. I hope.
John's a good guy, very friendly and of course musical. He was at Puckett's Grocery for dinner a while back with Jerry Flowers and a couple of others. Works hard at his artistry.
fredriley wrote:
F*ck me, is that the pot calling the kettle black, or what? You're in no position to slag others off for negativity. Are you Excelsior in disguise?
F#ck me... H8rhater is never negative about the music, Fred.
F*ck me, is that the pot calling the kettle black, or what? You're in no position to slag others off for negativity. Are you Excelsior in disguise?
F#ck me... H8rhater is never negative about the music, Fred.
h8rhater wrote:
F*ck me, is that the pot calling the kettle black, or what? You're in no position to slag others off for negativity. Are you Excelsior in disguise?
That's because you're very negative.
F*ck me, is that the pot calling the kettle black, or what? You're in no position to slag others off for negativity. Are you Excelsior in disguise?
Dude, he's from Indiana. Don't get out of Chicago much, I guess?
FlatCat wrote:
FlatCat wrote:
Talk about "vocal stylings". He sounds like some sort of caricature of a southern/country accent. Is it real? Does he talk like that?
Talk about "vocal stylings". He sounds like some sort of caricature of a southern/country accent. Is it real? Does he talk like that?
Very nice music!
One of my absolute favorite musicians (in my top 3, in fact), yet I somehow hadn't heard this before. Love it. Hiatt may not have the smoothest voice but he never lacks passion. Thanks for playing this.
I saw him play in Paris with Lyle Lovett at one of my favorite venues, Le Trabendo. It was a really great show, and always a treat to get a dose of Americana here in The France. The reason for the reply is that I'm originally from Reno, so I'm pleased to see that I might see him again back home.
jkhandy wrote:
jkhandy wrote:
Saw him live in Reno.....Excellent. Very passionate, very kind man. 
i think its a beautiful song and i like his voice.. its passionate and not boring.. i think there's a couple other guys who sound a lot like him, (i clicked here thinking it was van morrison actually)... enjoyed it a lot
The release date is listed as 1987, but that cannot possibly be right. This track (and "Shredding the Document", both originally from the same album) were released in 1995.
love it!
Papernapkin wrote:
I like to see both the positive and the negative reviews here.
That's because you're very negative.
I like to see both the positive and the negative reviews here.
That's because you're very negative.
Saw him live in Reno.....Excellent. Very passionate, very kind man.
weevilkinevil wrote:
It makes me want to shove a smelly sock in his mouth. Nothin' wrong with the guitar-playing, it's the singing that grates.
This means me want to smash that guitar!
It makes me want to shove a smelly sock in his mouth. Nothin' wrong with the guitar-playing, it's the singing that grates.
toterola wrote:
I second that!
John's a pretty good old boy.
We have several friends in common (I've never met him) in the Middle TN-North AL area. He is apparently one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet and a consummate musician.
Pretty good combination, I'd say.
We have several friends in common (I've never met him) in the Middle TN-North AL area. He is apparently one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet and a consummate musician.
Pretty good combination, I'd say.
I second that!
Excelsior wrote:
Why would our listening to him make him worse?
This guy gets worse every time I hear him. 
Why would our listening to him make him worse?
mandolin wrote:
If you're listening to Randy, good for ya!
...i hear randy newman's voice...
If you're listening to Randy, good for ya!
This means me want to smash that guitar!
jameyp wrote:
I like to see both the positive and the negative reviews here.
I think John Hiatt is great! I dont' understand why so many people get off on writing dumb, super-negative stuff on this board. If it's not for you, no prob, just give it a low rating. I don't love everything on RP, but I sure dig most of it! And John HIatt is an artist lots of people DO like very much 
; "Sunny")
I like to see both the positive and the negative reviews here.
John Hiatt is one of my favorites, and while normally Hiatt live is excellent, this sounds like a terrible rendition to me of a great song.
The end of this song sounds like Pink Floyd - One of These Days (about 5:15 - 5:25). Listen for it next time...
John's a pretty good old boy.
We have several friends in common (I've never met him) in the Middle TN-North AL area. He is apparently one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet and a consummate musician.
Pretty good combination, I'd say.
We have several friends in common (I've never met him) in the Middle TN-North AL area. He is apparently one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet and a consummate musician.
Pretty good combination, I'd say.
Cissy wrote:
Thats alright Cissy, a lot of people don't "get" much of anything... their loss! I've always enjoyed Johns work.
seems like a lot of people just don't 'get' him
Thats alright Cissy, a lot of people don't "get" much of anything... their loss! I've always enjoyed Johns work.
HazzeSwede wrote:
Perceptive. John's great live!
Send this man to Sweden and I will go to my last concert again.
Perceptive. John's great live!
seems like a lot of people just don't 'get' him
...i hear randy newman's voice...
I think John Hiatt is great! I dont' understand why so many people get off on writing dumb, super-negative stuff on this board. If it's not for you, no prob, just give it a low rating. I don't love everything on RP, but I sure dig most of it! And John HIatt is an artist lots of people DO like very much
Excelsior wrote:
Man! You must really have the dry heaves by this point! What do you like on RP, besides Porcupine Tree?
This guy gets worse every time I hear him.
Man! You must really have the dry heaves by this point! What do you like on RP, besides Porcupine Tree?
This guy gets worse every time I hear him.
Excelsior wrote:
Seconded - utterly dreadful
Please stop playing John Hiatt... especially his live cuts. They're like audio torture.
Seconded - utterly dreadful
Excelsior wrote:
Please donate your ears to someone who could use them properly.
www.earlessamerica.org
thank you
Please stop playing John Hiatt... especially his live cuts. They're like audio torture.
Please donate your ears to someone who could use them properly.
www.earlessamerica.org
thank you
I still like JH...
No spark! Like all JH songs!
Tragic case this Hiatt - he simply can´t write songs that work!
Tragic case this Hiatt - he simply can´t write songs that work!
Please stop playing John Hiatt... especially his live cuts. They're like audio torture.
Very nice song.
Keep walkin'. Don't look back. Don't ask questions. Don't you try to understand. Keep your hands where I can see 'em.mamerjamer wrote:
Between the slide player and John Hiatt, neither one could hit a note on this one. Maybe the slide player was just trying to make John feel better.
Maybe it's just John playing the guitar as well. That would explain the sloppiness, although I don't find the slide playing nearly as bothersome as his voice. Actually, as I'm typing this, it's getting worse, much worse. Never mind.
There's much better Hiatt. I'm going to upload some Little Village. Maybe Solar Sex Panel.
mamerjamer wrote:
Between the slide player and John Hiatt, neither one could hit a note on this one. Maybe the slide player was just trying to make John feel better.
Wow, I thought it was an excellent slow blues, full of soul. Perhaps you don't like the slow tempo, but John's voice is on key, and that whailin' slide, m'gosh.
Wawlk on-n-n-N-N-N-n-n-n-n-n-N-N-n-n-n-N-N-N-N-N-n-n-n-n...
Between the slide player and John Hiatt, neither one could hit a note on this one. Maybe the slide player was just trying to make John feel better.
7 for the guitar work alone. Slide etal.
Send this man to Sweden and I will go to my last concert again.
Hiatt's one of my favorites. I saw him last summer backed by the North Mississippi All Stars, Luther Dickinson did a hell of a job on guitar. A very memorable show.
Round here this kind of music makes us who we are. That's just about as the same as worrying about they way it might have been. Somethin' just somethin' you can't explain, but it makes you wanna howl and walk on. Simple as that...
Number 23 in our series: "Live recordings that sound absolutely dreadful ( unless you were there and very, very drunk )"
Bloody orful.
I've been listening to hiatt since his "Two Bit Monsters" days. Stopped listening after "Little Head" cause everything became so predictable. Still great in concert though esp. solo in a small venue. This one doesn't do it for though, a 3
I do like the album version better. Think I'll listen to that next...
Don't know if that's Sonny Landreth on the slide or not, but it rocks.
Feuw... at first I thought this was a Prince song, pleasant surprise, like the tune but lacks depth 
eman wrote:
No Shit...a true unsung American hero...Rock On...!!!
I'll second that emotion, love the man, saw him recently on stage in Toronto with Lyle Lovett and Guy Clark! SWEET!
ChicoCyclist wrote:
Why don't you put your Celine Dion CD in the player and shut your trap?
Why don't you just admit that you can't take it when other people don't like the same music as you?
Your brand of unwaranted personal attack is terrible. I didn't say anything about you, and you don't know what kind of music I like or don't. I can't stand Celine Dion - do you really think I'd be here if I did?
ploafmaster wrote:
On this first listen, though, his cringe-inducing off-pitch high notes kill it for me.
Why don't you put your Celine Dion CD in the player and shut your trap?
Jack_Jefferson wrote:
He's one dude I'd like to have a beer with and talk about things.
No Shit...a true unsung American hero...Rock On...!!!
Farquwaar wrote:
And we've all been able to see deeper into your soul as a result of that thoughtful, well thought out comment!!!!
can you tell me why i have to go into a detailed thesis on what i find appealing (or not appealing) about somebody's singing voice? can you also tell me why i should care whether or not you see into my soul? the one thing you've revealed about your soul is that you don't like it when people don't have the same opinion as you.
He's one dude I'd like to have a beer with and talk about things.
daveesh wrote:
i can't stand this guy's voice
And we've all been able to see deeper into your soul as a result of that thoughtful, well thought out comment!!!!
i can't stand this guy's voice
olsaltybastard wrote:
I like it. Then again, I'm a sucker for sludge type slide guitar.
That would probably be Sonny Landreth on the great sludge slide!!!!
slowhand wrote:
Wonderful and loved by most of us born in the 50's and 60's.
Born in 1966 and I think this is dreadful, musically and lyrically.
Wonderful and loved by most of us born in the 50's and 60's.
The youngster's didn't grow up with him, or have seen him live - can't blame them for their opinions.
I like it. Then again, I'm a sucker for sludge type slide guitar.
Ok...if you are going to play a blandish song in the Free Bird vein...you might as well just play Free Bird.
Agree with ploafmaster, hailcatus, etc.
I've never heard of this album - what's the story? (The links to amazon don't give any clues).
I too have a hard time with John Hiatt...
Seen him live with Sonny Landreth (this player can't be Sonny... I've seen Sonny I've heard Sonny... and you sir... are no Sonny) If it is... lay off the brew before the show will ya. The only thing more off pitch... is Hiatt's voice as ploafmaster points out. Had to quote master "P" because "I could take the most emotional dump of my life, but it's still crap at the end of the day" made listening to this SHCHTUFF from Hiatt worth it. Thank you.
ploafmaster wrote:
Blech...sorry. Maybe he's great on his CDs, but live, his voice is nothing new or special, and the music is the same way.
I haven't really gotten into the lyrics yet - maybe that's a big part of it, I don't know.
On this first listen, though, his cringe-inducing off-pitch high notes kill it for me.
And yeah, maybe he's playing/singing with emotion, but that by itself doesn't make good music.
I could take the most emotional dump of my life, but it's still crap at the end of the day.
Blech...sorry. Maybe he's great on his CDs, but live, his voice is nothing new or special, and the music is the same way.
I haven't really gotten into the lyrics yet - maybe that's a big part of it, I don't know.
On this first listen, though, his cringe-inducing off-pitch high notes kill it for me.
And yeah, maybe he's playing/singing with emotion, but that by itself doesn't make good music.
I could take the most emotional dump of my life, but it's still crap at the end of the day.
pdhski wrote:
I have to go see this guy live. Amazing.
Yup.
Saw him years gone by at the Mountain Air Festival, Bear Valley, CA. Very very good show!
pdhski wrote:
I have to go see this guy live. Amazing.
I have and he is.
I have to go see this guy live. Amazing.
I mean yup to fredriley