What Deaner Was Talkin' About
"What Deaner Was Talkin' About" is a song by Ween from the 1994 album Chocolate and Cheese.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording and Instrumentation[edit | edit source]
"What Deaner Was Talkin' About" is in the key of G major.
Gene Ween sings all lead and backing vocals.[1] The vocal harmonies were arranged by Gener with friend of the band Scott Lowe.[2] Dean Ween plays rhythm and lead guitars.[3] The instrument that comes in during the solo section is in fact a heavily treated guitar (not a keyboard), played by Dean.[4] In addition, Dean Ween plays the drums on the album version.[5]
Meaning[edit | edit source]
Dean Ween has stated that he is a lifelong suffer of anxiety that is often severe. The lyrics to this song were written by Gene Ween when he himself experienced anxiety, and thought that this must be "what Deaner was talkin' about." The lyric "The sun comes up and I'm all washed out" refers to the sun rising after a sleepless night due to anxiety.[6]
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
An early version of "What Deaner Was Talkin' About", with a slightly different melody, was played twice in the spring of 1993 with DAT deck accompaniment. [7] Over a year later, on the Chocolate and Cheese tour, Ween started playing the song with the full band, and it has remained a common live song ever since, across every era of Ween.[8] A 10/23/1996 recording from the 12 Golden Country Greats tour, adapted with country instrumentation, is heard on the album Live in Toronto Canada.
In addition, Gene Ween has played "What Deaner Was Talkin' About" numerous times at solo acoustic shows.[9]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Official lyrics were printed in the Chocolate and Cheese liner notes:
The wash is out, it's hanging up
And all I have is nothing
Nothing to do, nothing to say
I think I must dreaming
The sun comes up and I'm all washed out
Is this what Deaner was talkin' about?
I don't think I will ever return again my friend
If I was king, I'd wear a ring
And never hurt my people
I'd stay alert, and dress to kill
I might even slip you something
The sun comes up and I'm all washed out
Is this what Deaner was talkin' about?
I don't think I will ever return again my friend[10]
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Band Members Named in the Song, Sung by Gene Ween
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.116–117
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.117
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.116–117
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.117
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.59
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.119–120
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=237
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=237
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=237
- ↑ From the Chocolate and Cheese liner notes