I never wondered until Minnesotans for Global Warming brought the subject up . . .
h/t: Hawk “Hog” Beatty.
And Zeke sends this one in:
UPDATE: I’ve been told that it’s actually about the spiritual life, and that it integrates terms from the logging industry to discuss the path to Christ. Which, once it’s suggested, makes a lot of sense on a couple of levels, from “take up your cross and follow me”/”this is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it”* to “as you trudge the road of happy destiny”/”we absolutely insist on enjoing life.”**
* The Bible, of course
** Alcoholics Anonymous, or “The Big Book”
{ 1 trackback }
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Being old enough to remember the original Tommy James and The Shondells song, I was singing the real lyrics while listening to the M4GW version.
It did get me thinking about his dog named Sam that likes purple flowers.
Some say “Draggin’ The Line” has to do with having a positive outlook while working hard and living a normal daily life. Some say it has do with God or drugs. Some have a lot to say about Tommy James’ hit “Crimson and Clover.” It was the 1960’s and there were a lot of undercover drug-related lyrics after all.
DRAGGIN’ THE LINE
Tommy James
Makin’ a living the old hard way
Takin’ and giving by day by day
I dig snow and rain and bright sunshine
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
My dog Sam eats purple flowers
We ain’t got much but what we got’s ours
We dig snow and rain and bright sunshine
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
I feel fine I’m talkin’ bout peace of mind
I’m gonna take my time I’m gettin’ the good sign
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
Loving the free and feelin’ spirit
Of huggin’ a tree when you get near it
Diggin’ the snow and rain and bright sunshine
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
I feel fine I’m talkin’ bout peace of mind
I’m gonna take my time I’m gettin’ the good sign
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)
Draggin’ the line (draggin’ the line)…..
I don’t know.
But I love the tree hugging and purple flower parts.
And God can be found wherever you seek Him.
the lyrics “draggin’ the line” means that when your in love with a certain woman and your trying to “hook” her you proceed with extreme caution. Just like when you’re trying to catch a fish you don’t get to excited and jerk the rod. You let the drag out and wait until you’re “getting the good sign” or the proper signal to make your move when you feel that she really wants you. Tommy James is feeling confident but not too confident and he’s going to ” take my time.”
Someone told me that dragging the line had to do with “doodlebugging,” seismic testing for oil with explosions below ground (hence “hugging a tree when you get near it,” since the ground shakes). I think “Dragging the Line” is oil industry slang for setting up a line of explosions.
Yeah, I grew up in the ’60’s – ’70’s and thought he was singing about working on a ski lift, but no…
From an interview with Tommy James:
So how did he come up with title? Says James: “It’s almost like the bass guitar was speaking. And it just seemed to say ‘draggin’ the line’ to me. It’s weird. But we had the track before we had the song, and it was like the bass was speaking.”
‘Draggin’ the Line’ just meant working every day. Nothing really very mysterious about it.”
I think Dan has it correct. I,also, am a product of the 60s and 70s and recall that most songs had simple origins. Leave it to my generation to try to assign some deeper meaning or double entendre to something.( i.e. truthers, birthers, etc. ). After all, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar! Right, Bubba!
I heard a story on the radio years ago, that stated the lyrics came from watching workmen drag power lines or phone lines in preparation for setting them up. Have never been able to find confirmation of that, and nothing I’ve seen tonight reiterates that.