DBT Tracks #38 Space City

Penny Lane · Post by **Penny Lane** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:06 pm

I don't have a lot to say because the song speaks for itself, but I'm glad this song hasn't been chosen yet, especially after watching The Secret to a Happy Ending. Cooley does the most amazing version sitting in front of his fireplace (I assume) telling the story of writing this song about his grandmother dying (leaving her husband of over 60 years). Patterson also told the story about seeing Cooley do this song for the first time at a (rare) Cooley solo appearance down in Athens, and how he shed a tear. It contains the three main Cooley themes which are pretty much present in all this songs: love, loss, and the struggle to live a righteous life through hard times.

This is my favorite song on ABAAC and this is my favorite line:

'and somewhere beyond the big white light is where my heart has gone
And somewhere she's wondering what's taking me so long'

If I could have one wish right now
I'd be about as half as tough as I pretend I am
Then I wouldn't care how empty this old house feels
I could take her things and take them far away from here
I could make sure no dirt ever got on her name
Cause looking at that stone wouldn't bring me so much pain
I could go into town wearing my finest clothes
I could turn these tears into blood and make it run ice cold

Space City's one hour up the road from me
One hour away from as close to the moon as anybody down here is ever gonna be
And somewhere beyond that big white light is where my heart is gone
And somewhere she's wondering what's taking me so long

My hands are as good to me as they've ever been
And I ain't ashamed of anything my hands ever did
But sometimes the words I used were as hard as my fist
She had the strength of a man and the heart of a child I guess

Words can't do it justice:

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:18 pm

I was completely blown away by DBT by the time I got to "Goodbye" (ABAAC was the first thing I ever heard from the band), but man, that first time through Space City was something else.

Clams · Post by **Clams** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:48 pm

You're right Penny, that part of the movie was really special. This song really shows the heart that lives inside the bad ass Cooley persona.

Mr. B · Post by **Mr. B** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:28 pm

Penny Lane wrote:I don't have a lot to say because the song speaks for itself, but I'm glad this song hasn't been chosen yet, especially after watching The Secret to a Happy Ending. Cooley does the most amazing version sitting in front of his fireplace (I assume) telling the story of writing this song about his grandmother dying (leaving her husband of over 60 years). Patterson also told the story about seeing Cooley do this song for the first time at a (rare) Cooley solo appearance down in Athens, and how he shed a tear. It contains the three main Cooley themes which are pretty much present in all this songs: love, loss, and the struggle to live a righteous life through hard times.

Penny is dead-on. I thought the way that the movie handled Space City was the strongest part of a great film. I never fully appreciated the song until seeing Cooley talk about it and then play it solo in the movie.

Erdlivz · Post by **Erdlivz** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:46 am

I can't wait to see The Secret to a Happy Ending again for that part in particular. Moving and it really made me appreciate Space City more. A side of Cooley unseen and Patterson's remarks were outstanding. Moving song that hit home (like most) when my Grandmother passed and seeing my Grandfather's quick decline soon after.

bovine knievel · Post by **bovine knievel** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:22 pm

If I could have one wish right now
I'd be about as half as tough as I pretend I am

love that verse!

I even enjoy the version on Potato Hole. Just a beautiful piece of music no matter you slice it.

Excellent job and choice, Penny. You should quit your day job

beantownbubba · Post by **beantownbubba** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:35 pm

IIRC, Dime in the gutter once said that "Space City" was one line short of being a perfect song, or words to that effect. I've always wondered which line he meant. Did i remember that correctly, dime? Which line?

Clams · Post by **Clams** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:41 pm

I love the squeaking of the guitar strings

'Scratch · Post by **'Scratch** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:01 pm

I love this song because:

It's Cooley,
It's not hard to play,

and most of all

it's easy to ad-lib lyrics to when singing to my daughters.

Zip City · Post by **Zip City** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:05 pm

'Scratch wrote:I love this song because:

It's Cooley,
It's not hard to play,

and most of all

it's easy to ad-lib lyrics to when singing to my daughters.

the basic chords are easy to play, but the arpeggios and stuff are tough.

'Scratch · Post by **'Scratch** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:10 pm

Zip City wrote:
'Scratch wrote:I love this song because:

It's Cooley,
It's not hard to play,

and most of all

it's easy to ad-lib lyrics to when singing to my daughters.

the basic chords are easy to play, but the arpeggios and stuff are tough.

Especially for an aspiring hack like me!

dime in the gutter · Post by **dime in the gutter** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:33 pm

beantownbubba wrote:IIRC, Dime in the gutter once said that "Space City" was one line short of being a perfect song, or words to that effect. I've always wondered which line he meant. Did i remember that correctly, dime? Which line?

not me.....i think that was gerg.

beantownbubba · Post by **beantownbubba** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:56 pm

dime in the gutter wrote:
beantownbubba wrote:IIRC, Dime in the gutter once said that "Space City" was one line short of being a perfect song, or words to that effect. I've always wondered which line he meant. Did i remember that correctly, dime? Which line?

not me.....i think that was gerg.

Ooops. Sorry. Well how 'bout it, gerg?

Mrs Swamp · Post by **Mrs Swamp** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:02 pm

Here is a video that I filmed of Booker T and the DBTs
doing this song......check it out!!!~

lajakesdad · Post by **lajakesdad** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:20 pm

The 1-2 punch of Little Bonnie and Space City crush me every time. I try to sing along and my voice starts crackling and the eyes well up. Space City especially. Thinking of my wife dead and waiting for me just hits too close. But I would never skip it. I love it.

DBT_OZ · Post by **DBT_OZ** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:27 pm

First time i heard this song was on the live clip on youtube at the record release in NC. It was the 3rd DBT song i'd heard and i was sold when i heard this. The harmony and the Isbell solo in that clip really got me as well.

Markalanbishop · Post by **Markalanbishop** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:53 pm

Uh, Allmusic.........

Booker T. Jones
Space City
Composed by Booker T. Jones / Brad Morgan / Jason Isbell / Patterson Hood / Shonna Tucker

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 5:56 am

Markalanbishop wrote:Uh, Allmusic.........
Booker T. Jones
Space City
Composed by Booker T. Jones / Brad Morgan / Jason Isbell / Patterson Hood / Shonna Tucker

that would be correct for the Potato Hole version, no?

Zip City · Post by **Zip City** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:31 am

Smitty wrote:
Markalanbishop wrote:Uh, Allmusic.........
Booker T. Jones
Space City
Composed by Booker T. Jones / Brad Morgan / Jason Isbell / Patterson Hood / Shonna Tucker
that would be correct for the Potato Hole version, no?

Considering the person who actually wrote the song is missing? No

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 2:41 am

Zip City wrote:
Smitty wrote:
Markalanbishop wrote:Uh, Allmusic.........
Booker T. Jones
Space City
Composed by Booker T. Jones / Brad Morgan / Jason Isbell / Patterson Hood / Shonna Tucker
that would be correct for the Potato Hole version, no?
Considering the person who actually wrote the song is missing? No

missed that.

DBT Tracks #38 Space City

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