So many people have no idea what an absolute genius Roger Miller was. Many of his fellow performers and songwriters knew quite well however. Songwriters told stories of just wanting to be around Miller because he would nonchalantly throw out clever catch phrases they could then build entire songs around. His mind was incredibly fast and he was often unpredictable and other great performers talk of being in complete awe of him on stage. Pure entertainer. “The good they do die young” certainly applies in the case of Roger Miller. 🧨
Kris Kristofferson, a truly great songwriter and wordsmith in his own right, was a Roger Miller fan and stated it was impossible to come up with anything more unique as a lyricist than the line, “The last word in lonesome is me.”🧨
I'm Impressed. I truly am. I really like the fact that you go back in time and react to a lot of the older talent. I was raised on the older classic country and I am amazed that a younger man such as yourself can see past a lot of the modern day smoke and mirrors and see the raw talent in people from all genre and different era of time. There was so much talent back in the day that has been overlooked so I greatly appreciate and enjoy it when you shine the light on these artists. This is the sign of a true artist such as yourself. Thank you Fil.
Hi Fil! Roger Miller was a gem! Loved his music from the sixties! He was a master at fun songs! His music was loved by all! I find myself still wanting to snap my fingers! Thanks for this special guy! He was so loved! ✌️
At this time on your AM transistor radio, you would hear Miller, the Beatles, all the British groups, Motown, Beachboys, Four Seasons and girls like Petula Clark and Lulu. All back to back 24/7.
Back then the radio was so much more diverse. Seemed whatever you liked from Classical, to Country, to Rock, to Blues, to Jazz, there was a station you could listen to. I'm showing my age now 😉
I should be so lucky. Here in NZ the Top Twenty on the radio was as diverse as you say, but that was it; the Top Twenty, once a week for an hour. Then back to Rosemary Clooney and Dean Martin.
bob wallace Interesting You should say that this performance of Roger Miller come from "The Big T.N.T. Show" a live concert filmed in Los Angeles, California on November 29, 1965 and release in early 1966 in theaters it feature David McCallum who introduce the acts, Ray Charles, Petula Clark, The Lovin' Spoonful, Bo Diddley, Joan Baez, Phil Spector, The Ronettes, Roger Miller, The Byrds, Donovan, The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Roger Miller performed "Dang Me, Engine Engine #9, "King of the Road, England Swings"
In the early 70's, I worked with his mother at a bank. He was actually raised by his aunt and uncle in Oklahoma. I can't help but smile when I hear his songs. The are simply fun!
Roger Miller.... Grew up listening to his music (thanks dad ❤️). I still have one vinyl album that I cherish to this day. Thank you Fil for sharing a genius, in my opinion.
Hi Mark! Haha! That song really was everywhere, and I never got tired of it. I saw his son performing it on a video...uncanny vocal resemblance, like Lukas Nelson to his dad Willie!
One of my all time favorites. So cool that you found a bit of reggae (and Hawaiian) in it! This unique song embodied cool nonchalance in that Era. He had to sound relaxed, after all he was king of the road! Thanks Fil!
Use to sing this song all the time as a kid. It taught me what a 'bit' was and that a room to let was a room for rent. I especially sang it when I'd walk along railroad tracks, which I use to for miles just to see where they went. You know....Up Around the Bend and all. Thanks Fil...Roger was a great respite from all the Rock & Roll that was on the radio. He was played right along with all the rest of the rock of the day
Omg I am going back and watching so many of your videos. You have got all my favorites the ones my Dad got me into Everly Brothers, Roger Miller, Roy Orbison, Elvis, Dean Martin this is so fun!!! Thank you for these awesome videos. Rock on!
OMG, I have about 10 of his songs on my iPod. He has some of the goofiest songs written, like - "My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died", to the sweet love song, "Little Green Apples". When he starts singing you know instantly who it is.
Was playing in a country band just over 20 years ago. I was proudly playing an Ibanez 5 string Bass with active circuit. This was one of the songs I played and sang. We were at a weekend festival and were booked to play very early Sat morning. The audience was only a few dozen because people were still in bed nursing their headaches from the night before. But they kept requesting us to play again later in the day. We had to make our excuses and left. I remember "Little Green Apples" tearing up the airwaves in the 70's.
I've always felt Roger Miller was one of the most underrated song writers of the century. His score of Big River was beautiful. Thank you for doing this! ❤
I remember my father having many of Roger's albums. My father was always playing Roger's records on a stereo we had. I know all of Roger's song. I'm a fan, as well, thanks to my Dad.
Discovered him a few years ago when I visited the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. I saw multiple of Grammy award statues stacked up behind display glass...I looked up and saw his name and bio. Out of all the thousands of albums/CDs for sale in the gift shop I chose The Best of Roger Miller. Really love his music. Who laughs during a performance? He was clearly having a lot of fun Making music and entertaining fans.
"If I was a bird and you was a fish what would we do-I guess we'd wish for re-in-carnation-re-incarnation...". Miller was the most clever songwriter ever. He was someone I have always wished I could have met. In my 20's I did a cross country driving trip. I went out of my way to go through Bangor Maine just because of this song. Thanks for bringing Roger back.
Yea, Roger Miler couldn't be put into any typical genre box; he was by definition 'unique'. " Oh, you can't roller skate in a buffalo herd but you can be happy if you've a mind to." And so many other great and fun lyrics.
@@mysticmaverick1 I learned about Roger Miller through my Pa, who was a huge fan of his music. And when my Pa died, he had $14 in his pocket. Coincidence? I dunno.
Roger was my grandmother's neighbor and good friend off Bishop Lodge Road in Sante Fe, NM. Met him when I was a little kid! My grandmother was also friends with Johnny cash and actually decorated the Cashes home in Sante Fe. Small World!!!
Thanks for bringing back such great memories of this amazing singer/song writer! Saw him live in 1967.. King of the Road.. Dang me.. just didn’t get any better! Amazing analysis - as always!
I was born in 1968, about 3 years after this song was released. It was unavoidable on classic country radio, and it was such a large part of my childhood. "Dang Me" is another great song. Roger Miller was great at mixing elements of jazz, such as scat singing, into country music. It really warms my heart to see this man getting the analysis that he deserves. He doesn't neatly blend into any genre, and that made him great. Great review.
Heard a lot of him when I was a kid because my father was a huge fan. How could you not be? He was so versatile. He wrote songs, sang, and voice acted in Disney's Robin Hood. I really appreciate your videos. You've reminded me about so many wonderful people. It's a joy to listen to them again.
Roger was truly one of a kind, with no one else like him. I heard Larry Gatlin say in a concert a couple of years back that other artists would hang around Roger just hoping that he would say something unusual that might turn into a song or dig through his trash to see if he wrote something down and threw it away..
An absolute madman as well. I’ve read he drove around in a Cadillac with a Martin guitar, a bunch of white dress shirts still in cellophane and a case of whiskey😎😄
Well, no wonder this song and his performance is so impossible to resist! Thanks for making it even MORE fun and filling in the blanks about his career. Well done!
Came back to listen to You and Roger Miller again! two great combination 👍 after last night I watch some of Roger's live performances. he was a real talent indeed. thanks for all the details in your analysis Fil.
grew up on that 45. Came off my parent's jukebox in our pub....we had 100s of singles with no circular core. This I memorised at 6. At that age you believe that the singer is describing his life in actuality - my head was also filled with The Beatles and Herman's Hermits and the Hollies... The Proclaimers cover it perfectly!
Fil!!! You just BLOW ME AWAY!! Roger Miller??? You really love and appreciate all kinds of music!! You truly are amazing and the best by FAR on UA-cam!
I love Roger Miller! I’m fairly certain he’s why I only love artists who obviously have fun with their talent. He was genuinely delighted with good songs. His or anyone else’s. Beautiful soul this one. Thank you for doing King of the Road Fil. One of my faves for sure.
In the late1960s, at 15 or 16, when I ran away from home......I made it from California to Wyoming in 13 rides. A couple of those were from hopping freight trains. I remember singing this as I was riding.
He painted pictures with his words and music. "Old Toy Trains" always brings tears to my eyes around Christmas time, remembering how calming it was for my kids at bedtime. Roger was an extraordinary poet and musician.
Wonderful job on Roger. He was just one of the good guys. Proud to say I am American with a guy like him from here. My great Aunt Ruth was a teacher in Erick Oklahoma and had Roger in her class. Unfortunately she passed before I was old enough to ask her some detailed questions. I’m sure he was ornery as a child. Love him and his music. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
My dad used to play this song when my sis and I were kids. We always enjoyed it! We were especially amused by the "Old stogies I have found" line. Classic!
Roger was a musical genius. Both hugely creative and beyond talented, he was a man who could do everything...and did. Roger, having too much talent for one lifetime, left earth for a larger crowd...lol. Love this man. Love Roger's songs, his voice, his humor, his guitar playing and his love of music. Roger was the Freddie Mercury of country music. 💜🎶💜
My friend grew up next to Roger Miller in Maine. Roger had two boxcars brought into his back yard on tracks which were removed after being delivered except where the cars sat.
That was my first 45RPM record I ever bought. It had “England Swings” on the flip side I believe. This song remains etched in my memory forever. Roger Miller was a great performer.
Very good to hear of Miller's history and his achievements. His voice is striking; he is often seen as a novelty artist and it is great to have his work better examined. Also interesting to hear his accent come through in this performance; the pronunciation of "suit 'n shoes", "old stogies I have found", and "means by no means" with the softened "s" and blurred transitions.
Roger Miller from Erick, Okla-by-God-homa! "What's it close to? It's close to extinction." "My home town was so small we didn't have a town drunk. We all had to take turns."
Song was way popular on AM radio (93 KHJ in LA in my case.) You could hear this song and then the next song would be "Light my Fire" by "The Doors" Such was AM radio in the mid-60's. I never knew this was played on nylon strings. Steel strings came to be in an attempt (by C.F. Martin) to get more volume out of the guitar. Pretty safe to give Martin the credit for the Western steel string guitar, but not absolute. Thanks Fil.
My father had this on an lp when i was young. But by 1973 the house was ruled by sabbath, purple. Floyd, and the mighty Judas Priest. I always did like this song and often find myself singing it. Brings back some memories. Thanks brother.
In 1985 Roger Miller won 7 Tony awards for his Broadway musical "Big River." He was so much more talented than he was given credit because he wrote light hearted popular songs. A fabulous cover " River In The Rain" is sung by Alison Krauss. It will haunt you forever.
And once again, you've gone where no others will. Well done, young man. I heard Roy Clark say once that he and Roger Miller hung around each other "until the Health Department told us to knock it off." He was a gem, no doubt. Thanks for this.
I was born in 1960 and had several older siblings who were music fans. I was already listening to the radio and the records played by my siblings by the time I was 3, and was a music nut once The Beatles came on the scene. This song came out in in early 1965 and it was my absolute favorite for a while. It's impossible to accurately describe the feelings any one song gives you, but this song just had a feel to it that made me love it right off the bat, and to this day it still evokes that feeling. I was mainly a pop/rock and roll/folk fan, but was exposed to a variety of styles by my siblings. Genre really meant nothing, I just listened to songs and they did something for me or they didn't. I do know I really liked his voice and that was a big part of why I loved this song. And lets not forget that bass - that intro really gets the song going. It's not as 'big' here. The studio version sounds like a standup.
Fil, Roger Miller was on the phono all the time when I was growing up. I would have been 9, 10 years old when he was in his heyday and collected that pile of Grammys. I will admit that, as you are making an excellent case, there was much more to his music than just his enormous commercial appeal. Had never seen the video you found and was knocked out on one angle. Never knew he had a teenage female fan base!
Thanks for this presentation Phil. Roger is an early very favorite of mine and was a genius. He really deserves the attention and this fan appreciates it. Good job . You mentioned him picking cotton as a kid. Well, one of my favorite lines he wrote in the song This Town. “Soon the cotton gonna open up and I’m gonna pick it, just long enough to make enough to myself a ticket.” Thanks again Phil.
As a kid i played his music on my little record player that my folks bought me, and i played his music till the cows came home and my parents were probably thinking why did we buy him the darn thing. Lol
I grew up and was exposed to a variety of music. Country, blues, the oldies rock and roll ect... I remember all of his songs the ones you mentioned. There was another popular song back then called big bad John. My mom used to tease me with that song. 😀
I’ve said it many times but that smile of yours is so genuine I love it your definitely one of a kind and there is NOTHING wrong with that keep it up once again god bless you Fil:)
I love Roger Miller. He wrote one of my all time favorite lyrics, from Dang Me " I lack 14 dollars of having 37 cents". I always enjoy the research you do. Great job Thank you
TIME STAMPS -
0:40 Performance Start
2:42 Analysis Start
3:42 Guitar
6:10 Key Change & Rhythm Change
12:28 Career Background/History
Wow, I never knew all this youthful history!
Here's the cleanest live take of King of the Road (no screaming to blurr his guitar or lyrics):
ua-cam.com/video/Cor27wmvokg/v-deo.html
So many people have no idea what an absolute genius Roger Miller was. Many of his fellow performers and songwriters knew quite well however. Songwriters told stories of just wanting to be around Miller because he would nonchalantly throw out clever catch phrases they could then build entire songs around. His mind was incredibly fast and he was often unpredictable and other great performers talk of being in complete awe of him on stage. Pure entertainer. “The good they do die young” certainly applies in the case of Roger Miller. 🧨
Agreed. I grew up listening to him through my Dad. I love love love his music
Kris Kristofferson, a truly great songwriter and wordsmith in his own right, was a Roger Miller fan and stated it was impossible to come up with anything more unique as a lyricist than the line, “The last word in lonesome is me.”🧨
He could write a song with a strum n' a hum that everybody knows by heart. And he did it again and again. Roger Miller was one of a kind.
If I had written a line like "I'm a man of means, by no means" I'd be a happy man for a long time.
Oh, he wrote scores of lines like that. Check it out. It hurts me that he isn't remembered more, the man was a great talent.
Lovely double meaning there
Clever
“Ain’t got no cigarettes” does it for me!
A song with great imagery and amazing lines
I'm Impressed. I truly am. I really like the fact that you go back in time and react to a lot of the older talent. I was raised on the older classic country and I am amazed that a younger man such as yourself can see past a lot of the modern day smoke and mirrors and see the raw talent in people from all genre and different era of time. There was so much talent back in the day that has been overlooked so I greatly appreciate and enjoy it when you shine the light on these artists. This is the sign of a true artist such as yourself. Thank you Fil.
Thanks for the kind words!
I've always enjoyed this song, but this analysis opened it up and added a lot of depth to it for me. Thanks, Fil!
This song- melody and lyrics- just perfectly go together.
When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Roger replied, “I just don’t want to be forgotten”.
Mission Accomplished.
R.I.P. Roger Miller.
Omg I grew up on Roger Miller and this song. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Hi Fil! Roger Miller was a gem! Loved his music from the sixties! He was a master at fun songs! His music was loved by all! I find myself still wanting to snap my fingers! Thanks for this special guy! He was so loved! ✌️
At this time on your AM transistor radio, you would hear Miller, the Beatles, all the British groups, Motown, Beachboys, Four Seasons and girls like Petula Clark and Lulu. All back to back 24/7.
You sure could. I'm glad I grew up during that time. So much diversity on the radio.
Back then the radio was so much more diverse. Seemed whatever you liked from Classical, to Country, to Rock, to Blues, to Jazz, there was a station you could listen to. I'm showing my age now 😉
I should be so lucky. Here in NZ the Top Twenty on the radio was as diverse as you say, but that was it; the Top Twenty, once a week for an hour. Then back to Rosemary Clooney and Dean Martin.
bob wallace
Interesting You should say that this performance of Roger Miller come from "The Big T.N.T. Show" a live concert filmed in Los Angeles, California on November 29, 1965 and release in early 1966 in theaters it feature David McCallum who introduce the acts, Ray Charles, Petula Clark, The Lovin' Spoonful, Bo Diddley, Joan Baez, Phil Spector, The Ronettes, Roger Miller, The Byrds, Donovan, The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Roger Miller performed "Dang Me, Engine Engine #9, "King of the Road, England Swings"
@@drewpall2598 Thank you --
I hope Fil adds this info to the description. It's like time traveling to know the who/what/where/when. 🔈🔉🔊
In the early 70's, I worked with his mother at a bank. He was actually raised by his aunt and uncle in Oklahoma. I can't help but smile when I hear his songs. The are simply fun!
Roger Miller is a legend. Thanks for this.
Thanks for your keen attention to his rhythms.
Roger Miller.... Grew up listening to his music (thanks dad ❤️). I still have one vinyl album that I cherish to this day. Thank you Fil for sharing a genius, in my opinion.
Man....that crowd was Lively...this tune is on every juke box in every country bar......thanks Fil
Hi Mark! Haha! That song really was everywhere, and I never got tired of it. I saw his son performing it on a video...uncanny vocal resemblance, like Lukas Nelson to his dad Willie!
@@lynndow3185 Hello Lynn
@@lynndow3185 Yeah , here am I , singing away as if I was still learning to drive my dad's 1965 Pontiac Parisian hardtop, with this on the radio \m/
@@michellewilsdon294 I can just SEE you! Keep those hands on the wheel, no finger snapping!
One of my all time favorites. So cool that you found a bit of reggae (and Hawaiian) in it! This unique song embodied cool nonchalance in that Era. He had to sound relaxed, after all he was king of the road! Thanks Fil!
Use to sing this song all the time as a kid. It taught me what a 'bit' was and that a room to let was a room for rent. I especially sang it when I'd walk along railroad tracks, which I use to for miles just to see where they went. You know....Up Around the Bend and all. Thanks Fil...Roger was a great respite from all the Rock & Roll that was on the radio. He was played right along with all the rest of the rock of the day
WINGS OF PEGASUS IS KING OF ANALYZERS ....
Thanks!
Well said!
Fil, it’s so nice to see a young person appreciating all this old music, from my day.
Omg I am going back and watching so many of your videos. You have got all my favorites the ones my Dad got me into Everly Brothers, Roger Miller, Roy Orbison, Elvis, Dean Martin this is so fun!!! Thank you for these awesome videos. Rock on!
OMG, I have about 10 of his songs on my iPod. He has some of the goofiest songs written, like - "My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died", to the sweet love song, "Little Green Apples". When he starts singing you know instantly who it is.
Saturday night, having some beer, and watching your videos. Thanx man, enjoying it!
King of the Road is still a pub staple on east coast Canada. A lot of younger people think it’s four bedroom, instead of four bit room.
East Coast of Canada has similarities to the Southern US. Was watching a Nova Scotia podcaster and thought he was in coastal South Carolina.
Was playing in a country band just over 20 years ago. I was proudly playing an Ibanez 5 string Bass with active circuit. This was one of the songs I played and sang. We were at a weekend festival and were booked to play very early Sat morning. The audience was only a few dozen because people were still in bed nursing their headaches from the night before. But they kept requesting us to play again later in the day. We had to make our excuses and left. I remember "Little Green Apples" tearing up the airwaves in the 70's.
I've always felt Roger Miller was one of the most underrated song writers of the century. His score of Big River was beautiful. Thank you for doing this! ❤
I remember my father having many of Roger's albums. My father was always playing Roger's records on a stereo we had. I know all of Roger's song. I'm a fan, as well, thanks to my Dad.
Discovered him a few years ago when I visited the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. I saw multiple of Grammy award statues stacked up behind display glass...I looked up and saw his name and bio. Out of all the thousands of albums/CDs for sale in the gift shop I chose The Best of Roger Miller. Really love his music. Who laughs during a performance? He was clearly having a lot of fun
Making music and entertaining fans.
"If I was a bird and you was a fish what would we do-I guess we'd wish for re-in-carnation-re-incarnation...". Miller was the most clever songwriter ever. He was someone I have always wished I could have met. In my 20's I did a cross country driving trip. I went out of my way to go through Bangor Maine just because of this song. Thanks for bringing Roger back.
Yea, Roger Miler couldn't be put into any typical genre box; he was by definition 'unique'. " Oh, you can't roller skate in a buffalo herd but you can be happy if you've a mind to." And so many other great and fun lyrics.
"Lack $14 of havin' 27 cents"
@@bcaye Like 14 dollars and 27 cents
@@mysticmaverick1 I learned about Roger Miller through my Pa, who was a huge fan of his music. And when my Pa died, he had $14 in his pocket. Coincidence? I dunno.
You are outstanding! Love your guitar playing and while doing so you bring out so much more of the artist's performance!! Love Roger Miller!
Loved Roger Miller ever since this song hit when I was about to start jumior high.
"King of the Road" is inscribed on the headstone of my favorite uncle, whom possessed that nomadic spirit. Love the song, best wishes, much love.
Roger was my grandmother's neighbor and good friend off Bishop Lodge Road in Sante Fe, NM. Met him when I was a little kid!
My grandmother was also friends with Johnny cash and actually decorated the Cashes home in Sante Fe. Small World!!!
Always have loved Roger Miller. Thanks
Thanks for bringing back such great memories of this amazing singer/song writer! Saw him live in 1967.. King of the Road.. Dang me.. just didn’t get any better! Amazing analysis - as always!
I was born in 1968, about 3 years after this song was released. It was unavoidable on classic country radio, and it was such a large part of my childhood. "Dang Me" is another great song. Roger Miller was great at mixing elements of jazz, such as scat singing, into country music. It really warms my heart to see this man getting the analysis that he deserves. He doesn't neatly blend into any genre, and that made him great. Great review.
I’m old enough to remember this.
I remember sitting with my Dad watching Roger sing this. Love Roger Miller
Heard a lot of him when I was a kid because my father was a huge fan. How could you not be? He was so versatile. He wrote songs, sang, and voice acted in Disney's Robin Hood.
I really appreciate your videos. You've reminded me about so many wonderful people. It's a joy to listen to them again.
Fil, it's as much fun watching you enjoy the music as it is to see your analyses. Love Roger Miller and this song. Ta!
Roger was truly one of a kind, with no one else like him. I heard Larry Gatlin say in a concert a couple of years back that other artists would hang around Roger just hoping that he would say something unusual that might turn into a song or dig through his trash to see if he wrote something down and threw it away..
His music was fun to listen too. I liked Dang Me and You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd
An absolute madman as well. I’ve read he drove around in a Cadillac with a Martin guitar, a bunch of white dress shirts still in cellophane and a case of whiskey😎😄
Queen of the House was the response song to this one. I love that old tradition of another artist responding to one song with another!
Came on here because I was watching Nestor the long eared Christmas Donkey last night. Roger Miller sang and narrated the songs on this show.
Always loved this tune. Takes me back to my childhood.. 👍
Wonderful memories. Thanks Fil!
Well, no wonder this song and his performance is so impossible to resist! Thanks for making it even MORE fun and filling in the blanks about his career. Well done!
Lynn Dow here is Roger Miller full performance from that show enjoy.
ua-cam.com/video/fX0wLZnIKZU/v-deo.html
I have listened to Roger Miller my whole life. Love his music, his style. He makes Robin Hood my favorite Disney movie.
The intro of 'Taladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' is where I first it, but it has lived my head rent free for 8-10 years.
Came back to listen to You and Roger Miller again! two great combination 👍 after last night I watch some of Roger's live performances. he was a real talent indeed. thanks for all the details in your analysis Fil.
grew up on that 45. Came off my parent's jukebox in our pub....we had 100s of singles with no circular core. This I memorised at 6. At that age you believe that the singer is describing his life in actuality - my head was also filled with The Beatles and Herman's Hermits and the Hollies...
The Proclaimers cover it perfectly!
Fil!!! You just BLOW ME AWAY!! Roger Miller??? You really love and appreciate all kinds of music!! You truly are amazing and the best by FAR on UA-cam!
Thanks!
Roger was a unique genius
You can't relegate him to a category
Thank you Phil 😊 🙌🙏
Wow, this was a fun blast from the past. Brings me back to the AM radio sounds of my childhood. Thanks, Fil!
And that smile of yours when you see something you truly appreciate I love it! 💯
I love Roger Miller! I’m fairly certain he’s why I only love artists who obviously have fun with their talent. He was genuinely delighted with good songs. His or anyone else’s. Beautiful soul this one. Thank you for doing King of the Road Fil. One of my faves for sure.
I adore this song.
I remember ones of my Dad's friend who hummed/sang this song all summer ('65?), with a stogie hanging off his lip. He thought he was stylin'!
In the late1960s, at 15 or 16, when I ran away from home......I made it from California to Wyoming in 13 rides. A couple of those were from hopping freight trains. I remember singing this as I was riding.
He painted pictures with his words and music. "Old Toy Trains" always brings tears to my eyes around Christmas time, remembering how calming it was for my kids at bedtime. Roger was an extraordinary poet and musician.
Wonderful job on Roger. He was just one of the good guys. Proud to say I am American with a guy like him from here. My great Aunt Ruth was a teacher in Erick Oklahoma and had Roger in her class. Unfortunately she passed before I was old enough to ask her some detailed questions. I’m sure he was ornery as a child. Love him and his music. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
LOVE IT!!!!
My dad used to play this song when my sis and I were kids. We always enjoyed it! We were especially amused by the "Old stogies I have found" line. Classic!
Roger was a musical genius. Both hugely creative and beyond talented, he was a man who could do everything...and did. Roger, having too much talent for one lifetime, left earth for a larger crowd...lol. Love this man. Love Roger's songs, his voice, his humor, his guitar playing and his love of music. Roger was the Freddie Mercury of country music. 💜🎶💜
Lead guitarist was probably "Thumbs" Carllile, a great guitarist who played in standard tuning and was capable of playing great leads that way.
I listened to Roger through out my formative years in the 50's and 60's. His music was very popular in my Jr High and High School.
My friend grew up next to Roger Miller in Maine. Roger had two boxcars brought into his back yard on tracks which were removed after being delivered except where the cars sat.
That was my first 45RPM record I ever bought. It had “England Swings” on the flip side I believe. This song remains etched in my memory forever. Roger Miller was a great performer.
I remember singing along to this on the 8 track.
Very good to hear of Miller's history and his achievements. His voice is striking; he is often seen as a novelty artist and it is great to have his work better examined.
Also interesting to hear his accent come through in this performance; the pronunciation of "suit 'n shoes", "old stogies I have found", and "means by no means" with the softened "s" and blurred transitions.
Roger Miller from Erick, Okla-by-God-homa!
"What's it close to? It's close to extinction."
"My home town was so small we didn't have a town drunk. We all had to take turns."
An unexpected choice, but a great one! I always loved this song, and your analysis actually made me love it more. Well done!
Song was way popular on AM radio (93 KHJ in LA in my case.) You could hear this song and then the next song would be "Light my Fire" by "The Doors" Such was AM radio in the mid-60's. I never knew this was played on nylon strings. Steel strings came to be in an attempt (by C.F. Martin) to get more volume out of the guitar. Pretty safe to give Martin the credit for the Western steel string guitar, but not absolute. Thanks Fil.
We use to listen to KRLA in LA. Had the Roger Miller album that this song was on. Loved it that brought back so many memories.
Now the jingle "93 KHJ" is playing in my head.
My father had this on an lp when i was young. But by 1973 the house was ruled by sabbath, purple. Floyd, and the mighty Judas Priest. I always did like this song and often find myself singing it. Brings back some memories. Thanks brother.
In 1985 Roger Miller won 7 Tony awards for his Broadway musical
"Big River." He was so much more talented than he was given credit because he wrote light hearted popular songs. A fabulous cover
" River In The Rain" is sung by Alison Krauss. It will haunt you forever.
And once again, you've gone where no others will. Well done, young man. I heard Roy Clark say once that he and Roger Miller hung around each other "until the Health Department told us to knock it off." He was a gem, no doubt. Thanks for this.
I was born in 1960 and had several older siblings who were music fans. I was already listening to the radio and the records played by my siblings by the time I was 3, and was a music nut once The Beatles came on the scene. This song came out in in early 1965 and it was my absolute favorite for a while. It's impossible to accurately describe the feelings any one song gives you, but this song just had a feel to it that made me love it right off the bat, and to this day it still evokes that feeling. I was mainly a pop/rock and roll/folk fan, but was exposed to a variety of styles by my siblings. Genre really meant nothing, I just listened to songs and they did something for me or they didn't. I do know I really liked his voice and that was a big part of why I loved this song. And lets not forget that bass - that intro really gets the song going. It's not as 'big' here. The studio version sounds like a standup.
PEOPLE OF ALL AGE GROUPS LOVED HIS SONGS
When Roger smoked, he smoked Cools. My Dad and my brothers and sisters had different tastes in music, but we all listened to Roger.
Fil, Roger Miller was on the phono all the time when I was growing up. I would have been 9, 10 years old when he was in his heyday and collected that pile of Grammys. I will admit that, as you are making an excellent case, there was much more to his music than just his enormous commercial appeal. Had never seen the video you found and was knocked out on one angle. Never knew he had a teenage female fan base!
I still listen to his stuff. Really like 'Dang Me'.
I remember listening to this single my parents had bought when a kid great song
The triplet strumming gives it the railroad feeling in the bridge.
Thank you for another one from my childhood! My mother loved music so much . Thanks always. Great analysis.
Thanks for this presentation Phil. Roger is an early very favorite of mine and was a genius. He really deserves the attention and this fan appreciates it. Good job . You mentioned him picking cotton as a kid. Well, one of my favorite lines he wrote in the song This Town. “Soon the cotton gonna open up and I’m gonna pick it, just long enough to make enough to myself a ticket.” Thanks again Phil.
As a kid i played his music on my little record player that my folks bought me, and i played his music till the cows came home and my parents were probably thinking why did we buy him the darn thing. Lol
Do an analysis video for Do Wacka Do next! The performance on The Opry Almanac was the best live performance!
Roger Miller is amazing...
" Trailer for Sale or Rent" I remember well. Also "Counting Flowers on the Wall" but that was by the Statler Brothers.
Hi Fil! I think it was about 1964 and ‘England Swings’ was one of my faves!
this was my favorite song when I was a kid. ~10 years old
He's a story teller.
I grew up and was exposed to a variety of music. Country, blues, the oldies rock and roll ect... I remember all of his songs the ones you mentioned. There was another popular song back then called big bad John. My mom used to tease me with that song. 😀
If you think about it, literally 25% of this song is a cappella... Those are the bits I could play on guitar. 🤭
The "a cappella" portion of the song still had bass accompaniment so was not actually a cappella.
Enjoyed Roger Miller and your analysis! My parents enjoyed his music. Thank you for featuring him. Back to work!!
Do not know why , but this song as been in my head lately. I have been walking around singing this.
I’ve said it many times but that smile of yours is so genuine I love it your definitely one of a kind and there is NOTHING wrong with that keep it up once again god bless you Fil:)
I love Roger Miller. He wrote one of my all time favorite lyrics, from Dang Me " I lack 14 dollars of having 37 cents". I always enjoy the research you do. Great job Thank you