The Hold Steady: The Swish

Written by Craig Finn and Tad Kubler, performed by The Hold Steady
Album: Almost Killed Me, 2004

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The Hold Steady from Brooklyn, NY, is a rock band noted for their "lyrically dense storytelling," and classic rock influences. Singer Craig Finn and lead guitarist Tad Kubler developed the idea of the Hold Steady when, while watching The Band concert film The Last Waltz, Finn asked Kubler, "Dude, why aren't there any bands like this anymore?" Rick Danko and Robbie Robertson are name-checked in the lyrics of "The Swish" from the Hold Steady's 2004 debut album Almost Killed Me.

Lyrics

Pills and powders, baby, powders and pills
We spent the night last night in Beverly Hills
This chick, she looked just like Beverly Sills
We got killed

Tights and skirts, baby, skirts and tights
We used to shake it up in Shaker Heights
This chick, she looked just like Patty Smythe
She seemed shaky but nice

She said my name's Rick Danko, baby
People call me One-Hour Photo
I got some hazardous chemicals
So drive around to the window

She said my name's Robbie Robertson, but people call me Robo
I blew red, white, and blue right into a tissue
I came right over the counter just to kiss you
I came right over the counter just to kiss you

Ginger and Jack and four or five Feminax
Psycho eyes and a stovepipe hat
A ray of light through tight white rayon slacks
We got cracked

Shoes and socks, baby, socks and shoes
We spent the night last night in Newport News
This chick, she looked just like Elizabeth Shue
We got bruised

She said my name's Steve Perry, baby
People call me Circuit City
I'm so well-connected
My UPC is dialled into the system

She said my name's Neal Schon, but people call me Nina Simone
Some people call me André Cymone
'Cause I survived the '80s one time already
And I don't recall it all that fondly
So hold steady

It was a blockbuster summer
Moving pictures got us through to September
They made a movie about me and you
They made it half nude and half true

It was a bloodsucking summer
I spent half the time trying to get paid from our saviour
Swishing though the City Center
I did a couple favours for these guys who looked like Tusken Raiders