Bettye LaVette — Salt Of The Earth
Album: InterpretationsAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 187
Length: 4:23
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share
tweet
Let's drink to the hard working people
Let's drink to the lowly of birth
Raise your glass to the good and the evil
Let's drink to the salt of the earth
Say a prayer for the common foot soldier
Spare a thought for his back breaking work
Say a prayer for his wife and his children
Who burn the fires and who still till the earth
And when I search a faceless crowd
A swirling mass of gray and
Black and white
They don't look real to me
In fact, they look so strange
Raise your glass to the hard working people
Let's drink to the uncounted heads
Let's think of the wavering millions
Who need leaders but get gamblers instead
Spare a thought for the stay-at-home voter
His empty eyes gaze at strange beauty shows
And a parade of the gray suited grafters
A choice of cancer or polio
And when I look in the faceless crowd
A swirling mass of grays and
Black and white
They don't look real to me
Or don't they look so strange
Let's drink to the hard working people
Let's think of the lowly of birth
Spare a thought for the rag taggy people
Let's drink to the salt of the earth
Let's drink to the hard working people
Let's drink to the salt of the earth
Let's drink to the two thousand million
Let's think of the humble of birth
Let's drink to the lowly of birth
Raise your glass to the good and the evil
Let's drink to the salt of the earth
Say a prayer for the common foot soldier
Spare a thought for his back breaking work
Say a prayer for his wife and his children
Who burn the fires and who still till the earth
And when I search a faceless crowd
A swirling mass of gray and
Black and white
They don't look real to me
In fact, they look so strange
Raise your glass to the hard working people
Let's drink to the uncounted heads
Let's think of the wavering millions
Who need leaders but get gamblers instead
Spare a thought for the stay-at-home voter
His empty eyes gaze at strange beauty shows
And a parade of the gray suited grafters
A choice of cancer or polio
And when I look in the faceless crowd
A swirling mass of grays and
Black and white
They don't look real to me
Or don't they look so strange
Let's drink to the hard working people
Let's think of the lowly of birth
Spare a thought for the rag taggy people
Let's drink to the salt of the earth
Let's drink to the hard working people
Let's drink to the salt of the earth
Let's drink to the two thousand million
Let's think of the humble of birth
Comments (46)add comment
I am shocked by how many people were so mean about this song ten years ago. It was lovely then and it's lovely now. I have seen lady live and she was wonderful.
Jelani wrote:
You mean only not funny at all. No?
Tune is 1968 Stones
You mean only not funny at all. No?
Tune is 1968 Stones
DaveInVA wrote:
Damn you're a pathetic useless hate spewing piece of sh!t
Please don't feed the trolls.
Damn you're a pathetic useless hate spewing piece of sh!t
Please don't feed the trolls.
h8rhater wrote:
Kinda like you.
Damn you're a pathetic useless hate spewing piece of sh!t
Kinda like you.
Damn you're a pathetic useless hate spewing piece of sh!t
SaintPeter wrote:
Not fast enough.
This tune goes nowhere fast.
Not fast enough.
Papernapkin wrote:
The lyrics have too much sarcastic natural aristocracy for this to be sung this way. It is a put down song by the fluffy, coddled few. So, stay down there salt of the earth.
Affected.
The lyrics have too much sarcastic natural aristocracy for this to be sung this way. It is a put down song by the fluffy, coddled few. So, stay down there salt of the earth.
DaveInVA wrote:
You mean only not funny at all. No?
This is like a female version of Bill Murry's nightclub skits...Only not as funny
You mean only not funny at all. No?
This tune goes nowhere fast.
I have never liked a song where the singer was on the front cover of the album and was not wearing shoes. It's a fact.
Affected.
DaveInVA wrote:
Kinda like you.
This is like a female version of Bill Murry's nightclub skits...Only not as funny
Kinda like you.
3 to 2
Blech......!
This is like a female version of Bill Murry's nightclub skits...Only not as funny
DoctorHooey wrote:
...i like your positive attitude...
I keep thinking this is a cover of Floyd's "Fearless" when it starts, but it keeps not being that. I assume it will be one of these times.
...i like your positive attitude...
Mmmmh, not so much!
mute
Ok haul this womans crowed out on a stage and record it and come back to me,I will most probably rate it a 9. As it is only a 6.
She was incredible on ACL - made me buy her CD - but this track is a real head scratcher.
This woman is the SH*T!!! She is awesome!!!! Heartfelt lyrics sung by a truly great vocalist.
station changer for me too....do....not....get...the ...attraction.
bye for now!
bye for now!
grignr wrote:
To me it sounds like everyone BUT Bettye is phoning it in. Everything but her drags and has very little energy or interest.
She's got a great voice and I feel like I should like this better than I do... but something's just not clicking. It sounds like she's phoning it in on this song.
To me it sounds like everyone BUT Bettye is phoning it in. Everything but her drags and has very little energy or interest.
scraig wrote:
Yea I have to go with you on this. She has a very good voice it is just the arrangements don't really work.
I am not thrilled with anything off this album. Just sayin'.
Yea I have to go with you on this. She has a very good voice it is just the arrangements don't really work.
Station Changer for me . . .
I keep thinking this is a cover of Floyd's "Fearless" when it starts, but it keeps not being that. I assume it will be one of these times.
scraig wrote:
After hearing some of the other songs—-I am also underwhelmed.
I am not thrilled with anything off this album. Just sayin'.
After hearing some of the other songs—-I am also underwhelmed.
Saw her at Newport Folk Festival a couple of years ago. This woman is just incredible. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
...man, you know they talk about people's voices changing as they age, but you'd hardly recognise mick jagger these days if you didn't already know this was his song...
This beats the s**t out of the Stones version. Bettye sings it like she really means it.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Ho about "I don't like it."
A better response might have been "I don't hear it." 
Ho about "I don't like it."
ScottN wrote:
I agree that its an interesting interpretation of the song....but so far, nothing off this CD has really wowed me yet
Interesting cover of the RS classic. Kudos. And about the voice like Tina.... If it is not a purposeful vocal affectation, then so what? Does that mean she shouldn't sing? Just heard Madeleine Peyroux a few minutes ago. Give her a break too.
I agree that its an interesting interpretation of the song....but so far, nothing off this CD has really wowed me yet
jkhandy wrote:
Nothing like Tina.
Okay I've said this on other songs before but what the hey: If someone says this sounds like Led Zeppelin or the Chieftains, then it does. To disagree with any subjective statement like this automatically makes you wrong. It may be hard to get your head around whatever it is that makes the other person's brain draw a connection between one song and another, but it is cannot be wrong to make that connection.
A better response might have been "I don't hear it."
Nothing like Tina.
Okay I've said this on other songs before but what the hey: If someone says this sounds like Led Zeppelin or the Chieftains, then it does. To disagree with any subjective statement like this automatically makes you wrong. It may be hard to get your head around whatever it is that makes the other person's brain draw a connection between one song and another, but it is cannot be wrong to make that connection.
A better response might have been "I don't hear it."
Interesting cover of the RS classic. Kudos. And about the voice like Tina.... If it is not a purposeful vocal affectation, then so what? Does that mean she shouldn't sing? Just heard Madeleine Peyroux a few minutes ago. Give her a break too.
I am not thrilled with anything off this album. Just sayin'.
Tina Turner has waaaaay better legs.
jkhandy wrote:
Who are you trying to prove your excellence to? Me or yourself. Okay, now my ego is getting in the way, picking petty arguments, trying to validate itself. Respond again if you want, I'm done with this foolishness. Good day Zigi.
I don't need to prove anything, I was disproving your reply to my original post. Perhaps it is your ego that is the one which is getting in the way here? Anyway, since we already reached a conclusion a couple of posts ago I agree we should stop. Have a nice day too, hope it is as sunny as Amsterdam.
Who are you trying to prove your excellence to? Me or yourself. Okay, now my ego is getting in the way, picking petty arguments, trying to validate itself. Respond again if you want, I'm done with this foolishness. Good day Zigi.
I don't need to prove anything, I was disproving your reply to my original post. Perhaps it is your ego that is the one which is getting in the way here? Anyway, since we already reached a conclusion a couple of posts ago I agree we should stop. Have a nice day too, hope it is as sunny as Amsterdam.
Zigi wrote:
My ego is fine thank you. Just like my ears apparently.
Who are you trying to prove your excellence to? Me or yourself. Okay, now my ego is getting in the way, picking petty arguments, trying to validate itself. Respond again if you want, I'm done with this foolishness. Good day Zigi.
My ego is fine thank you. Just like my ears apparently.
Who are you trying to prove your excellence to? Me or yourself. Okay, now my ego is getting in the way, picking petty arguments, trying to validate itself. Respond again if you want, I'm done with this foolishness. Good day Zigi.
jkhandy wrote:
Okay you are right I am wrong, Happy now? Just opinions, but obviously your EGO needed more. Whatever Zigi...
My ego is fine thank you. Just like my ears apparently.
Okay you are right I am wrong, Happy now? Just opinions, but obviously your EGO needed more. Whatever Zigi...
My ego is fine thank you. Just like my ears apparently.
Zigi wrote:
Yes it is. (rather pointless disagreeing without any further explanation isn't it?)
From her own website:
Rolling Stone, "LaVette's nuanced singing evokes prime Tina Turner with even more command".
Okay you are right I am wrong, Happy now? Just opinions, but obviously your EGO needed more. Whatever Zigi...
Yes it is. (rather pointless disagreeing without any further explanation isn't it?)
From her own website:
Rolling Stone, "LaVette's nuanced singing evokes prime Tina Turner with even more command".
Okay you are right I am wrong, Happy now? Just opinions, but obviously your EGO needed more. Whatever Zigi...
jkhandy wrote:
Nothing like Tina.
Yes it is. (rather pointless disagreeing without any further explanation isn't it?)
From her own website:
Rolling Stone, "LaVette's nuanced singing evokes prime Tina Turner with even more command".
Nothing like Tina.
Yes it is. (rather pointless disagreeing without any further explanation isn't it?)
Rolling Stone, "LaVette's nuanced singing evokes prime Tina Turner with even more command".
Zigi wrote:
Nothing like Tina.
LMAO... I was sure I was hearing a Tina Turner song I didn't know until I looked at my screen. Not really my cup of tea, just like Tina, overexposure from my mom playing her way too much.
Nothing like Tina.
She sang Love Reign O'r Me at the Kennedy Center awards for the Who. Amazing.
LMAO... I was sure I was hearing a Tina Turner song I didn't know until I looked at my screen. Not really my cup of tea, just like Tina, overexposure from my mom playing her way too much.
Does Bill and Rebecca listen to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on NPR? She was just on last weekend.
5-6?? Wow you people are tough
Me like. True soul. A little Gospel