Friday, April 10, 2020 “Ballad of El Goodo” Big Star

Big Star, once named the unluckiest band in America, deserved so much better. The group, fronted by Alex Chilton, the voice at age 16 that propelled the Box Tops to success with “The Letter”, “Cry Like a Baby”, "Neon Rainbow" and other top 40 hits, decided on their name as frivolously as do so many other groups. Standing in front of a supermarket with a large red star they thought that Big Star could work and since their album was their initial recording they felt calling this first venture their “Number 1 Record” was appropriate.

That piece of assumed bravura along with record distribution problems sealed their fate to be the group that inspired more people to start bands then the actual number of records that they sold and was effectively the end of Big Star before they began.

Never the success they should have been but eventually, legends.

So on this Good Friday here is their Ballad of El Goodo which reminds us that even if it’s “…hard in times like now to hold on” to keep God at our side and yes, hold on.

Stay safe and well.

Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh
But I've been trying hard against unbelievable odds
It gets so hard in times like now to hold on
The guns they wait to be stuck by At my side is God

And there ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Ain't no one going to turn me 'round

There's people around who tell you that they know
The places where they send you, and it's easy to go
They'll zip you up and dress you down
And stand you in a row
But you know you don't have to
You could just say no

And there ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Ain't no one going to turn me 'round

I've been built up and trusted
Broke down and busted
But they'll get theirs and we'll get ours
Just if we can
Just, ah, hold on
Hold on
Hold on
Hold on

Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh
And I've been trying hard against strong odds
It gets so hard in times like now to hold on
Well, I'll fall if I don't fight
And at my side is God

And there ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Ain't no one going to turn me 'round
Hold on
Hold on
Hold on
Hold on