Hercules

Here’s another song of mine I used in my first book, Black’s Beach Shuffle. In the books, of course, I give Rolly Waters the songwriting credit. One of the songs he sings in BBS is called Hercules.

There was a man named Hercules
He had the kind of muscled he could do just what he pleased
But even he was not exempt
He had to clean the stables where a thousand cattle slept

I don’t recall exactly how I started writing the lyrics for this one. It’s basically a rewrite of the Greek mythology of Hercules in abridged form. The first verse references one of the Twelve Labours of Hercules, the quest to cleanse the Augean Stables. I used it to show how even the most heroic men have to deal with a lot of crap :-). The second half of the verse then turns it around and makes it personal by comparing the singer’s personal travails to Hercules’ labours. It’s not biographic per se, but more of a songwriting conceit, a framework I wanted to use for the lyrical structure. I’ve always admired Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi and the deft turn she makes in the last verse where all her societal concerns turn to thoughts on her own failings. This is not BYT, lyrically or musically, but that song might have inspired my thinking.

Here’s the version recorded by my band Bad Dog circa 1992. The lyrics are listed below.

There was a man called Hercules.
He had the kind of muscle he could do just what he pleased.
But even he was not exempt.
He had to clean the stable where a thousand cattle slept.
Now I may not be quite that tough
But I can move a mountain if I have reason enough
I will not faint, I will not fade
And will I take a shovel to this mess that I have made.

Have a little faith in me.
I need the strength of Hercules
Have a little faith in me.
I am not like Hercules.

There was man named Hercules.
He killed his wife and family, then he fell down on his knees.
For he could not believe his eyes,
He thought they were his enemies and wearing a disguise
So I may bite, and I may bark,
But when you look at me that way I fall into the dark.
I try to speak. I try to stand,
But all the things I try to be keep falling from my hands.

Have a little faith in me.
I need the strength of Hercules
Have a little faith in me.
I am not like Hercules.

There was man named Hercules.
He saved a silent princess from a monster in the sea.
But he was not paid back in kind,
And he had to live forever with that woman on his mind.
And then there’s me, and then there’s you.
If I were a stronger man I’d know just what to do.
I’ll never know the price you paid
To have me come and rescue you and change the plans you’d made.