"What's Jimmy Doogan Doing?"

Kinda boffed some words (like most of the smells a rat verse) cuz I sang and played the rhythm guitar together on one mic... couldn't edit them out. I'm moving back into FAWM mode now... getting away from the heavy production I think. I felt it was "good enough for now."

Roger Roll suggested I "shred" so um... I tried to shred.
Rock.

--
Chords so I'll remember them later:
Dm-Gdim7
Dm-Gdim7-F-Ddim7-Dm-A
F-C-A
Dm-Gdim7-Ddim7

Lyrics

One? two? ready? Go.
What's Jimmy Doogan doing?
What's Jimmy Doogan doing?
What's Jimmy Doogan doing now?

Jimmy Doogan's on the street
But we all know he's a cheat
He's working on his angles
Dances like the man is made
He's got the ace of spades
Etched in ink down on his ankle

But he can't get a game
Because he made his name
We all call him "Weasel"
Woah-oh Jimmy Doogan
You better keep on moving
Because we won't even give you the time of day

(shredding)

Jimmy Doogan's got it bad
She's the best he's never had
We call her Cinderella
Kinda hides behind her mom
Jimmy thinks the girl's the bomb
And he'd die to be her fella

But you can bet she knows
Where Jim's love grows
She knows a rat when she can smell him
Hey Jimmy Doogan
You better keep on moving
Because you know she won't give you the time of day

Oooh
Hey Jimmy Doogan
You better keep on moving
Because she won't even give you the time of day

Hey boys now...
What's Jimmy Doogan doing?
What's Jimmy Doogan doing?
What's Jimmy Doogan doing now?

Uh huh
What's Jimmy Doogan doing?
What's Jimmy Doogan doing?
What's Jimmy Doogan doing now?

Jimmy Doogan
You better keep on moving
Because we won't even give you the time of day


--
©2008, Charlie Cheney, BMI

22 Comments

  1.  Ralston  | 13-Feb-08

    Jimmy Doogan? Wasn't he the drunk manager Tom Hanks "There's no crying in Baseball."  from the film about the all ladies baseball team "League of Thier Own" with Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna? Watch out for those Devil Rays!

    Wow, I wonder what he is doing now?

  2.  Jules  | 10-Feb-08

    Woah, Charlie. 

    Vocally you glide all over this song like Russians in the winter olympics.  The guitars are honey.  I love it when the boys come in!

    U rock me!

  3.  Mike Debenham | 10-Feb-08

    Enjoying the variety of your FAWM songs, Charlie. Great singing on this one. Quality stuff.

  4.  Matt Pierce | 10-Feb-08

    Well done Charlie!
    I can hear hand claps
    in the background in certain areas!

  5.  Emily Shore  | 08-Feb-08

    i love this one - i like the alliteration of "doogan" and "doing", and the musical vibe is a brilliant match to the lyrics!!!!! i love your guitar chops on this song too - great chord changes. wow - i'm hoping my enthusiasm about this tune will trampoline me into my next one!!!!!!

  6.  Scott McBride | 08-Feb-08

    Nice use of the diminished chords.  What a nice, fun song.  Great job, Charlie.

  7. Carley Baer | 08-Feb-08

    I have a feeling I'll be tapping my toes to this tune all day at the coffeeshop.  One question... who is Jimmy Doogan?  Because everytime I heard his name, I kept thinking of Tom Hanks' character in A League of Their Own.  It made for some entertaining imagery anyhow. 

    Good work!

  8.  Phil Norman  | 08-Feb-08

    Magic 8-ball, could this kick any more ass?

    Looks doubtful.

    The chord structure and melody fit the "boffed" lyric so well.  You should "boff" lyric more often.  The "ace of spades etched in ink on his ankle" is a PERFECT characterization detail--showing without telling. 

    Such a great swing and groove to this one.  A giant chicken's worth of catchy.  Your work this FAWM so far is simply remarkable.

  9.  TampaStan | 07-Feb-08

    Impressive Fun, Mr Charlie~

    I zipped thru 5 Pages-Worth of Titles before I came across this Great Poetic and Interrogative Baby...& the Musical Hooks are STILL hangin'-onto my Addlepated Brain...Prolly for The Entire Evening!

    "KUDOS"  (Think Evabody knows a "Jimmy D"...You descrined him to A "T"~)....


    Good Luck with this Winner, Amigo!

    Your New Fan.
    Stan

  10.  Elaine DiMasi  | 07-Feb-08

    Sweet.

    Um, "where folkies fear to shred" ? 
    The theme of Jeff Landgraf's "I'm Just a Folk Singer" ...

  11.  Nancy Rost  | 07-Feb-08

    Fun song!  Cool lyrics, great hook.  I'm jealous of you for having backup singers now.  Well, I have been since GAMI last year.

  12.  isaac quatorze  | 06-Feb-08

    i'm running out of ways to tell you how much ass you kick, so i may soon have to resort to a visual aid.  it won't be pretty...   gosh, charlie, you are the master of every style i've heard you try.  i gotta agree with some of the commenters below, the rhythm guitar really gave the song a mysterious, rolling feel, along with the repeated lyrics.  nice shredding :-D

  13.  Eric Distad | 06-Feb-08

    I like the "circular" rhythmic feel. 

    I loled at this - We all call him "Weasel".  I think I might know this guy... or his cousin at least. 

    The harmony vox at the end were great!

    Lots of fun, Charlie! 

  14.  debrandio | 06-Feb-08

    too much - all smiles after that
    that jimmy doogan must hang out with jim croce's "don't mess..  jim"

    shred on....

  15.  Dan Wallbank (The Approximation) | 06-Feb-08

    Charlie. Charlie Charlie.

    This is my new favourite Charlie song.

  16. Jenna | 06-Feb-08

    Ah I just adore this.  It's got such an awesome vibe, and I say that a lot but that's because it's always true haha.  I actually thought the lyric "screw-ups" added to the song.  At the very least it made it more natural, which is cool.

    Loved loved loved the shredding.  It reminded me of Santana actually.  =)

  17. Pigfarmer Jr | 06-Feb-08

    Wow, I really liked this.

    I think your "shredding" was great, although i'm not sure that's the appropriate term. I saw the comment about the sparse guitar work being very good, but I would like to hear a bit more of chordal work (at times) during the verses. Maybe just cuz i liked the guitar work so much.

    I could totally hear the vibe. I was impressed. From the title I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.
    Good Job.

  18.  Evin Wolverton | 06-Feb-08

    Great vocal delivery! The spare rhythm guitar really compliments this song -- and a wise call on the multi-vocals later on.

  19.  Hoopshank  | 06-Feb-08

    I'm keeping an eye out for that Jimmy Doogan - sounds like a nasty piece of work. Darn that weasel - thanks for letting me know. I'll keep him moving if he comes round here - with a great big boot up his backside!

    Seriously, another great song. I can imagine it in a smoke filled bar in a gangster film set in 50's America. And I hope you're paying your backing group Musicians' Union rates.....

  20. Susan Howe  | 06-Feb-08

    Wonderful. I laughed. Delight.
    The guitar sounds great. I loved the bvs...
    I gotta listen again...

    You are the Charliest.


  21.  Steve_Apple_Head | 06-Feb-08

    I LOVE when the lead guitar pops in the right speaker.
    Is that a demo comment?  It is.  I apologize.  :)

    On the song side:  I like the cadence and flow of the main phrase "Jimmy Doogan doing".  And the end group vocal is wicked awesome.  Nice.  That will be sticking in my noggin for awhile.


  22.  spinhead  | 06-Feb-08

    Oh, man, that glissando riffly thing at the end of the first line is huge.

    And the shredding.

    I hope you know a guy named Jimmy Doogan and you don't like him very much 'cause that'd make it more fun.

    "Uh huh" - I am laughing out loud. The Cheneyettes are fantastic.

    I love this.