The Dudes – “Do The Right Thing”

I want to preface this article by saying I’m not much of a lyrics guy.

I get shit for it all the time with my friends but I have my reasons.

Far too often do I get people telling me “Check out this song, the lyrics are so good.” Usually in these cases I do, only to be less than impressed. Why? Because they don’t make any sense to me.

I know that a lot of times that’s half the point. Lyrics are supposed to be subtle or open to interpretation but I, for the most part, just can’t care. I might be inclined to dig a little deeper if the song is good, but writing is never my primary incentive to listen to a song. If you think that everyone’s going to listen to your song because you have some great lyrics, you’re an idiot. Or possibly Neil Young.

So what I really like to look for in a song is an emotion. I want the singer and the rest of the band to make me feel; to make me care enough to keep listening. The inflection of the words and the way they are sung definitely play into this, but bottom line is always the sound.

That being said, every once in a while a song will get through to me and blow my mind.

Even though it’s a bit of an older track, I got back into listening to “Do The Right Thing” by band called The Dudes. Four guys from Alberta who have a great summer rock ‘n’ roll sort of sound. Their stuff is easy to pick up and listen to and it’s no surprise I fell back into the habit during some of the nicer days this month.

This song in particular is especially great in the sense that it’s a quick and catchy. An upbeat sound with some crashing guitars, a little call and answer breakdown; a solid tune all around.

And so it remained in that sense to me, until just the other day when I was showering (ladies, calm yourselves).

I always bring my iPod dock into the shower with me so I can listen to some of my favourite songs while I suds up. Naturally, “Do The Right Thing” came on and, as I am wont to do, I started singing along. Maybe it was the echo of my tiny bathroom or maybe I was just a little more enlightened that day, but I started paying attention to the lyrics bit by bit.

My bedroom’s worse than the Catholic Church
I let anyone in

And I’ve made time for girls
From every walk of life and line of work
It’s nice I’m sure
There must be something more

And that’s when I started putting the pieces together. This song that sounded so upbeat really carries the message of a torn heart. A conflicted man between his carnal habits and what he really wants.

My heart’s wide open and I sure was hoping
You could close it down

It seems I’m finding out
That loving you girl can be so frightening

Suddenly the guitars didn’t have quite the same defiant crash as they did before. Sure they’re rocking, but there’s something else to it. It’s almost like a false sense of bravado over an insecure lick.

And by the time the call and answer part came around, it was no longer just a nice breakdown but almost a pleading voice from a drowning soul.

Say my name
And I will give you anything

Kiss my face
And I will kiss yours anywhere

Love don’t go
And watch me lose control

Now maybe I’m being a little over dramatic, but to effortlessly give a song such a unified feeling in sound and lyrics shows great skill from these boys.

And, most importantly, it doesn’t use lyrics as a crutch. It’s already an excellent track that becomes even greater when the meaning is accounted for.

If all songs function by that principle maybe I’ll come around to paying more attention to the work put into words.

Check out the Dudes Myspace here.