Kingfish

Album: Good Old Boys (1974)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is Newman's tribute to Huey P. Long (1893-1935), who was Governor of the State of Louisiana. Although Newman was born in Los Angeles, he spent much of his early life in New Orleans, a move which he documented in his song "Dixie Flyer." Huey Long was a populist politician; known as the Kingfish, he built much of the State's infrastructure in his four-year term, and was seen by many as the champion of the small man and the rural poor against big business.

    The song is written in the first person singular and includes the line "Every man a king." This was the title of the campaign song Long co-wrote with Professor Castro Carazo to promote his "Share Our Wealth" program. Newman also recorded "Every Man A King" for the Good Old Boys album. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

  • Bill from Uswell theoretically its a good old boys tribute to Huey Long, not Randy Newman's! Mr. Newman was the king of satire in song, he didn't really want to drop the bomb and I'm sure he didn't really mind short people!
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