Pickwick
Album: Can’t Talk Medicine
Release Date: 2013
USA
Galen Disston talks about Hacienda Motel & Lady Luck
Hacienda Motel
Hacienda Motel is about the conspiracy theories surrounding Sam Cooke’s death. There’s a Netflix documentary about it now [The Two Killings of Sam Cooke]. The only things I’d add are at Cooke’s funeral Etta James noticed his face was all beaten and bruised, which didn’t make sense with the story of how he was killed by the hotel owner.
In our song, there are two men at the funeral that are pleased too see Sam Cooke dead, because they felt like he is becoming too powerful of a local businessman (owning a studio, releasing his songs without a white-owned label).
Lady Luck (feat. Sharon van Etten)
I don’t really feel comfortable writing about the content of Lady Luck because it was written by Richard Swift. But the experience of recording was very straightforward.
I used to work at a hospital, and on my lunch break we picked Sharon up from the venue she was playing at that night in Seattle, and drove her up to our home studio. She explored the song during the recording, and interpreted it in her own way. She was very kind. She agreed to do the song, because her brother had seen us play in Montreal and urged her to do the recording.
[vc_toggle title=”Lyrics: Hacienda Motel”] That whore she left you bloody On the motel lobby floor Even though she took your money Oh you know she needed more Well what was she thinking? I’ll just take what I can get I’ve got him where I want him Or should I place a bigger bet? All the clean lies That she told herself Getting ready for that night All the strings they kept on pulling ‘Till she couldn’t feel how tight All the mixing and the meddling As the hit was going down The naked man was singing But he didn’t make a sound At last we see the casket Oh the widow hides her face Your head was off your body And your nose all beaten down As the preacher bowed his head Two men hardly make a sound And now they have the city And a change is coming down Lady you shot me oh I knew it couldn’t last for long Lady you shot me oh Now the tent is falling down Lady you shot me oh Now the river is running out Lady you shot me oh My brother knocked me down [/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Lyrics: Lady Luck”] Lady luck, she is lovely Lady luck, she is free But I wish sometimes that lady luck She would find some time to spend with me Why do I worry? Why do I fear? It’s just the beginning But I feel the end is near I look around And I don’t feel like myself Tell me please, tell me please Is it my mind or is it my health? Lady luck, she is lovely Lady luck, she is free But I wish sometimes that lady luck She would find some time to spend with me No need to worry There is no need to fear It’s just the beginning Though the end is near Now sing it to me Lady luck, she is lovely Lady luck, she is free But I wish sometimes that lady luck She would find some time to spend with me [/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Tracklist: Can’t Talk Medicine”] 1. “Halls of Columbia” 2. “The Round” 3. “Hacienda Motel” 4. “Well, Well” 5. “Myths” 6. “Brother Roland” 7. “Letterbox” 8. “The Shadow“ 9. “Lady Luck” 10. “Can’t Talk Medicine” 11. “Staged Names” 12. “Window Sill” 13. “Santa Rosa” [/vc_toggle]Get social w/Pickwick
Credit: Lindsey Blane 
Credit: Lindsey Blane
