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Paul Kelly — Dumb Things
Album: Under the Sun
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1191









Released: 1989
Length: 2:27
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Welcome, strangers, to the show
I’m the one who should be lying low
Saw the knives out, turned my back
Heard the train coming, stayed out on the track
In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of a dream
I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings
I’ve done all the dumb things

Caught the fever, heard the tune
Thought I loved her, hung my heart on the moon
Started howling, made no sense
Thought my friends would rush to my defence
In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of a dream
I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings
I’ve done all the dumb things

And I get all your good advice
It doesn’t stop me from going through these things twice
I see the knives out, I turn my back
I hear the train coming, I stay right on that track
In the middle, in the middle, in the middle of a dream
I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings
I’ve done all the dumb things
I melted wax to fix my wings
I’ve done all the dumb things
I threw my hat into the ring
I’ve done all the dumb things
I thought that I just had to sing
I’ve done all the dumb things
Comments (50)add comment
 ibribe wrote:


It's bloody brilliant, mate!!

Works for me.  I grew up in NJ.  Totally cool.
Posted 3 days ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 petecallaghan wrote:

This album has particular resonance for me.

In 1988 my friend and I drove around the entire Australian continent in our 1974 Ford Falcon station wagon, and Paul Kelly provided the sound track.

His music is rich in Australian cultural references, and every time I hear a song from the album I am transported to those times, those places. 

It was a wonderful experience, and my friend and I still regularly remind each other of events from the trip.



Cool story. Thank You for sharing it.
Posted 3 days ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 tm wrote:

this is fucking brilliant!!!



It's bloody brilliant, mate!!
Posted 1 year ago by ibribe    [ Reply ]
This album has particular resonance for me.

In 1988 my friend and I drove around the entire Australian continent in our 1974 Ford Falcon station wagon, and Paul Kelly provided the sound track.

His music is rich in Australian cultural references, and every time I hear a song from the album I am transported to those times, those places. 

It was a wonderful experience, and my friend and I still regularly remind each other of events from the trip.
Posted 1 year ago by petecallaghan    [ Reply ]
 janac13 wrote:

It's the 21st of December here in Oz so happy Gravy Day to all. I'm lucky to see the great man tonight on his Making Gravy tour. Pity Bill doesn't have Australias unofficial Christmas Anthem "How to make Heavy".



I think you mean "How to make gravy"
Posted 1 year ago by andrewsj    [ Reply ]
so, this is now on the rock mix played daily. interesting trend.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:

YOW! Ain't this a late '80s kick in the head? Reminds me of Split Enz, The Replacements, and others like it on the radio at the time...



yes!! what a time that was.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 MuscularTeeth wrote:

An Aussie Music Legend. 




GREAT TUNE!!  I never heard of him, prior to RP. That is why we come here.   Thanx RP!  
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
An Aussie Music Legend. 
Posted 2 years ago by MuscularTeeth    [ Reply ]
R-r-r-r-r-r-r-ockin'!!!!
Posted 2 years ago by garrettb    [ Reply ]
 tm wrote:

this is fucking brilliant!!!




Ah hell yeah.
Posted 2 years ago by mkane67    [ Reply ]
Paul Kelly is and always will be one of the top ever for me. Would love to hear more of him on RP.
Posted 2 years ago by derrylm1    [ Reply ]
The more I hear this tune, the more I like it!!  Thanx RP!
Posted 3 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Great Tune!!  I never heard of him before.  Thanx RP!
Posted 3 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:

..... and the Coloured Girls.


Huh, oh.  Am I allowed to enjoy this song or is it quote unquote racist?




That means you'll also have to abandon "Walk on the Wild Side," the lyrics of which I'm pretty sure are the origin of this name.
Posted 3 years ago by neil3    [ Reply ]
Paul Kelly is my favourite classic Oz-Rocker
Posted 3 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
this is fucking brilliant!!!
Posted 3 years ago by tm    [ Reply ]
Freaking **LOVE** this tune!!! Thank you!!
Posted 3 years ago by keenevision    [ Reply ]
Paul Kelly's a legend!
Posted 3 years ago by NoisyMiner    [ Reply ]
Strines rock! Ripper! :)
Posted 4 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
How have I never heard this before? 
Posted 4 years ago by costoonces    [ Reply ]
This guy has a fantastic body of work. Wish RP would play more.
Posted 4 years ago by jmarks    [ Reply ]
..... and the Coloured Girls.


Huh, oh.  Am I allowed to enjoy this song or is it quote unquote racist?
Posted 4 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
I believe I heard this song for the first time recently when it was put to good use during a party scene in the Australian series The Heart Guy. Hearing it here makes me wonder if I heard it many moons ago but it didn't sink in. 
Posted 4 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
What a blast from the past during the dull days of self-isolation!
I lived in Australia in 1989 and wore out this cassette in my Walkman.
Posted 4 years ago by rtb    [ Reply ]
Another Bolt Out of the Blue from RP! Now, I got to get up and dance!!
Posted 5 years ago by Piranga    [ Reply ]
Another thumbs up for Adelaide along with Cold Chisel/Jimmy Barnes amongst others
Posted 5 years ago by LoudshirtsBand    [ Reply ]
Paul Kelly on RP - you little beauty!
Posted 5 years ago by tomperth1    [ Reply ]
It's the 21st of December here in Oz so happy Gravy Day to all. I'm lucky to see the great man tonight on his Making Gravy tour. Pity Bill doesn't have Australias unofficial Christmas Anthem "How to make Heavy".
Posted 5 years ago by janac13    [ Reply ]
 elrayox wrote:
 A joy to hear  Paul Kelly on RP,,recently attended a open concert air concert in Perth . he had Steve Earle as a  backup artist...more of both please.  all new fans to paul kelly should check out his GOSSIP album... his best IMO.
 

Most certainly!!! His catalogue deserves to be heard beyond just this song.
Posted 5 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
 jcyr wrote:
Midnight oil...


 barbarabush450 wrote:
Mexican Radio?


This makes me wonder if anyone has ever mistaken Wall of Voodoo for Midnight Oil (or vice versa).
Posted 5 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]
 aspalathin wrote:
I've done all the dumplings...
 
With gravy?
Posted 5 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
This reminds me of the theme song for True Blood done by Jace Everett, "Bad Things". Of course this was years before that...
Posted 5 years ago by ImaOldman    [ Reply ]
Midnight oil...
Posted 6 years ago by jcyr    [ Reply ]
Mexican Radio?
Posted 6 years ago by barbarabush450    [ Reply ]
 A joy to hear  Paul Kelly on RP,,recently attended a open concert air concert in Perth . he had Steve Earle as a  backup artist...more of both please.  all new fans to paul kelly should check out his GOSSIP album... his best IMO.
Posted 7 years ago by elrayox    [ Reply ]
I've done all the dumplings...
Posted 7 years ago by aspalathin    [ Reply ]
Yowza!  Back of the rack or what?  I love how RP takes me back to "the good ol' days" of the 80's.  Thank you!
Posted 7 years ago by Spots_Stew    [ Reply ]
YOW! Ain't this a late-'80s kick in the head? Reminds me of Split Enz, The Replacements, and others like it on the radio at the time...
Posted 7 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 janac13 wrote:
Nothing better than Mr Kelly blasting out if the stereo whilst lounging in the pool in the middle of the Brisvegas heatwave. A real oz legend.

 
Brizvegas, the bane of Briz civic community.
Posted 7 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Revved-up blues - like!
Posted 8 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
Nothing better than Mr Kelly blasting out if the stereo whilst lounging in the pool in the middle of the Brisvegas heatwave. A real oz legend.
Posted 8 years ago by janac13    [ Reply ]
so good to hear paul kelly on RP, lets hear more especially from his early albums, yeah
 
Posted 8 years ago by STC_workshop    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard much of his recent music, but his albums from the mid to late 80s and the early 90s are outstanding.  Great stuff!  
More would be welcome here Bill.
Posted 8 years ago by Cyclehawk    [ Reply ]

Whoa...recognized this voice in an instant. Would love to hear something from "So Much Water Close To Home" Bill.

Cities of Texas would be a good start 


Posted 8 years ago by Sunman    [ Reply ]
A great Aussie talent and still going strong.
Posted 8 years ago by Spud    [ Reply ]
doesn't sound that old- nice.
{#Bananapiano}
Posted 8 years ago by yuel    [ Reply ]
Image resultMore Mr Kelly Bill.  Thanks.


Posted 8 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
Great to hear this one!  A nine.
Posted 8 years ago by Cyclehawk    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}
Posted 8 years ago by morefigs    [ Reply ]