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The The — I Saw The Light
Album: Hanky Panky
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 816









Released: 1994
Length: 2:36
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin
I wouldn't let my dear savior in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the lord, I saw the light

I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the lord, I saw the light

Just like a blind man, I wandered alone
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the lord, I saw the light

I was a fool to wander and stray
For straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the lord, I saw the light

I saw the light, I saw the light
Comments (97)add comment
I've heard many covers of this Hank Williams tune, but this one is the most far out!
Posted 2 months ago by surfool    [ Reply ]
High anticipation for the new album in September!  Perhaps William and team can add the new single to the RP rotation?! 
Posted 5 months ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
It's a shame he didn't follow up this as planned with tributes to other great singer songwriters. Guess the label didn't support it. I'm surprised they supported this one, but they dicked him over and wouldn't release Gun Sluts and kept the rights to it. Record Labels suck.
Posted 6 months ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
Most excellent segue from Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit. 
Posted 6 months ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
Love this album of all Hank Williams songs. And I love the RP plays it!
Posted 1 year ago by 4cowhig3    [ Reply ]
 geordiezimmerman wrote:

Soul Mining is THE The The album imo.



It's gotta be either Mind Bomb or Dusk.
Posted 2 years ago by bc    [ Reply ]
Next!
Posted 6 years ago by paulfhplaptop896    [ Reply ]
Wish it would actually play on the PSD. Just saw them last week in LA on their Comeback Special Tour, first tour in 20 years. Great show. My third time seeing them. 
Posted 6 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
 dwrona wrote:
Reminds me a bit of the Black Keys

 
...if the Black Keys were the worship band at a "contemporary" evangelical church.

Which is actually a cool idea if you think about it.
Posted 6 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
 chyk5 wrote:

Matt? Are you in there, Matt?   

 
damn, that's awfully funny
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 dwrona wrote:
Reminds me a bit of the Black Keys

 
Since they predate the Black Keys it should be the other way about!
Posted 7 years ago by Jota    [ Reply ]
I love it when a cover takes a song completely out of its normal genre and makes it work.
Posted 8 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Love this album. Got me into listening to Hanks himself.
Posted 8 years ago by Andybob    [ Reply ]
Reminds me a bit of the Black Keys
Posted 8 years ago by dwrona    [ Reply ]
PSD
Posted 8 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Strange to hear this now. Just a couple of days ago, I heard The The for the first time in a decade, playing a digitized copy of an old mix tape. They made some cool music but this song... well, not. 
Posted 9 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
 Stranglersfan wrote:

Quite the contrary in fact. They started as a super creative, highly melodic powerhouse. Incredibly well crafted music through the 1980's and 90's. Terrific musicians, Matt Johnson on vocals, Zeke Manika on drums etc.
They were often grouped together with the likes of Soft Cell, Swans, Cabaret Voltaire etc. My opinion is that they were a cut above all these these bands. (My opinion of course)
Anyways get yourself a copy of Soul Mining-1983 and judge for yourself.

 
That's about the size of it. They were always tuneful and danceable, but were definitely on the alternative side of 80s music as they, or rather Matt Johnson, were deeply politically radical and very angry. The lyrics excoriated, amongst many other things, Thatcherism, yuppies, evangelical preachers, and Reaganism.
Posted 9 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
PSD
Posted 10 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
Rubbish
Posted 11 years ago by ChrisH    [ Reply ]



Matt? Are you in there, Matt?   
Posted 11 years ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
 Giselle62 wrote:
This is good—-this band started as an industrial-noise band if I remember right.
 
Quite the contrary in fact. They started as a super creative, highly melodic powerhouse. Incredibly well crafted music through the 1980's and 90's. Terrific musicians, Matt Johnson on vocals, Zeke Manika on drums etc.
They were often grouped together with the likes of Soft Cell, Swans, Cabaret Voltaire etc. My opinion is that they were a cut above all these these bands. (My opinion of course)
Anyways get yourself a copy of Soul Mining-1983 and judge for yourself.
Posted 11 years ago by Stranglersfan    [ Reply ]
you say this is an album of Hank William's songs? neato.
Posted 12 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
This is good—-this band started as an industrial-noise band if I remember right.
Posted 12 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
 boober wrote:
Sounds like The Black Keys
 
Check the date

Posted 12 years ago by neuticle    [ Reply ]
Love this rockin' version of the old-timey Gospel-y bluegrass song. {#Guitarist}
Posted 12 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
Sounds like The Black Keys
Posted 13 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
It took the genius of Matt Johnson to open my ears to the genius of Hank Williams. Hanky Panky is sublime!
Posted 13 years ago by HansBrinker    [ Reply ]
 geordiezimmerman wrote:
Soul Mining is THE The The album imo.
 
I I believe believe that that I I concur concur.

Thus Thus rules rules the the Arizona Arizona Hanging Hanging Judge Judge.


Posted 13 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
 geordiezimmerman wrote:
Soul Mining is THE The The album imo.
 
IMO Infected is better, but both are chock-full of Matt Johnson's raw anger at the Thatcherite 80s and US colonisation of the UK, which was especially evident during the Thatcher regime and its very close relationship with the Reagan regime. Johnson also loathed US-style evangelical religion a' la Billy Graham, with good reason IMO. I'd not known about this album before, though, so I might hunt it down in the record stores.

Posted 13 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Not bad enough to be a 1... but it gets a 2.
Posted 14 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
 geordiezimmerman wrote:
Soul Mining is THE The The album imo.
 
+1

Posted 14 years ago by Neil66    [ Reply ]
Soul Mining is THE The The album imo.
Posted 14 years ago by geordiezimmerman    [ Reply ]
 copymonkey wrote:
Is this supposed to sound like Spinal Tap eating Deep Purple?
 

I'm in favor of that.
Posted 14 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
Is this supposed to sound like Spinal Tap eating Deep Purple?
Posted 14 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
IMO this is some of the worst from a pretty decent band.
Posted 14 years ago by spigolli    [ Reply ]
Need to play UNCERTAIN SMILE!!{#Notworthy}
Posted 14 years ago by dw    [ Reply ]
 earthbased wrote:
I don't think Johnny Marr palys on this cd.
 
You are correct Sir....here's the personnel listing for the Hanky Panky (1995) release:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanky_Panky_%28The_The_album%29


Posted 15 years ago by Tim_in_N_FL    [ Reply ]
 TravelRat wrote:

No kidding!  I've liked these guys since the 80s—was always surprised they didn't get a bigger following. {#Dancingbanana_2}
 
Yeah, Mind Bomb was probably their biggest album.  I wish they were still putting 'em out.

Posted 15 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
Might as well be walkin on the sun...
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
 nate917 wrote:



In Chicago, they're called Da Duh.
 



here in France we call them simply "zuh zuh" (or "zee zee"....;)

Posted 15 years ago by chamrousse1450    [ Reply ]
{#Stop}
Posted 15 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]
Dogs of Lust was a good one
Posted 15 years ago by inmanart    [ Reply ]
and then?
Posted 15 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
 SmackDaddy wrote:
The most underrated artist/band/songwriter ever.
 
No kidding!  I've liked these guys since the 80s—was always surprised they didn't get a bigger following. {#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 15 years ago by TravelRat    [ Reply ]

Oh man. Do not like this.


Posted 16 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]

Sweet cover! I usually like updated covers of these types of songs—spirituals, hymns, whatever. Good stuff!


Posted 16 years ago by smilestoomuch    [ Reply ]
The most underrated artist/band/songwriter ever.
Posted 16 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
warderblu wrote:
2 Words: Johnny Marr
I think Johnny Marr only played on Mind Bomb and Solitude. He left the band before this was released, and the guitarist on this album was Eric Schermerhorn.
Posted 16 years ago by seattle3313    [ Reply ]
The The. Right on Bill! I dig these guys. I think I prefer the Mind Bomb album.
Posted 16 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
Just right!
Posted 16 years ago by bupanishad2012    [ Reply ]
What a tune - I have been a big fan of The The for 20 years, Matt Johnson is a British music legend! He lives in the US now though.
Posted 17 years ago by TonyBear    [ Reply ]
kazuma wrote:
So, is the name of this band pronounced "tha tha" or "thee thee" or "thee tha" or "tha thee" or ... ?
In Chicago, they're called Da Duh.
Posted 17 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
One of the best albums of 1995!
Posted 17 years ago by Monkeysdad    [ Reply ]
Boy, for a minute I thought you were playing Savoy Brown's Louisanma Blues...sigh...
Posted 17 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
Works for me! Sure beats the junk I'm persuaded to listen to on CM-The Spirit. (Wife demands we not listen to RP on Sunday—can you imagine?)
Posted 17 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
So, is the name of this band pronounced "tha tha" or "thee thee" or "thee tha" or "tha thee" or ... ?
Posted 17 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
htowncoog wrote:
RP needs to add The The songs from "Mind Bomb" and "Dusk"! Make it so! :-)
Totally. "Mind Bomb" is amazing!
Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
earthbased wrote:
I don't think Johnny Marr palys on this cd.
The guitarist on this CD is Eric Schermerhorn.
Posted 18 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
RP needs to add The The songs from "Mind Bomb" and "Dusk"! Make it so! :-)
Posted 18 years ago by htowncoog    [ Reply ]
wouldn't it be funny if Marylyn Manson did a jesus song like this?
Posted 18 years ago by anniebear    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by rachlan    [ Reply ]
What was that again? You saw the what ?
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
I thought this was a Beck song.. at the start.
Posted 18 years ago by Gryn    [ Reply ]
Is the cover art supposed to be a joke? Because if it's not, that would make it even funnier.
Posted 18 years ago by glassjawgrlxxx    [ Reply ]
Doesn't the very beginning of this song sound like "Oye Como Va"? I think it is this song . . . What about a group with a name like this?!! Got to check this out.
Posted 18 years ago by rKokon    [ Reply ]
Platypus wrote:
(and the amazon album cover above is pretty hilarious)
Are you *sure* MJ wasn't ever in the Shondells? Glue some hair on his dome, and he's easily the dude right up front, diggin' the scene with the gangsta-lean. Jeepers, I just fully appreciated the sweet leg-framing, complete with cowboy boots, for the fella to Matt's left. Oy. I have clearly found this month's desktop. Tile on!
Posted 19 years ago by Schmackdown    [ Reply ]
Ah Bill... Check the album graphic, not The The Hanky Panky.
Posted 19 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
Dunno what Hank woulda thunk of this, but I know that Hank Jr. would hate it, and Hank III love it. Maybe talent skips a generation.
Posted 19 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
friggin phenomenal album... (and the amazon album cover above is pretty hilarious)
Posted 19 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
This album, although not my favourite by The The (gotta be Infected or Dawn to dusk..) is really good. Made me see Hank Williams anew. My fav. number = Tear in my Beer...
Posted 19 years ago by cormac    [ Reply ]
Too bad there isn't a bunch of Christian rock that gets it on like this. If there were, I'd be listening to a lot more Christian music.
Posted 19 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
the light.........it's overrated
Posted 19 years ago by newbaby    [ Reply ]
warderblu wrote:
2 Words: Johnny Marr
I don't think Johnny Marr palys on this cd.
Posted 19 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
warderblu wrote:
2 Words: Johnny Marr
One word, "Rules."
Posted 20 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
Again, part of a very nice mix of songs. Play more!!!!
Posted 20 years ago by sujomgmt    [ Reply ]
2 Words: Johnny Marr
Posted 20 years ago by warderblu    [ Reply ]
RichardPrins wrote:
:nodhead:
Posted 20 years ago by miamizsun    [ Reply ]
Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Kick ass tune. Love the CD. Cranking Hank!
Posted 20 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
bluedot wrote:
hmmm...the guitar reminds me of zz top! hey! how come no zz top on rp? "shake my broom" would be a good start...
Whaddaya mean no ZZ on RP? I hear "Heard It On The X" about once a week! I don't know much beyond their popular stuff, but I'm grateful not to hear their MTv hits here!
Posted 20 years ago by Cavedragon    [ Reply ]
hmmm...the guitar reminds me of zz top! hey! how come no zz top on rp? "shake my broom" would be a good start...
Posted 20 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
My fave track on "hanky panky" is "Long gone Daddy"... I posted an mp3 for a CW friend... it's here if ya want it: https://www.mcarterphoto.com/hank
Posted 20 years ago by mc    [ Reply ]
This is getting better and better, now I am afraid to go for lunch and miss more great songs, and they have been incredibly connected...Good to hear The The
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
I've seen Matt Johnson live at his one and only stop in Winnipeg. (If you don't know where that is, don't worry about it.) There were maybe a hundred very dedicated fans. It was a total blast. It took at least five minutes of nonstop all out cheering to get them back for an encore. It was worth it!!
Posted 20 years ago by aWanna    [ Reply ]
My first exposure to this song was, if you believe it, a Columbo episode starring Johnny Cash as a wife-murdering religious folk-singer. =) Have always loved the song, and this version just makes my hiney wiggle with glee! /chairdance
Posted 20 years ago by Euphemism    [ Reply ]
I love the The The. I have driven hundreds of miles to see him. I have all of his albums. He just keeps getting better with each successive release. Please play lots and lots of The The!
Posted 21 years ago by gregorbill    [ Reply ]
oh my. a band worth following. dot.
Posted 21 years ago by Dotman    [ Reply ]
Glad to see some respect in the comments for Matt on RP. As a big fan of the MJ, I\'ve been cursed... I\'ve missed a concert though illness, another because of a Family event and the one I did get to... they opened at Shoreline for New Order. The The The\'s speaker set up (or something) wasn\'t functioning too well. Matt couldn\'t hear properly on stage and they gave up after about 4 songs. Most people seemed happy that New Order came on earlier than they expected... I went home early.
Posted 21 years ago by stubbsz    [ Reply ]
Saw The The with Jhonny Marr a few years back. Matt\'s most recent disc has some beautiful tunes. Check out the liner notes at his site for some interesting notes on the musicians involved and his unusual recording practices. Dot
Posted 22 years ago by Dotman    [ Reply ]
It\'s sad that THE THE has rather slipped into a shadow of neglect, though not one of my favorite bands, I enjoy everything I hear from them.
Posted 22 years ago by BC_Night_Heron    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by Leslie: I'm old enough to have heard this original version, but for some reason I have not. Please forgive me if I have offended anyone! :)
Leslie - I am a huge The The fan and a huge Hank Williams Sr fan. both versions are the greatest.
Posted 22 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
THIS SPACE FOR RENT
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Matt is Excellent! Any chance of hearing \"Heartland\" from the \"Infected\" album? Or anything - just more please! (Bill - I\'m surprised this fits RP but Morphine doesn\'t...)
Posted 22 years ago by Loni    [ Reply ]
Parts of this song remind me of \'Cold Turkey\' off the \'Plastic Ono Band\' album.
Posted 22 years ago by rolo    [ Reply ]