My Sunday Song #113 is “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band. The song was released in 1973 and appeared on the album ‘The Joker’. The song did really well for Steve and the band as it went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 110 chart. It is probably the highest pot smoking song ever charted.
The song has this slow, laid back groove that is so cool and relaxing thanks to his stellar rhythm section of Gerald Johnson on Bass and John King on drums. The slide guitar by Steve brings this really interesting feel to the song and when he does the wolf whistle on it, damn, it is just fantastic. It really does feel like a stoner song and I don’t even smoke it, but if I did this song would be playing for sure.
However, the lyrics are king here. The song is famous for it’s pot reference for the chorus that goes…
“I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker”
How could you not sing along to that.
The many references to his own past such as “Space Cowboy”, “Gangster of Love” and “Enter Maurice” as well as even the reference to songs he liked by others. In particular is “The Letter” by The Medallions which you can get from his reference with the phrase “Pompitous of Love”. He also references the song “Lovey Dovey” by The Clovers with the line “Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time”.
There is so much to like about this song that you can’t go wrong listening to it. You will enjoy it over and over for years to come. Give it a listen and let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy and have a Happy Sunday!!
“The Joker”
Some call me the gangster of love
Some people call me Maurice
Cause I speak of the pompitous of lovePeople talk about me, baby
Say I’m doin’ you wrong, doin’ you wrong
Well, don’t you worry baby
Don’t worry
Cause I’m right here, right here, right here, right here at home
Cause I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I sure don’t want to hurt no one
I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I get my lovin’ on the run
Wooo Wooooo
You’re the cutest thing
That I ever did see
I really love your peaches
Want to shake your tree
Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time
Ooo-eee baby, I’ll sure show you a good time
Cause I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I get my lovin’ on the run
I’m a picker
I’m a grinner
I’m a lover
And I’m a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I’m a joker
I’m a smoker
I’m a midnight toker
I sure don’t want to hurt no one
Wooo Woooo
People keep talking about me baby
They say I’m doin’ you wrong
Well don’t you worry, don’t worry, no don’t worry mama
Cause I’m right here at home
You’re the cutest thing I ever did see
Really love your peaches want to shake your tree
Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time
Come on baby and I’ll show you a good time
Written by Eddie Curtis, Ahmet Ertegun and Steve Miller
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
First tune of theirs I ever heard. I think it was used in an ad in the UK. Stayed with me, too… a great tune.
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Might be the first for a lot of people when learning about this band. He had so many great tunes to choose from, but this one stuck out as most memorable for me.
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A class song and one that will always endure. Remember it being on the radio often.
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I still hear it a lot on our local classic rock station.
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I just happened to be watching this and laughed when I saw your post.
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That is funny…and eerie as well.
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I’m not big on Greatest Hits comp’s but this is a must own!
Seen Miller when he was on a bill with Bryan Adams and others…read about it below…haha
cheap plug
https://superdekes.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/kids-wanna-rock/
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Great show! I have never seen Steve and hate I missed that. Yes, their greatest hits album is truly that. Some awesome stuff and probably where everyone should start with for them.
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Love this song – remember it from my Guitar Hero days! Please feel free to follow my new blog at http://www.maximoco.com, would love to hear your thoughts on my Self-Help Songs series, which analyses lyrics like you do here 🙂
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Maaaaan, Steve Miller. Saw him in concert in the 90s one time… I recommend both Hits sets (the standard blue cover, and the one that covers 68-73!
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I never saw him live. That would have been a treat. I know I have one of those hits packages.
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He was pretty good in concert, though I think a bit out of it or something. I recall him missing lyrics… I’m going off a memory from… 1993? A while ago. Anyway, it was a 4-band bill: Sass Jordan, Steve Miller band, Extreme, and Bryan Adams (on the Waking Up The Nation tour). Fun times!
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That was a good lineup. Yeah, I can’t remember much from back then either.
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