Ahh, but you see, vagrancy isn’t being jailed for a failure to pay bills. It was rationalized on the basis of people without a visible means of support are criminals waiting for a chance to commit a crime. Since, of course, no one with a job would actually commit a crime, it’s an incentive to keep them hoboes from sticking in any one area where they might be noticed. :rolleyes:
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
and
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim
…two of his major hits, are both examples of this.
No, but I can’t really think of a way to explain it to you without sounding ofensive. Let me just say that when Croce did it, it sounded like parody. Fair use, I suppose, but it just comes off as hokey to me.
I wouldn’t say that these are examples of Croce ripping anybody off. His style is certainly heavily influenced by the accoustic blues tradition, but practically all of rock-n-roll is lifted from some traditionally “black” music.
Most who spend time listening to Croce, I think, end up hearing a sincerity and earnestness that is anything but a rip-off.
I can see what you’re saying, An Arky. I’d never thought of it that way, but it’s not an unreasonable interpretation. I tend to think it was more homage, or interpreting traditional music to his own experiences, or times, but you’re free to have your opinion.
Likewise, I’m not trying to argue that Croce meant vagrancy vice child support for his incarceration - I’d meant only what I’d said in my first post in this thread: I’d always thought it was vagrancy he was up for. It doesn’t matter much to me, which it was, really. I’d only meant to offer an alternative interpretation.
I think I mentioned that the “ripping off black music” charge can be commonly applied. I do think that his other songs like Operator and Time In A Bottle are indeed sincere and decent.
Sorry for the hijack, folks.
Evey reference I saw in a bit of Googling refers to non-support in a child support context, FWIW.