Beck Song Information - Farmboy Breakdown

Written by: Beck Hansen

Alternate Titles:

a.k.a. Instrumental Rag

Versions:

Farmboy Breakdown (2:51)
Available on Banjo Story.
Credits

unknown: Drums
Beck Hansen: Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals

Lyrics:

Farmboy Breakdown [Version (a)]:

Yeeha! Yahoo!

The Song:

This little country-stomp instrumental is a pretty charming break in the middle of Banjo Story. Beck whoops enthusiastically like a drunk cowboy. It's a simple recording of just guitar and drums, and I'll assume was a spontaneous jam.

Live:

Played live 2 times:

September 1, 1996
June 27, 2006

Earliest known live version: September 1, 1996
Latest known live version: June 27, 2006

"Farmboy Breakdown" was pretty much forgotten until Beck pulled it out of nowhere eight years later on September 1 1996. The show was not really part of his big tour, but a more intimate acoustic club show in Hoboken, NJ as a breather from his Odelay tour. In the middle of the short set, Beck started picking this on his acoustic guitar, complete with loud "Wooohooo!" and fun tempo accelerations. The crowd loved it.

Notes:

This song is most commonly (and accurately) referred to as "Instrumental Rag," though the original Banjo Story artwork calls it (just as accurately) "Farmboy Breakdown."