Written by: Beck Hansen
Versions:
- Burnt Orange Peel (1:37)
Available on One Foot In The Grave and 1 other release.
CreditsBeck Hansen: Producer, Vocals
Calvin Johnson: Producer
Lyrics:
Burnt Orange Peel [Version (a)]:
In all the world of things to be
I got a garden hose and a colour tv
I got time on my hands
I got time on my hands
Nobody cares what I do!
In all the world of things to do
I got a burnt orange peel and a potato stew
I got work to get done
Got work to get done
Nobody knows where to run!
I've got a quart of milk
Got some sound advice
Got some trees that are fake
But they smell so nice
Don't give me the flu!
Nobody knows why we puke!
Back and forth, I dodge a fly
Like a feather in the sky
Write me out a check
Give me all your cash
Nobody knows!
So just go home!
In all the world of things to be
I got a garden hose and a colour tv
I got time on my hands
I got time on my hands
Nobody cares what I do!
In all the world of things to do
I got a burnt orange peel and a potato stew
I got work to get done
Got work to get done
Nobody knows where to run!
I've got a quart of milk
Got some sound advice
Got some trees that are fake
But they smell so nice
Don't give me the flu!
Nobody knows why we puke!
Back and forth, I dodge a fly
Like a feather in the sky
Write me out a check
Give me all your cash
Nobody knows!
So just go home!
The Song:
Calvin Johnson, when once asked about the One Foot in the Grave sessions, remembered that Beck wrote most of the songs on the spot. While most of Beck's folk songs hang around awhile, and have more thought in them than that he lets on, it was on punky songs like "Burnt Orange Peel" that Beck's improvising is on display. The song displays the lo-fi band's chemistry, clearly having a good time playing and creating this warped punk song.
Calvin Johnson, when once asked about the One Foot in the Grave sessions, remembered that Beck wrote most of the songs on the spot. While most of Beck's folk songs hang around awhile, and have more thought in them than that he lets on, it was on punky songs like "Burnt Orange Peel" that Beck's improvising is on display. The song displays the lo-fi band's chemistry, clearly having a good time playing and creating this warped punk song.
Live:
Played live 19 times:
Earliest known live version: March 30, 1994
Latest known live version: March 19, 2009
1994 Mellow Gold tours
Live versions of "Burnt Orange Peel" popped up every so often throughout 1994. We only know of a few, but I'm assuming there were some more that were undocumented. One performance on June 29, 1994, was a loud and fast grunge-fest. This arrangement sounds more than a little bit like "Pink Noise." A fast intro led into the main song, where Beck shouted the words at the top of his lungs. It screeched to a halt after the third verse.
Here is a version from one of the earliest bootlegs, on March 30 1994. "Burnt Orange Peel" doesn't start until around 2 minutes (the preceding music is a quick song called "Chicas Punk"):
1996 Tibetan Freedom Concert Festival
Beck played the song once in 1996, at a gigantic festival two days before Odelay was released. He performed it solo acoustic too, an interesting choice for sure. (I haven't heard it.)
1996-1997 Odelay tours
On the Odelay tour, Beck played the song 5 times that we know about--all in a two-week span in April 1997.
1998 post-Odelay tours
We have it down for one time in June 1998, as well, at a show in Toronto. Have not heard this or verified it. It doesn't seem to have been played any other time in 1998 though.
2001 post-Midnite Vultures tour
Beck did not play the song on the Mutations or Midnite Vultures tours 1999-2000. "Burnt Orange Peel" returned from almost out of nowhere to be played again in June/July 2001, when Beck went over to Europe for some summer festivals. It was done a few times in the encore, usually as a companion to the new "abrasive punk song," "Bad Energy" ("Burnt Orange Peel" was played only once without it). During this time, it was fairly widely reported that Beck wanted to record a punk rock album, and if these two songs are any indication, that could have been true! (It never happened.)
2009 Modern Guilt tour
Beck toured 2008 behind Modern Guilt, and in the spring of 2009 took the album tour to Japan to close out the album cycle. At one of those Japanese shows (March 19), Beck totally unexpectedly played "Burnt Orange Peel." (It was right before One Foot deluxe was released, I guess.) Beck says they hadn't played the song in 15 years (actually 8). That March 19 show had a bunch of cool obscurities (a few of the Modern Guilt b-sides, a Wire cover, even rarer things like "Missing"), so I guess it was just that sort of night.
Anyway, this final version was fast and had 4 verses like the record (tho he seems to be making up whatever for the third, and repeats the 2nd as the 4th). It also had a slightly longer coda, ending the song a bit more formally than the album.
This seems to be a song that Beck has enjoyed digging out of One Foot and playing live every so often. Will he again?
Played live 19 times:
March 30, 1994
April 20, 1994
June 29, 1994
June 16, 1996
March 30, 1997
April 3, 1997
April 5, 1997
April 7, 1997
April 9, 1997
April 11, 1997
...and 9 more.
April 20, 1994
June 29, 1994
June 16, 1996
March 30, 1997
April 3, 1997
April 5, 1997
April 7, 1997
April 9, 1997
April 11, 1997
...and 9 more.
Earliest known live version: March 30, 1994
Latest known live version: March 19, 2009
1994 Mellow Gold tours
Live versions of "Burnt Orange Peel" popped up every so often throughout 1994. We only know of a few, but I'm assuming there were some more that were undocumented. One performance on June 29, 1994, was a loud and fast grunge-fest. This arrangement sounds more than a little bit like "Pink Noise." A fast intro led into the main song, where Beck shouted the words at the top of his lungs. It screeched to a halt after the third verse.
Here is a version from one of the earliest bootlegs, on March 30 1994. "Burnt Orange Peel" doesn't start until around 2 minutes (the preceding music is a quick song called "Chicas Punk"):
1996 Tibetan Freedom Concert Festival
Beck played the song once in 1996, at a gigantic festival two days before Odelay was released. He performed it solo acoustic too, an interesting choice for sure. (I haven't heard it.)
1996-1997 Odelay tours
On the Odelay tour, Beck played the song 5 times that we know about--all in a two-week span in April 1997.
1998 post-Odelay tours
We have it down for one time in June 1998, as well, at a show in Toronto. Have not heard this or verified it. It doesn't seem to have been played any other time in 1998 though.
2001 post-Midnite Vultures tour
Beck did not play the song on the Mutations or Midnite Vultures tours 1999-2000. "Burnt Orange Peel" returned from almost out of nowhere to be played again in June/July 2001, when Beck went over to Europe for some summer festivals. It was done a few times in the encore, usually as a companion to the new "abrasive punk song," "Bad Energy" ("Burnt Orange Peel" was played only once without it). During this time, it was fairly widely reported that Beck wanted to record a punk rock album, and if these two songs are any indication, that could have been true! (It never happened.)
2009 Modern Guilt tour
Beck toured 2008 behind Modern Guilt, and in the spring of 2009 took the album tour to Japan to close out the album cycle. At one of those Japanese shows (March 19), Beck totally unexpectedly played "Burnt Orange Peel." (It was right before One Foot deluxe was released, I guess.) Beck says they hadn't played the song in 15 years (actually 8). That March 19 show had a bunch of cool obscurities (a few of the Modern Guilt b-sides, a Wire cover, even rarer things like "Missing"), so I guess it was just that sort of night.
Anyway, this final version was fast and had 4 verses like the record (tho he seems to be making up whatever for the third, and repeats the 2nd as the 4th). It also had a slightly longer coda, ending the song a bit more formally than the album.
This seems to be a song that Beck has enjoyed digging out of One Foot and playing live every so often. Will he again?