9/9/08: Jerry Reed “You Make It, They Take It” (1958)

Things were so hectic last week that we let Jerry Reed’s death go unnoted—which is pretty unforgivable for one of the great songwriters of the 20th century. He didn’t have the hipster cachet of a Lee Hazlewood, but Reed was just as expert at writing both novelty tunes and heartbreaking songs. Still, this’ll be the second entry where we ignore Reed’s successful country years and dwell on his pioneering rockabilly.

“You Make It, They Take It” is another fine example of how Reed’s subject matter was often too weird for the rock ’n roll market. This track—which first went unreleased in Reed’s early days—was probably dismissed as just another catchy but quirky tune. The song opens with some bizarre business worthy of Sam the Sham, with the taxman a-knockin’ at the door and yelling for money. Then we get our narrator’s tale of woe:

    I was so happy just the other day
    The boss man, he give me a raise in my pay
    But the income tax come and took its part
    And I didn’t have no more than I did from the start
    So I work like a slave the whole day long
    Trying to make enough to keep a-livin’ on
    But I find that I’m lucky if I make a cent
    After tax comes out for the government

         ’Cause when you make it, they take it
         You make it, they take it

    Years went by, and my hair turned gray
    I knew it wasn’t long before this boy pass away
    So I went to the cemetery, bought me a lot
    And I had to pay tax on the lot I got
    Now to me, that’s a shame and a sad disgrace
    That a man’ll pay tax on his resting place
    ’Cause you don’t live but once, so I don’t see why
    You gotta pay tax before you lay down and die

         ’Cause when you make it, they take it
         You make it, they take it

Throughout the song, there’s a backing chorus of soulful gals singing, “Money, money, money.” That’s just another reason why our Jerry Reed albums matter more than our Lou Reed albums.

Make it your own: Once again, we’re grateful that Jerry Reed’s rockabilly career was short-lived enough to remain affordable. The reliable Bear Family label usually compiles box sets, but Reed’s early work is covered on the succinct single-disc collection of Here I Am. Actually, it’s 30 tracks of greatness, with “You Make It, They Take It” followed by “Your Money Makes You Purty.”

Reed’s rockabilly career ended when he joined the military, and came out as a country artist. Many of us first became aware of Reed’s declining health when he made a recent appearance to promote the new The Gallant Few. It ends Reed’s career with a collection of patriotic songs raising funds for wounded American veterans.

 

What did you think of this article?

Liked
Disliked
No Opinion