JCW ARCHIVE: Kenny Rogers' Dark Side w/ Adam Carolla

Summary

The John Clay Wolfe Show: JCW ARCHIVE - Kenny Rogers' Dark Side with Adam Carolla

Release Date: November 30, 2024

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show, host John Clay Wolfe is joined by comedian and radio personality Adam Carolla to delve deep into the unexpected dark themes within Kenny Rogers' classic hits. The discussion not only uncovers the hidden narratives behind beloved songs but also explores the profound influence these themes had on the genesis of gangster rap. The conversation is both insightful and entertaining, providing listeners with a fresh perspective on familiar tunes.

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Analyzing "Ruby": Unveiling the Dark Narrative

Timestamp: [01:48 - 03:43]

Adam Carolla initiates the discussion by dissecting Kenny Rogers' song "Ruby." He references a previous collaboration with comedian Norm MacDonald, where they broke down the song's underlying themes. Carolla highlights the tragic story of Ruby, a disabled veteran suffering from the war's aftermath.

Adam Carolla [02:10]: "Ruby was such a... his legs are bent and paralyzed because he didn't go start that old Asianic war."

Carolla interprets the song as a plea from Ruby to his wife, begging her not to seek comfort elsewhere due to his deteriorating condition, possibly exacerbated by Agent Orange.

Adam Carolla [02:45]: "He's basically saying, please don't have sex with another stranger. I'm going to be dead in 10 minutes."

He humorously critiques Ruby's contradictory statements, pointing out the feud between vulnerability and violence.

Adam Carolla [03:15]: "If I could stand, you'd be in the ground."

Connection to Gangster Rap: Tracing the Origins

Timestamp: [07:18 - 09:28]

The conversation transitions to the influence of Kenny Rogers' storytelling on the evolution of rap music, particularly gangster rap. Carolla posits that songs like "Ruby" laid the groundwork for the raw narratives found in early rap.

Adam Carolla [07:24]: "This is pre rap, but it was kind of the basis of opening up the NWA movement of a sort."

He credits Kenny Rogers and his peers with inspiring future generations, including legends like Jay-Z, who acknowledge the impact of such storytelling on their music.

Adam Carolla [09:10]: "Growing up in the projects in Chicago on the east side, and listening to Kenny Rogers all day, that's what motivated them."

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Discussion on "Coward of the County" and Its Implications

Timestamp: [05:02 - 07:18]

Carolla shifts focus to another Kenny Rogers classic, "Coward of the County," unraveling its complex narrative involving themes of violence and redemption. He details the storyline where the protagonist's partner suffers a traumatic experience, leading him to confront his family's pacifist legacy.

Adam Carolla [06:13]: "The Gatlin Boys come to town and have their way with Becky. He decides to fight back and mops the floor with them."

Carolla critically examines the song's portrayal of masculinity and retaliation, drawing parallels to the themes prevalent in gangster rap.

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Influence of Kenny Rogers on Rap Icons

Timestamp: [08:01 - 09:28]

Furthering the discussion, Carolla highlights the reverence contemporary rappers have for Kenny Rogers, showcasing how his music transcended genres and influenced hip-hop's narrative style.

Adam Carolla [09:19]: "There's no doubt. You go to the BET Awards, you see all the Kenny Rogers tattoos, all the rappers. It's always an homage. They love him."

He underscores the enduring legacy of Rogers' storytelling prowess, asserting that it paved the way for artists to explore deeper and more personal themes in their music.

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Notable Quotes

1. Adam Carolla on "Ruby":

   "Please don't have sex with another stranger. I'm going to be dead in 10 minutes. Can you spare me this humiliation?"
   [02:45]

2. Adam Carolla on the Influence of Kenny Rogers:

   "Growing up in the projects in Chicago on the east side, and listening to Kenny Rogers all day, that's what motivated them."
   [09:10]

3. Adam Carolla on Gangster Rap Origins:

   "This is pre rap, but it was kind of the basis of opening up the NWA movement of a sort."
   [07:24]

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Conclusion

In this episode, John Clay Wolfe and Adam Carolla skillfully navigate the intricate narratives woven into Kenny Rogers' music, revealing their unexpected depth and lasting impact on the music industry. By connecting the dots between classic country storytelling and the emergence of gangster rap, the duo offers listeners a nuanced understanding of musical evolution. This episode is a testament to the power of storytelling in music and its profound ability to influence and inspire across genres and generations.

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About the Show

The John Clay Wolfe Show is a vibrant platform powered by GiveMeTheVIN.com, where host John Clay Wolfe engages in lively discussions about cars, sports, sex, drugs, rock & roll, and more. Each week, the show promises entertaining conversations that steer clear of FCC fines. Older episodes are readily accessible on PodBean by searching "The John Clay Wolfe Show+".

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Connect with The John Clay Wolfe Show

Stay updated with the latest episodes and engage with the community through their official channels:

• Website: johnclaywolf.com
• Facebook: Search for "John Clay Wolfe Show"
• Instagram: @Johnson
• Twitter: @username (as per transcript)
• Merchandise: Hats, shirts, and more available on the website.

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Transcript

[Narrator]

You may not realize it, but every minute of every day you're enjoying your First Amendment freedoms. You can wear what you want, give out your opinion for free, even if it's unpopular. Listen to your playlist. You can put a sign out on your front lawn that says vote for Bigfoot. Someone you can believe in. Pray to the God of your choice. Or don't you have the right to hang with a posse that thinks like you do. Tell the government what you think about its policies. They're the freedoms that let you be you. And they're all brought to you by the First Amendment.

[DJ Prek]

Moving like a river in my soul.

[Narrator]

Learn [e-mail].

[John Clay Wolf]

The John Clay Wolf show has appeared on terrestrial radio for a really, really, really long time. So we dug into our pockets and on the other side of our we found something funny. And yes, it's contagious. Gather round as the Wolf pack goes on this throwback adventure.

[DJ Prek]

What it do? It's your boy DJ Prek with the John Clay Wolf show, digging around in the archives. Y'all know how I do it. And I'm bringing y'all a clip where we were just kicking it, jamming to some Kenny Rogers records, as players do, when our friend of the show, Adam Carolla, chimed in on some of the darker parts of some of Kenny's hits. And John even wonders who was the first gangster rapper, Eazy E, or the gambler himself. I'll let y'all decide. Check it out.

[Adam Carolla]

Now back to the John Clay Wolf Show. You know, Adam Carolla, I had we played this song because I was listening to a bit with you and Norm MacDonald years ago where y'all were breaking the song down and I didn't realize.

Ruby was such a. Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, okay. So here's what I figured out with the help of the late great Norm MacDonald. He his legs are bent and paralyzed because he didn't go start that old Asianic war. But that war he's talking about is Korea. It's not Vietnam. People think it's Vietnam, it's Korea. So he's his legs are bent and paralyzed. He can't move. He's also probably been poisoned by Agent Orange or something, too, because the doctors tell him it's not going to be long before he's not around. She is much younger than him and she gets dolled up and heads to town. And he's just basically saying, please don't have sex with another stranger. I'm going to be dead in 10 minutes. Can you spare me this humiliation but he makes a tactical error. He goes, if I could move. He basically said, if I could stand up, I'd go get the gun from the closet and put you in the ground. Which is not really pillow talk, you know what I mean? For ladies. That's not incentive, that ladies. We have ladies here, right? I said, please stay. I'd say, I got you a Whitman sampler. Not. You're lucky. Somebody put my gun on the upper shelf of the closet and I'm in a wheelchair. That's the only thing between you breathing and me. If I could stand, you'd be in the ground.

Please don't go get laid. Don't go, don't go don't take your love to town.

He's taking the love. I think here's where he explains even now.

Cuz I just heard the slamming of the door.

Now here's how many times she's heard this before.

The way I know I've heard it slam 100 times.

100. That's a lot of penis.

Yeah, that's a lot of penis. So saving her this one last time.

[Narrator]

You may not realize it, but every minute of every day, you're enjoying your First Amendment freedoms. You can wear what you want, give out your opinion for free, even if it's unpopular. Listen to your playlist. You can put a sign out on your front lawn that says, vote for Bigfoot. Someone you can believe in. Pray to the God of your choice. Or don't you have the right to hang with a posse that thinks like you do. Tell the government what you think about its policies. They're the freedoms that let you be you. And they're all brought to you by the First Amendment.

[DJ Prek]

Freedom. Moving like a river in my soul.

[Narrator]

Learn [e-mail] we're here to get you covered.

[Oregon Health Care Representative]

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[Adam Carolla]

He could. If he could move, he'd get the gun and put her in the ground. We can do Coward of the county, too, because that's worse.

Grab that one, Turley. Yeah, we were talking. We were. We were breaking down Ruby a moment ago. Kenny Rogers, you and Norm MacDonald did a bit of the. Well, God, 10 years ago, 15 years ago, I have no idea. Yeah, but y'all were breaking these songs down. It was cracking me up.

Yeah. Norm was on my radio show, and we just sort of stumbled into it and started breaking it down and in.

Was it off the cuff, or did you have any airlines produced?

No, no, it was all off the cuff. We. We weren't planning.

[DJ Prek]

He.

[Adam Carolla]

He certainly wasn't planning on it. I wasn't planning on it either, because I. Now we're playing some game or something and somehow stumbled into this. But Norm's, you know, good on his feet, and I'm good on my feet, and we both knew the song well enough. And so Ruby is about the disabled veteran whose wife is a. And there. There's a crazy thing about Coward of the County. His love Becky, goes into town and gets gang raped by the. The. The thing. That's the thing. The Gatlin Boys. Which is crazy, because not the Gatlin.

Brothers, but the Gatlin Boys.

The Gatlin Boys. But in a. In a part. In the part of the song, he goes, you know, they had the Gatlin Boys come to town. They had their way. And he goes, there were three of them, and there are three Gatlin brothers. And I've interviewed the Gatlin brothers, and I said, did it piss you off? And I go, yeah, it did. Like, we used to tour with Kenny. Like, why couldn't you use another name? There are other names available for gang rape purposes. You know what I mean? It's not just limited to Gatlin. And by the way, there are three. Did you have to say there were three of them? So was a big hit, but he accused the band of gang raping Becky. And so the Coward of the county, his dad was in jail for killing a man, and his dad made him promise to never use his hands in anger. So he got pushed around. But once the Gatlin brothers had their way with Becky, he decided to fight it out and mop the floor with the Gatlin brothers. And then they moved on. And Becky's still in therapy. I mean, let's be honest.

So this is pre rap.

This is pre rap.

But it was kind of the basis of opening up the NWA movement of a sort.

Oh, yeah. They owe. I mean, they took this success to Kenny Rogers and Coward of the County. Any rap. If you speak to Jay Z today, he'll tell you it's Coward of the county and Kenny Rogers that, you know, growing up in the projects in Chicago on the east side, and Listening to Kenny Rogers all day, that's what motivated them. Yeah, that's right. They sampled County. Yeah, you're right. And they'll tell you. That's right.

You were here. Were you living here during that movement? Did you ever meet those guys? Did you ever meet Eazy?

No.

I'm a big fan.

You are?

Yes. Little Eric was a badass.

Yeah. No, I never met. I mean, I probably ended up interviewing, you know, half those guys over the. Over the years.

Right.

No, I don't think I ever met.

Which one is the most talented, from your view?

I would say the richest is.

What's his name? Dre.

Well, there was also an unknown member called Lazy Z. He was the worst. He did almost nothing. He would be late. His attitude was bad. He'd be drunk on stage. So that's the one you don't hear about from NWA I gotta go, Ice Cube.

Okay.

Because his eyebrows are so expressive. You know what I mean? He always looks angry. His eyebrows are. Somebody shaped him, so he was angry all the time.

I loved that movie. When that album came out, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was probably 8th grade.

Coward of the County.

No, that was. That was. That was second grade.

Mm.

About how old are you?

I'm 59.

59. A little older than me. I'm 51. But, yeah, I do think that Kenny inspired them and cleared the path for. What do you call that?

There's no doubt. I mean, you go to the BET Awards, you see all the Kenny, Roger, tattoos, all the rappers. It's always an homage. They love him.

[DJ Prek]

All right, y'all know what to do. Hit us up on johnclaywolf.com. you can check out old Episodes on there. You know, stay up to date with what we got going on. Get cool gear. We got hats, shirts, all that. Hit us up on Facebook, you know, search John Clay Wolf show. We're on Instagram, Johnson, Twitter. You know, you can holler at all of us. Okay. You know how to spell it. Okay. We appreciate y'all listening. Keep on rocking with us.