Hook

Blues Traveler

About Hook

"Hook" is a song by the jam band Blues Traveler, from their 1994 album Four. The song peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100. The title of the song is a reference to the term hook: "A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The lyrics are a commentary on the banality and vacuousness of successful pop songs, making "Hook" both a hit song and a satire of a hit song.  


Year:
1994
4:49
1,283 
#9

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It doesn't matter what I say
So long as I sing with inflection
That makes you feel I'll convey
Some inner truth or vast reflection
But I've said nothing so far
And I can keep it up for as long as it takes
And it don't matter who you are
If I'm doing my job then it's your resolve that breaks

Because the hook brings you back
I ain't tellin' you no lie
The hook brings you back
On that you can rely

There is something amiss
I am being insincere
In fact I don't mean any of this
Still my confession draws you near
To confuse the issue I refer
To familiar heroes from long ago
No matter how much Peter loved her
What made the Pan refuse to grow

Was that the hook brings you back
I ain't tellin' you no lie
The hook brings you back
On that you can rely

Suck it in, suck it in, suck it in
If you're Rin Tin Tin or Anne Boleyn
Make a desperate move or else you'll win
And then begin to see
What you're doing to me
This MTV is not for free
It's so PC it's killing me

So desperately I sing to thee of love
Sure but also rage and hate and pain and fear of self
And I can't keep these feeling on the shelf
I've tried, well no, in fact I lied
Could be financial suicide but I've got too much pride inside
To hide or slide
I'll do as I'll decide and let it ride till until I've died
And only then shall I abide by this tide
Of catchy little tunes
Of hip three minute diddies
I wanna bust all your balloons

I wanna burn of all your cities to the ground
But I've found, I will not mess around
Unless I play then hey
I will go on all day
Hear what I say
I have a prayer to pray
That's really all this was
And when I'm feeling stuck and need a buck
I don't rely on luck

Because the hook brings you back
I ain't tellin' you no lie
The hook
On that you can rely

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Blues Traveler

Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band's music covers a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock. They are known for extensive use of segues in their live performances, and were considered a key part of the re-emerging jam band scene of the 1990s, spearheading the H.O.R.D.E. touring music festival. more »

2 fans

Written by: JOHN C. POPPER

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Song Artist
"Hook" is a hit song by American rock band Blues Traveler.
Release date
The song was released in 1995.
Album
It is from their album "Four," which is the band's fourth studio album.
Chart performance
"Hook" became a hit, reaching #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Songwriters
It was written by the band members John Popper, Chan Kinchla, Brendan Hill, and Bobby Sheehan.
Song Meaning
The song ironically mocks the structure of popular songs, which often rely on catchy hooks and repetitive lyrics.
Lyrical Parody
The lyrics to "Hook" follow the same progression as Pachelbel's Canon in D major.
Irony
Despite being a critique of formulaic, catchy pop songs, "Hook" itself became a chart-topping hit.
Music Video
The music video features the band playing in a school or college setting with John Popper, the lead singer, playing the role of a music teacher.
Musical Style
It combines blues, rock and pop elements, reflecting the band's diverse influences.
Influence
The song established Blues Traveler as one of the forerunners of the mid-'90s trend for jam bands and blues rock.
Accolades
"Hook" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Post Release
Decades after its release, "Hook" continues to enjoy extensive radio play and is often covered in live performances by other artists.

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    Hook

    34M
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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1996

    Billboard #23


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