Saturday, November 29, 2008

The I-95 Asshole Song - August & The Spur Of The Moment Band

Artist: August & The Spur Of The Moment Band
Song: The I-95 Song
Year: 1983
Album: Lost Horizons single

Contrary to popular belief, this is not Jimmy Buffett. This is also not a whole slew of other artists that have been falsely identified with this song. The song was written and released by Fred "August" Campbell.

In the eighties, this was a popular song on the radio. I can remember a few stations playing it back then, usually for kicks. The song was written after someone cut off the singer in traffic. If that would have never happened, we would have been without this classic.

One of my friends has been playing this song to me for the last twenty years. It's got a catchy beat and catchy lyrics. I may not laugh every time, but there's always a smile on my face after hearing this.

I couldn't find much information on the song itself, but I finally found the original release. It was a b side to a single in 1983. If there is an earlier record of this song, I'm not aware of it. The song has seen its share of odd releases, which only adds to the confusion of finding the original release. All I know is that when someone cuts me off in traffic, I smile and think of this song. It works every time.

Lyrics:
Well I was drivin' down I-95 the other night.
Somebody nearly cut me right off the road.
I decided it wasn't gonna do any good to get mad.
So I wrote a song about him instead.
It goes like this...

Were you born an asshole?
Or did you work at it your whole life?
Either way it worked out fine
'cause you're an asshole tonight.

Yes you're an A S S H O L E...
And don't you try to blame it on me.
You deserve all the credit.
You're an asshole tonight.

You were an asshole yesterday.
You're an asshole tonight.
And I've got a feelin'
you'll be an asshole the rest of your life.

And I was talkin' to your mother
just the other night.
I told her I thought you were an asshole.
She said, "Yes. I think you're right."

And all your friends are assholes
'cause you've known them your whole life.
And somebody told me
you've got an asshole for a wife.

Were you born an asshole?
Or did you work at it your whole life?
Either way it worked out fine
'cause you're an aaaass...hole tonight.


4 comments:

Heidi said...

This song says it all about the men....Thee best ever!!!!!

Steve Gierman said...

Jackie, in the first paragraph lies your answer. Fred Campbell.

This is the original song. Jimmy Buffett never released this as a single, b-side or album track and to my knowledge never covered it in concert. Nice language, by the way. Are you thirteen years old?

Unknown said...

http://www.45rpms.com/images/195.jpg

Unknown said...

Jimmy Buffett NEVER had anything to do with this song (ACCORDING TO HIM!)
The author was Fred "August" Campbell.