Over the years, I have established certain musical
traditions in my life, rituals that I for the most part have kept alive simply
because they bring their own joy and significance to my day. Every Thanksgiving
I dip my ears into the insanity of Alro Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant,” and I
make a point to spin “May 16th” by Lagwagon when that date arrives, if for no
more reason than it just seems appropriate to me. These traditions were
instituted in my life by me and for me, giving me small musical patterns on
which I can rely.
Unfortunately, one such tradition, that of
tuning in weekly to the program Little Steven’s Underground Garage, has in
recent years become harder for me to perform. I used to be an avid listener,
letting his program carry me along my commute to my awful food service job. Little
Steven’s insightful thematic episodes opened my mind to the inner connections
and stories of songs I loved, while also introducing me to new artists and
styles of music that have clung to me since. One such song, perhaps my favorite
find from the program, is the soul anthem “Somebody’s Been Sleeping” by 100
Proof (Aged in Soul), which has been bouncing around in my head since I first
heard it years ago.
With a jangling guitar riff and a full but fluid
horn section, the four minutes of “Somebody’s Been Sleeping” are completely
stuffed with soul. The song unabashedly pops into existence with an insistent
guitar riff, before launching into the main groove defined by pounding piano
notes and a jittery bass. The vocal melody soars powerfully above the thumping
drum beat, intermixing with backing harmonies and the horn section in deceptive
melody as the speaker questions his lover’s loyalty. The extended instrumental
bridge practically urges the listener to dance before coalescing back into a
triumphant chorus under accusatory shouts of “Somebody’s been sleeping in my
bed!”[1]
The talented instrumentalists in 100 Proof (Aged
In Soul) craft a powerful and funky piece of music, but it is in the lyrical
content that the song takes off. The major key and heady beat of “Somebody’s
Been Sleeping” create an ethereal if not blissful atmosphere furthered by the
lyrical references to the fairy tales “Jack and the Bean Stalk” and
“Goldilocks.” However, this gentle, unassuming ambiance belies the song’s far
more onerous subject matter, in which the speaker directly accuses his lover of
cheating.
In line with the tale of “Goldilocks,” the
song’s main character notices things are amiss in his house, discovering first
that someone “ate up all [his] food” and left his new pajamas “balled up in a
chair.” However, each new discovery begins to become more ominous, and as he
finds a broken seal on his “best booze” and the bed “left unmade,” slowly
coming to the realization that the “somebody” who’s been sleeping in his bed hasn’t
been sleeping alone.[2]
This song’s composition, the credit for which
goes to soul legends Greg Perry, General Johnson, and Angelo Bond,[3]
abounds with interesting choices, but none more so than the integration of
language from the fairy tales straight into the lyrics. The rhythmic repetition
of “somebody’s been” in the chorus invites an intrinsic connection to the tale,
putting the listener back in the mindset of their youth, and as such, implying
the perspective of a child listening to his parents arguing. Similarly, the
choice to have the speaker be the one to mimic the statement “Fe Fi Fo Fum”
actually puts the main character in the shoes of the giant Thunderdell, the
villain of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” further spinning the perspective of this
tale of betrayal.
The decision to tell a story of adultery through
the lenses of innocent children’s stories shows utter brilliance on the part of
the song’s writers, weaving a modern fairy tale that is wholly brought to life
by the energetic and heartfelt performances of 100 Proof (Aged In Soul).
“Somebody’s Been Sleeping” takes two completely antithetical ideas and
synthesizes them seamlessly before locking them in with the band’s signature
sound. With its soulful melody and infectious chorus, it is no surprise that
the song was a huge hit on both R&B and Pop Charts during its heyday.[4]
“Somebody’s Been Sleeping” is the reason I began
listening ritualistically to Little Steven’s Underground Garage, a highlight of
otherwise loathsome Sunday mornings working, and hearing it now has me craving more
tunes just like it. I have a good feeling I’ll soon be spending my Sunday
mornings with my radio again, and after you spin this classic, don’t be
surprised to find yourself tuning in as well.
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