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Author Topic: Define these mysterious Rock n' Roll terms!  (Read 3916 times)
PhilCohen
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« on: February 15, 2014, 05:41:04 AM »

Perhaps some of you knowledgeable Rock n'Roll fans can define the following mysterious Rock n'Roll terms or phrases, and maybe add some mysterious terms of your own. Here it goes:

"The Pompitous of Love" (Steve Miller; from the song "The Joker")
"Porrohman" (Big Country; from the song "Porrohman")
"Cross-Tie Walker" (Creedence Clearwater Revival; from the song "Green River")
"Purple Rain" (America; from the song "Ventura Highway")
"Posi-traction" (The Beach Boys; from the song "409")
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Aum Bop Diddit
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« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2014, 11:21:27 AM »

"Pompitous" of Love is a nonsensical word which I believe Miller picked up from some 50s doo wop record which was also using it in a nonsensical, inside joke kind of way.  A "Cross Tie" walker is someone making their way walking on railroad tracks I'd assume.  "Positraction" I googled:

"That means that you have a limited slip differential rear end. It will only allow a wheel to spin a little before the power is applied to the other wheel."

I don't do Big Country or America lyrics.
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« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2014, 11:28:02 AM »


"Cross-Tie Walker" (Creedence Clearwater Revival; from the song "Green River")




http://www.experienceproject.com/question-answer/Whats-A-Cross-tie-Walker-Referring-To-GREEN-RIVER-By-Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/276332

it's a colorful description of a tramp or hobo, who when they aren't "flat-car riders" (hopping trains to travel across the countryside), they are "cross-tie walkers" walking on the rails waiting for a train.
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« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2014, 08:39:47 AM »

Posi-traction is a really common term if you're into classic cars, I saw an interview somewhere where Mike mentioned that Gary Usher was really good with car lingo like that and gave him credit for that song because he (Mike) wouldn't have known all those terms. 
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« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2014, 12:09:02 PM »

Perhaps some of you knowledgeable Rock n'Roll fans can define the following mysterious Rock n'Roll terms or phrases, and maybe add some mysterious terms of your own. Here it goes:

"The Pompitous of Love" (Steve Miller; from the song "The Joker")
"Porrohman" (Big Country; from the song "Porrohman")
"Cross-Tie Walker" (Creedence Clearwater Revival; from the song "Green River")
"Purple Rain" (America; from the song "Ventura Highway")
"Posi-traction" (The Beach Boys; from the song "409")

I think a Pompitous is similar to a Diaphanous Moiety!

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« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2014, 12:45:22 PM »

Here's another weird one. Check out these official lyrics from a criminally neglected gem from 1983, "Am I Normal?" by David (aka Virginia David):

"Comes alive
Driving auto fast
Exhastavent
Loves to drive
Shifts away from that
What's got her pend
Waiting for the stop light
Nerves are very near
Asks herself a question
Suddenly sincere
Am I normal?
Am I normal?"   
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Smilin Ed H
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« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2014, 02:13:20 PM »

Art Hack was THE Pompitous of Love. So I hear.
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« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2014, 02:19:22 PM »

Art Hack was THE Pompitous of Love. So I hear.

Art Hack!  Haven't heard that name in a while!
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« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2014, 02:36:33 AM »

I believe the answer to "Porrohman" may lie in this short story by H.G. Wells.
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