This post on the annotated site stuck with me. The kind of thing I would never come up with on my own:
I've been thinking a lot lately about Mission in the Rain. I believe the word "bell" should probably be spelled "belle"....or at least, is a very deliberate pun.
The song, of course, is about a guy walking through the San Francisco Mission district at midnight in the rain. The main thing you will find at midnight around 17th and Mission (where Hunter used to live) is hookers, and this has been true at least back to the early Sixties. (For street hookers, tourists in SF go to the Tenderloin, near the big hotels. The locals have always come to the Mission). The main hooker area for many years in the Mission has been 16th to 18th on Mission, and 16th to 18th on the parallel alley, Capp. **
There are no Mission Bells at midnight in the Mission....but there are many Mission "Belles." Other things which point to this in the song:
"I must turn down your offer but I'd like to ask a break...." (He's broke, or doesn't have enough money?)
"Someone called my name, you know, I turned around to see...." (A girl he'd been with before?)
Other lyrics also seem to fit.... (There's some satisfaction in the San Francisco Rain...) etc.
Best version is May 21, 1976 at the Orpheum Theater in SF, available in crystal clear format on the "Don't Let Go" commercial release. Keith and Donna were great in that lineup of the JGB.
But 6/29/76 Chicago is the all time tops, the greatest ever performed. Phil is a huge part of it too. JG's vocals and solos are simply too good to believe. Timeless.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
Come again?
Come again?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
One I night I actually walked
One I night I actually walked in the mission in the rain...it was a dark night but that song always hits deep.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Splintered custie
Love this guys version......
Love this guys version......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IEENaNbFdQ
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Captain Trips
Don't make me laugh......an
Don't make me laugh......an east coast guy seeing the dead the warfield.....Tons of fun....not steel
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
This post on the annotated
This post on the annotated site stuck with me. The kind of thing I would never come up with on my own:
I've been thinking a lot lately about Mission in the Rain. I believe the word "bell" should probably be spelled "belle"....or at least, is a very deliberate pun.
The song, of course, is about a guy walking through the San Francisco Mission district at midnight in the rain. The main thing you will find at midnight around 17th and Mission (where Hunter used to live) is hookers, and this has been true at least back to the early Sixties. (For street hookers, tourists in SF go to the Tenderloin, near the big hotels. The locals have always come to the Mission). The main hooker area for many years in the Mission has been 16th to 18th on Mission, and 16th to 18th on the parallel alley, Capp. **
There are no Mission Bells at midnight in the Mission....but there are many Mission "Belles." Other things which point to this in the song:
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Best version is May 21, 1976
Best version is May 21, 1976 at the Orpheum Theater in SF, available in crystal clear format on the "Don't Let Go" commercial release. Keith and Donna were great in that lineup of the JGB.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Captain Trips
Boy .... I like that.....only
Boy .... I like that.....only got to the mission 4x...but always felt like drama
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Captain Trips
I'll check that out Ken....
I'll check that out Ken....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD
First I heard of that guy
First I heard of that guy Sunlite. Great voice. Thanks.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The bride
Yeah, that "Don't Let Go"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Old Fart Message Board
Every version of every song
Every version of every song on the "Don't Let go" release is near perfect. The mission is quite special
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: WhoWasJohn
5/21/76 Orpheum is great for
5/21/76 Orpheum is great for sure.
But 6/29/76 Chicago is the all time tops, the greatest ever performed. Phil is a huge part of it too. JG's vocals and solos are simply too good to believe. Timeless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eHPQlmYsCY
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
That's one of my favorite
That's one of my favorite songs. I had not made the connection with hookers, seems plausible. Sugaree also.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
Love Mission. 9/30/83 is
Love Mission. 9/30/83 is probably the best I saw. I think it's sublime Whole show is very nice.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Johnny D
Please don't share the real
Please don't share the real story behind "Catfish John"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay
Love the song itself. I feel
Love the song itself. I feel like, for me, a lot of the versions are entirely too slow. Interested in any links that are not at a snail's pace. Thx.