Hook” is a song by the American rock band Blues Traveler, released in 1994 as part of their album “Four.” The band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey, in the late 1980s, consists of John Popper (vocals, harmonica), Chan Kinchla (guitar), Brendan Hill (drums), Tad Kinchla (bass), and Ben Wilson (keyboard).
The song “Hook” achieved significant popularity and became one of Blues Traveler’s signature path. It is known for its singablemelody, upbeat tempo, and inventive lyrics. However, what makes “Hook” particularly take part in a complicity is its meta-commentary on the nature of pop music and the music manufacturing itself.
The lyrics of “Hook” playfully make fun of the listener, implying that the real “hook” of the song is not in its tune or lyrics but in the fact that it doesn’t matter what the band sings about as long as they have a enchant tune. This self-awareness garnered attention and precipitate debate about the commercialization and imitative nature of popular music.
Regardless of its tongue-in-cheek message, “Hook” vibrate with audiences, shin up the charts and earning Blues Traveler widespread applause. The song’s success helped propel the album “Four” to multi-platinum status and froze Blues Traveler’s position as a outstanding band in the 1990s alternative mainstay scene.
Since its release, “Hook” has remained a staple of Blues Traveler’s live interpretation and continues to be be fond of by fans worldwide, serving as a testament to the band’s continuing pressure and musical prowess.
Lyrics
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, 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 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 of rage and hate and pain and fear of self
And I can’t keep these feelings 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 until I’ve died
And only then shall I abide this tide
Of catchy little tunes of hip three minute diddys
I wanna bust all your balloons
I wanna burn all your cities to the ground
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