Loan Me A Dime
This article is part of a personal project called LOVE AT FIRST TITLE, in which I make single cover artwork to celebrate the wonderful songs that initially entice me with their provoking titles, and then, with everything else they offer.
As a Vietnamese who listens to (mostly old) American music, there are many things I mistakenly understand. The title of this song is one example. I came across it before listening to the music and assumed it would be about the struggling lives of poor laborers, who were so destitute that they would settle for such a small amount of money – one dime.
Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth!
As it happened, a dime was the cost of a dial-up phone call, a useful means of communication in the 1960s, before the advent of mobile phones or smartphones as we know them today. The song’s main character (MC) was a guy who, for a long time, doubted his lover of being unfaithful, but finally realized she was true to him all along. Upon learning that, he decided to call her immediately to mend their relationship, but faced the obstacle of not having the right change. He asked to be loaned a dime in a mournful tone, as if recounting a long-term agony. Would anyone have the heart to lend him that one dime and end his despair?
I was surprised to discover the love story subtext of this song. I came to it fully expecting to hear a lament about impoverishment, but the writer cleverly used the dime in its connection with the rotary payphone as a metaphor to reveal the true narrative underneath: a troubled romance.
In addition to its underlying meaning, I was amazed to find that this song is a 13-minute cover of one that lasted only 3 minutes. Although the name is slightly different (the original is titled Somebody Loan Me A Dime), the mood and tone are completely distinct.
Fenton Robinson, the original artist, captured his relief about his lover’s loyalty in a more cheerful manner, while Boz Scaggs delved deeper into misery, to the point of exaggeration. The ways they approached the song were also different. Robinson went straight into the verse, whereas Scaggs didn’t start singing until two and a half minutes in, by which time Robinson’s version was nearly over.
To be honest, I was a little let down when I first discovered the original song. I felt it couldn’t match the complexity and epicness that the cover excelled in. However, over time, it grew on me. I came to understand that this song was actually about hope, rather than suffering. The exuberant music created a sense of urgency – if he hesitated, it might be too late. That was why he called out for help with that dime; there was no time to waste!
The message of this version reminded me of a line I love in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: ‘‘Ở đời này bấp bênh lắm nên khi thấy hạnh phúc đi qua cổng là phải chợp lấy ngay’’/ rough translation: ‘‘Life is so uncertain, so when you see happiness strolling by the gate, seize it at once’’.
Boz Scaggs‘ version seemed to show an apathy for that advice. Not only did they let the music set the scene first with the long instrumental opening, but when Scaggs chimed in, they still took the time to explore and diversify ways to communicate distress. Under their portrait, our main character didn’t appear to be in any hurry to borrow money to call home. Instead, he indulged in remorse and reminiscence of the good old times. It was as if deep down, he knew the pain of distrust he caused for his lover was too much, and it would not simply be fixed with one phone call.
Another way to read this version was to think of our MC as someone who was more fond of the emotions that others evoked in him than of the people themselves. For him, those emotions – particularly the negative ones – serve as a holy source of creative inspiration. With his natural sensitivity, he turned his turbulent love story into a wonderful piece of music and performed it with all his heart. His relationship might be on the brink of collapse, but what came out of it was a great song.
I love this rendition more than the original, even if the interpretations were a far cry from the author’s true intention. There was a strong sense of spontaneity about it, and you could feel just how much these musicians enjoyed the music they were making. Such passion was contagious, especially toward the finale when moroseness and hopelessness transformed into a grand, triumphant conclusion.
The song faded away and ended but its melody still echoed in my head. It didn’t feel like 13 minutes had passed at all. Time seemed to stop when I immersed myself in this gem.
It’s not every day I get to experience something so deeply engaging. Its brilliance went beyond the lyrics to tell a more compelling story about those soulful musicians and how they express their palpable love for music. Was their arrangement in line with the lyrics? Not really! But it opened up new perceptions and inspired me to make another artwork.
Here, all my amateurishness is clearly revealed. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t match the lighting of individual subjects to each other. But it was fun to make. And it fit the message I was trying to convey, that despite getting various responses from the audiences, the singer continued to perform.
Bonus: more DIY artwork and mockup for this song.
This one seems rather clumsy up close, but looks pretty good from a distance, doesn't it ^^?