Whitesnake - Here I go Again

[Phil Bennett]

Could someone please clarify something for me.

When Whitesnake originally released this, the lines were "Like a Hobo I was born to walk alone", when did it get changed to Drifter instead of Hobo and what for ?

Regards

[badfinger]

I don't know (didn't know the original said 'hobo') but I would guess that that particular word might be confused with an abbreviated phrase that has to do with sexual orientation (?)

[Phil Bennett]

I don't know (didn't know the original said 'hobo') but I would guess that that particular word might be confused with an abbreviated phrase that has to do with sexual orientation (?)
Hobo in Britain is another word for "Tramp" ie "Drifter" in the US.

[Ripcom]

I think the song got rerecorded for the 1984 album and then released as a single which did alot better than the first time around.

They all had new hair doos for the album too:D

[bullfrogblues]

I can't help it, I love that song!!!


Allan.

[Rusmurf]

Probably because Hobo over here means like a homeless bum? I never knew that, but I was 9 in 84, never heard it with Hobo in it.

Reu

[Phil Bennett]

I can't help it, I love that song!!!


Allan.
Aye and the video's not bad either.:D

Regards

[Jo]

Here's a piece of totally useless trivia.

The term Hobo, came from the phrase "Hello Brother" when the bums used to come up and "Ho Bo, spare a dime?"

Dunno if it's true, but that's what my daddy told me many years ago :D ... sounds good anyway.
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BTW, great song, and yes it was changed in back in the late 80's as they thought the hobo sounded too much like homo.

[badfinger]

I forgot to add... it is a great song, only surpassed (IMHO) by their 'Fool for your lovin' song. I love the riff on that song!

[Chiba]

That whole album ("Whitesnake" '84) is great, and turned me on to a really great guitarist - John Sykes. Viv Campbell & Adrian Vandenberg get a lot of credit for that album despite only Adrian playing 1 solo on it - John Sykes did everything else and then managed to get left behind by Coverdale.

That was a big part of the reason why Sykes' first "solo" (i.e. Blue Murder) album sounds so much like "Whitesnake" '84.

Vai's guitar work on "Slip of the Tongue" is similarly inspired and I always point that album out to people who say little Stevie Vai can't play within the context of a band - well, SotT and the 2 DLR albums he did :D

I used to do a slowed-down acoustic version of "Fool For Your Lovin'" that went over well at shows. I'm thinking I should maybe resurrect it...

--chiba