Recollection Volume 3 – Steve Threw Up

Recollection is a project to review my record collection. I will listen to an album I own and review it. The album will be chosen randomly by computron. Today computron chooses…

Album: Steve Threw Up
Artist: Beck
Released: 1994
Format(s) I own it on: 7″

“Steve Threw Up” is a strange song. It’s one of Beck’s many novelty records, never being released on any of his Geffen records. Beck is known for many of these novelty songs such as “Satan Gave Me A Taco,” but was somehow able to even have a regular and respected career. That’s impressive.

The B-Side is a song called “Mutherfukka,” which surprisingly was released on Beck’s Geffen debut Mellow Gold which is best known for its hit single “Loser.” “Mutherfukka” is a surprisingly entertaining scream-rocker, but not one anyone would put on outside of listening to the album it’s featured on.

“Steve Threw Up” is the tale of Steve, who threw up… quite a lot of food, which the narrator, Beck, describes in detail. Let’s take a look at the lyrics, while you’re at it, why don’t you enjoy the song itself.

Steve had a big commotion
The street fair was an ocean
When he took three tabs of bad acid
And off his melting jaw
All the wonderful things he saw
The pretty hair growing on his sandwich
Well, he looked out on the fairground
With the spinning things spinning all around
And he felt the food going down coming back
And on top of the Ferris wheel
He threw up on the heel
Of the beautiful girl
Who was laughing

Well, there must have been some pizza
And there must have been some fries
And there must have been some tequila
And there must have been some wine
And there must have been some falafels
And there must have been some beer
And there must have been some bagels
You could see it all so clear!
And there must have been some pickles
And there must have been some sauerkraut
And there must have been some catfish
When he laid his burden down
Pineapples, mangoes, wild rice, beans
Granola, cheetoes, caramel candy, popcorn
Ice cream, banana, fudge and some corn dogs
And mayonnaise, steak sauce, ketchup and mustard
Garlic, Kool-aid, Spam and some eggrolls
Sushi, rice cakes, oatmeal, cucumbers
Biscuits, beef jerky, Pop Tarts, tamales, shish-ka-bob
And a side order of &#@!