Day Eleven - Boom, Like That

Below are the lyrics from "Boom, like that" - the oustanding Mark Knopfler song from the Shangri La album which tells the story of Ray Kroc and how he took control of McDonald's, killed the competition and created a fast food empire and a huge personal fortune - all on the back of a great idea by two brothers who he bought out and from his highly aggressive salesmanship and business style.

The song was my reason for visiting San Bernardino in the first place and going to the Original McDonald's. Interestingly the curator of the museum at the Original McDonald's - Jack - told me that they never advertise, but that people come by word of mouth and reviews, and that lately many people come because of a song about Kroc. I asked him if he meant "Boom, Like That" and replied that that was the song. So I am not alone.

While the lyrics alone don't do the song full justice (Mark's guitar playing and phrasing on the song is outstanding) - they do show how Knopfler tells a story. He is also a meticulous researcher of his material and this applied to both this song and also another great song on the album "Song for Sonny Liston".

BOOM, LIKE THAT - Shangri La - Mark Knopfler

i'm going to san bernardino
ring-a-ding-ding
milkshake mixers
that's my thing, now
these guys bought a heap of my stuff
and i gotta see a good thing sure enough, now
or my name's not kroc
that's kroc with a 'k'
like 'crocodile'
but not spelled that way,
now it's dog eat dog
rat eat rat
kroc-style
boom, like that

the folks line up
all down the street
and i'm seeing this girl
devour her meat, now
and then i get it, wham
as clear as day
my pulse begins to hammer
and i hear a voice say:
these boys have got this down
oughtta be a one of these in every town
these boys have got the touch
it's clean as a whistle
and it don't cost much
wham, bam you don't wait long
shake, fries patty, you're gone
and how about that friendly name?
heck, every little thing
oughtta stay the same
or my name's not kroc
that's kroc with a 'k'
like 'crocodile'
but not spelt that way,
now it's dog eat dog
rat eat rat
kroc-style
boom, like that

you gentlemen ought to expand
you're going to needa helping hand, now
so, gentlemen well, what about me?
we'll make a little business history, now
or my name's not kroc
call me ray
like 'crocodile'
but not spelt that way,
now it's dog eat dog
rat eat rat
kroc-style
boom, like that

well we build it up
and i buy 'em out
but, man they made me grind it out, now
they open up a new place flipping meat
so i do, too
right across the street
i got the name
i need the town
they sell up in the end
and it all shuts down
sometimes you gotta be an s.o.b.
If you wanna make a dream reality
competition? send 'em south
if they're gonna drown
put a hose in their mouth
do not pass 'go'
go straight to hell
i smell that meat hook smell
or my name's not kroc
that's kroc with a 'k'
like 'crocodile'
but not spelt that way,
now it's dog eat dog
rat eat rat
kroc-style
boom, like that