“Run Ragged” is LIIIIIIVE
I never thought I would see the day but here it is.
This song, this very special song - Run Ragged.
This past fall when we were on tour we got to play in Tulsa. I love Tulsa. And my friend Hunter was there and he is a documentary filmmaker. We were chatting and I casually mentioned him making a music video. And he said “ I have so much footage of this hot dog eating contest, do you have any interest in that?
He started sending me some of the clips and I was astounded. I said “yes absolutely lets do it ! “
The footage is incredible and so AMERICA. It is wild and will give you a big ol’ chuckle. Its so on brand with the song. Last year in Oakland at a show someone said that our music was American, very American. Which they said was a compliment. lol. I think they meant it like- theres no rules. Which is sorta how I view this video. Lawless.
The song -”Run Ragged” is actually about my neighbor, Jesse. when I lived in Tucson. He lived across the street from me. He lived outside. And I would see him everyday he had his routine. He would find the shaded areas of the block and hangout in the shaded areas until the sun would move and around sunset he would go to the porch of this house lay down and sleep. I saw him pee so many times. I saw him do everything. He made me feel so much all the time. He seemed so content just sitting there staring. He would stare for hours and hours day in day out. I was always so curious what he was thinking about. The only words I ever heard him say were actually him singing “I’m just a lonely boy”
But I would find myself always comparing my life to him and think to myself how am I so not content and have all of this stuff and that person just has a little rolly bag and is just fine. Obviously I didn’t know what he actually thought but his life was so brilliant to me. Every time we made eye contact it went deep into my soul. He was constantly teaching me and making me question a lot. It was like he was living like humans used to live. It was so very human- moving with the sun.
Anyway one day I noticed he was sitting in his chair and not laying down at night and I thought something was up. a couple days later an ambulance came. I went outside and I said -hey whats going on . and they said, yeah he’s sick he doesn’t wanna go to the hospital but were gonna take him anyway. And so they took him off. And I never saw Jesse again. And I just never stopped thinking about that- “he doesn’t wanna go, but were gonna take him anyway” if a man is choosing to live his life outside and live like that he should get to decide if he wants to go to the hospital or not right too? or not just because he lives outside? idk I guess they were helping him. and maybe they were. but I never saw jesse again after that. he never came to the block again after years of seeing him almost everyday. he was gone. and I still don’t know where he went. Maybe he’s on some other block somewhere. But where ever he is - I wish him well.
This song is for Jesse.
You can now watch this video—
And stream the song where ever you like— type in — “Run Ragged” by Dolly Creamer.
Thanks to everyone for supporting this work. It feels almost impossible to do. So when anything actually comes together it feels like a miracle.
We are living miracles everyday!
I love you!
-Dolls