#36 started out as a jammy song in 1993. It was inspired as a result of the tragic assassination of a South African freedom fighter,
Chris Hani, and was played for the first time three days after his death in 1993.
After serving as a tribute song for almost all of 1994, the song eventually evolved into an inspiration jam about freedom featuring scatting by Dave and a monumental drum solo intro by Carter. Dave noted on
10.9.94 that he changed the lyrics from "Hani, Hani" to "honey, honey," to fit more with the song's mood.
1995 through 1996 marked the golden years of this song, where it enjoyed frequent highlights and dancing on the part of the fans. It was recorded in the
Crash sessions, but didn't make the final cut (Steve Lillywhite, Oct. 1998).
In 1999 and 2000, the song returned in a new, slower form featuring the Lovely Ladies and without the Carter solo.
During the
Everyday studio sessions, the song underwent a huge transformation to become the song
Everyday. Since then, the spirit of #36 has resurfaced within Everyday in the following forms:
1) Dave sings "Honey Honey" in the intro/outro.
2) Boyd plays the #36 "Honey Honey" melody in the intro/outro
3) The song ends in the same fashion as #36 did
4) Everyday directly segues into a #36 reprise consisting of a verse and chorus from #36 (e.g.
5.26.01).
Here is the original Reuters announcement of Hani's death:
April 10, 1993, Saturday, BC cycle
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS OFFICIAL IS ASSASSINATED
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
A senior official of the African National Congress was assassinated on Saturday, the South African Press Association reported.
Chris Hani, 50, was also the leader of the South African Communist Party.
SAPA quoted police as saying Hani was shot at his home in Boksburg, a largely white suburb east of Johannesburg.
It quoted a police spokesman as saying a man had been arrested.
A neighbor of Hani said the suspect was white.
Hani, a senior member of the African National Congress policy-making national executive committee, was also general secretary of the South African Communist Party.
Hani was commander-in-chief of the ANC armed wing for many years. Right-wing whites regarded him as one of their worst enemies.
Copyright 1993 Reuters, LimitedInterpolations:
"Blame It on the Rain" - Milli Vanilli
"Call to the Post"
"Good Good Time" - Dave Matthews Band
"Linus and Lucy" - Vince Guaraldi
"The Sailor's Hornpipe" (theme from
Popeye)
"The Streetbeater" - Quincy Jones (theme from
Sanford and Son)
"The Woody Woodpecker Song" (theme from
Woody Woodpecker)