Talk:Midnight at the Oasis

Jerry Garcia on lead guitar??
On 10 August 2011, the article was edited to state that Jerry Garcia played the lead guitar solo, but the editor didn't delete the statement that Amos Garrett (who actually played it) played the lead guitar. It's well-known that Amos Garrett played it, and I had never heard a claim otherwise until I saw that edit, so I reverted the edit.Marvelocity (talk) 00:12, 14 August 2011 (UTC)

Untitled
"Unlikely though it may seem, seminal heavy metal guitarist Jimmy Page is a fan of the song." Not surprising. Jimmy Page is a musician more than a headbanger. This doesn't need to be in this entry really.

Jimmy Page likes this song?!! C'mon! It blows beads. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.31.241.73 (talk) 04:24, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

"Midnight at the Oasis" is also covered on a Bob James & Kirk Whalum 1996 album - 'Joined at the Hip', where it is sung as a duet featuring James' Daughter Hilary and Whalum's brother Kevin. Mediumal (talk) 02:35, 14 October 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mediumal (talk • contribs) 17:00, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

usage in advertising in Australia
the song was used in an advertising campaign for the "Conrad Treasury Casino", in Brisbane, Australia, during the late 90's or early 2000's

Pga1965 (talk) 11:12, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Brand New Heavies?
This just one cover version, yet it takes up half the article and most of the headings. Should it be demoted to one line in the Covers section? —Preceding unsigned comment added by McKayJohn (talk • contribs) 18:27, 3 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes, it should be in the Covers section, with all the other covers. Karl gregory jones (talk) 19:30, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

The Cactus reference
The chorus line that states that 'Cactus' is a friend and will 'point out the way' appears to be a reference to the psychedelic cactus Peyote, or possibly one of the Trichocereus species of cacti that contain the hallucinogen mescaline. That Peyote 'Cactus' can 'point out the way' is one of the themes in the book "The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge" by Carlos Casteneda. The shaman Don Juan tells Carlos several times that Peyote ('Cactus') is a teacher or protector. 09:29, 6 January 2011 (UTC)Stellar92010 (talk) 09:29, 6 January 2011 (UTC)

Any source for the claim that the song refers to this specifically? By the way, many people would consider Carlos Castaneda to be something of a phoney, and Native American Church and related to be more authentic... AnonMoos (talk) 23:38, 6 January 2011 (UTC)

The reference to Cactus being "not naturally found on the Arabian Peninsula" is wrong. It is true cactus are not naturally found in the Arabian Peninsula, but the song makes no reference to the Arabian Peninsula. The setting is a fanciful Middle Eastern desert, it could be anywhere from Morocco to Iran.Royalcourtier (talk) 01:53, 6 October 2013 (UTC)

Does this interpretation come from the songwriter? I always pictured a dive bar in Needles California with a neon palm tree sign out front, "the Oasis". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.134.76.38 (talk) 21:35, 7 December 2013 (UTC)

But if the setting were in an American desert, the reference to "take your camel to bed" would not make sense. Camels are not naturally found in American deserts. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:547:2:5122:FD8D:9C77:1DC3:83E7 (talk) 13:01, 4 July 2015 (UTC)

I always thought 'The Oasis' was a dated motel somewhere in America. Probably built in the 1950s and a bit run down in the 1970s when this song was popular. Possibly with a neon cactus sign. "Take your Camel to bed" is a reference to cigarettes and smoking after sex - Camel being a popular brand (see also Rickee Lee Jones song 'Last Chance Texaco' "Camels in the driving seat ...."). I've asked several people now and they all think my interpretation is correct. If the song is referring to an oasis in the Arabian dessert it would have been titled 'Midnight at an oasis' not 'Midnight at The Oasis'. As a possible example - here's a link to the Oasis Boutique Motel in Raton USA - https://sg.hotels.com/ho1100847488/oasis-botique-motel-raton-united-states-of-america/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.236.204.25 (talk) 01:24, 5 September 2019 (UTC)

Also found this explanation from the song writer David Nichtern: "I wrote the song before I started working with Maria... the details are a little bit intimate, but let's just say there was a girl, a waterbed, feta cheese and grape leaves, and a Martin 000-18 near by..." on https://www.songfacts.com/facts/maria-muldaur/midnight-at-the-oasis so the interpretation here does not come from the song writer. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.236.204.25 (talk) 01:45, 5 September 2019 (UTC)


 * The entry currently says: "However there are species of cactus native to the Sahara, although their forms would not fit with the song's lyrics." What species of cactus are native to the Sahara? I don't think there are any. I'm under the impression that the only cactus native to Africa is the "mistletoe cactus," Rhipsalis baccifera, which is a tropical species that one would not find in the Sahara. Eric Alan Isaacson (talk) 22:43, 1 June 2021 (UTC)


 * Agree - didn't see that add. I deleted that part of the paragraph per your suggestion and web corroborations. Ckruschke (talk) 16:46, 2 June 2021 (UTC)

External links modified (January 2018)
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"Doubtlessly suggestive"
The article says "Some of the lyrics are doubtlessly suggestive (such as: "let's slip off to a sand dune ... and kick up a little dust"; "you won't need no camel ... when I take you for a ride"; "Cactus is our friend. He'll point out the way.")." Sorry, but I think many readers will have their doubts. In fact I think that's personal opinion that needs to be sourced and attributed. I don't want to be accused of being "childish" again, by removing it, so I will just add a citation needed tag. I suggest that a source should be found before the tag is removed. I'm particularly surprised that anyone should find the lines "Cactus is our friend. He'll point out the way" as "suggestive." Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 08:38, 14 July 2019 (UTC)
 * Agree. I mean let's slip off to a sand dune ... and kick up a little dust"; "you won't need no camel ... when I take you for a ride" is probably suggestive, but thats just my opinion too. Ckruschke (talk) 19:10, 15 July 2019 (UTC)Ckruschke
 * The suggestive cactus is pointing the way to a different continent. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:43, 15 July 2019 (UTC)