Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[welkins2139]

Some poets must think it is a hell of a note that it takes a Pulitzer just to get their work read.

What does it mean " a hell of a note " ?

Thank you

[Anuradha Chepur]

It means emotionally painful. Nobody cared to read the book until it won a Pulitzer. So we can guess how the author felt.

You must have heard this song "Ain't that a hell of a note" by Aaron Tippin:

I'm home" like I do every day at four
But the TV ain't on and the car is gone, she must be at the store
Then I spied this piece of paper it looked like a list of things to do
But when I got down to number six I realized we were through
The plumber couldn' make it today, I've decided that I'm going away
The dog's at the vet the hearing is set
Do you see what I'm trying to say
Don't forget to take out the trash, I'm sorry but I'm not coming back
Now you can't sugar coat what she really wrote
Ain't that a hell of a note

I just stood there and scratched my head, my chin dropped to the floor
Not even a tear after all these years, I expected a little bit more
I was countin' on grabbin' a good, cold beer
Stretchin' out on the couch
But she went by the numbers and I got counted out

The plumber couldn' make it today, I've decided that I'm going away
The dog's at the vet the hearing is set
Do you see what I'm trying to say
Don't forget to take out the trash, I'm sorry but I'm not coming back
Now you can't sugar coat what she really wrote
Ain't that a hell of a note

Lordy, ain't that a hell of a note

[CP]

I first heard the expression from an old fellow when I was a child. He was grousing about something, the price of gasoline or cigarettes, I think, and he said, "Ain't that a hell of a note?" I understood it to mean something like, "Isn't that a sour note?" as in music, but I've never seen an explanation, so I could be wrong.

I've also heard it as, "Well, that's a hell of a note!" to express surprise or indignation at something or someone.

If I am right about the expression, then the song quoted seems to pun on "Isn't that a hell of a note?" by referring to the actual note left by the departed wife at the same time as the figurative sour note of her departure (or parting words).

Yours truly noted, CP