I love it when there’s tons of information about a song and you don’t have to listen to me blather on about how fun it is, or how it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.
Tales Of Brave Ulysses is one of those classic songs that thankfully has reams written about it, but there’s not a whole lot you really need to know about the song–other than that it rocks! And rocking is good.
At the same time, the song has some cool, evocative lyrics and a really nice chord progression. The story behind the song and the lyrics can be found at Wikipedia:
The lyrics are inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, an account of the adventures undertaken by Ulysses. This can be seen in the song’s reference to “naked ears … tortured by the sirens sweetly singing,” an event from Homer’s epic. When interviewed on the episode of the VH1 show, Classic Albums, which featured Disraeli Gears, lyricist Martin Sharp explained that he had recently returned from Ibiza, which was the source of many of the images in the song (e.g. “tiny purple fishes run laughing through her fingers”) and the general feeling of having left an idyll to return to “the hard lands of the winter”; Clapton stated in the same show that he had been independently writing a tune based on the Loving Spoonful’s “Summer in the City”, and when Sharp gave him the words (on the back of a bar napkin) they fit the tune.
As a special treat, I give you not one, not two, but three different links to videos:
- Here’s a link to a tribute video
- Here’s a link to a live performance from the 1960’s
- And here’s a link to a reunion tour from a couple of years ago
And of course, the lyrics:
You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever,
But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun.
And the colors of the sea blind your eyes with trembling mermaids,
And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave ulysses:
How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing,
For the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss their white laced lips.
And you see a girls brown body dancing through the turquoise,
And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea.
And when your fingers find her, she drowns you in her body,
Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind.
The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.
Her name is aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell,
And you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands
With tales of brave ulysses; how his naked ears were tortured
By the sirens sweetly singing.
The tiny purple fishes run lauging through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.
I honestly don’t know that much about the song Sticky Jazz–I have no idea what it’s about, if it has any meaning whatsoever, what anyone was thinking that day, no clue.
I do know that I loved it from the first time I heard it. The bass line captivated me and got me dancing. The moody feel got me into my head a little bit, and the sheer joy of the combination of instruments, melody and rhythm made me sit up and say, “Hell yeah!”. It was easily a three banana song.
Back in the days before the internet, I would sometimes hear a song I loved but rarely heard on the radio, and write my own lyrics for it, and I know I did this for Sticky Jazz. And no, even if I had any idea where those lyrics were, I wouldn’t post them.
You can listen to the song below:
And of course, the lyrics:
Wider than the sea - bigger than my big canoe and me
Blacker than a bullet - shiny as the stars we cannot find
And the blue, blue music - nothing ever was so sweet
Everything is fine: Higher Mathematics of the mind…
Surianamaska - like a little lizard in the sun
Take as much as you need; there’s enough for everyone
Living for the night-time - taking the bandage from the eyes
Hanging with the moth-men: everybody’s favourite disguise…
All the little background noises
All the little children sing
Fiddle with the wooden Jesus - it’s a special kind of thing…
All the little background noises
All the little children sing
All the little Greek-boys know there is a time for everything
(And they sing:)
DO-DO THE CRUEL IMMERSION: DO-DO THE FLAMING TONGUE
DO-DO THE HOLY MASH-UP: (SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE)
DO-DO THE FIERY FURNACE: DO-DO THE STICKY JAZZ
DO-DO THE HOLY MOTION: (WE WANT WHAT EVERYBODY HAS)
Everybody scatter pretty little flowers on the floor
Higher education - never seen a world like this before
Say arrivaderci - see you when the orchestra arrives:
Play the Big Night Music; sweeter than the honey in your hive…
All the little background noises
All the little children sing
Fiddle with the wooden Jesus - it’s a special kind of thing…
All the little background noises
All the little children sing
All the little Greek-boys know there is a time for everything
(And they sing:)
DO-DO THE CRUEL IMMERSION: DO-DO THE FLAMING TONGUE
DO-DO THE HOLY MASH-UP: (SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE)
DO-DO THE FIERY FURNACE: DO-DO THE STICKY JAZZ
DO-DO THE HOLY MOTION: (WE WANT WHAT EVERYBODY HAS)
DO-DO THE CRUEL IMMERSION: DO-DO THE FLAMING TONGUE
DO-DO THE HOLY MASH-UP: (SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE)
DO-DO THE FIERY FURNACE: DO-DO THE STICKY JAZZ
DO-DO THE HOLY MOTION: (WE WANT WHAT EVERYBODY HAS)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up: (something for everyone)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up: (something for everyone)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up: (something for everyone)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up: (something for everyone)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up: (something for everyone)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up: (something for everyone)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up: (something for everyone)
…Do-do the cruel immersion: do-do the flaming tongue
…Do-do the holy mash-up…
There are so many things to like about this song. The atonal violin, the O Superman-like repetition of “Friday”, the super funky organ solo in the middle, just the way the song sounds, it’s great.
Like many, I first became aware of Deus because of Beavis and Butthead, and I thought the song was really freaky, and really, really cool. I also have to strongly recommend this album, Worst Case Scenario.
I have no idea what this song is about, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was an acid trip. The lyrics have that disjointed feeling, and the instruments bring everything together in a claustrophobic, psychedelic mish-mash.
Can you tell that I love this song?
And of course, the lyrics:
Your head come on is dead and gone it might as well be said so long
It’s suds and soda a brain decoder and can I wait for my decoder
Get off get up you son of pop the light below is bright on top
It’s suds and soda a smile decoder and can I get yeah what I ordered?
And there’s always something in the air, sometimes, suds & soda mix ok with beer
Can I, can I break your sentiment
You’re just a monument, can’t see no precedent
Just wanna shout what the fuck
Jimmy dean is halloween like kerosene for dee dee scene
It’s suds and soda a brain decoder and can I skip this thing I ordered
Get off get up you son of pop the light below is bright on top
It’s suds and soda a vibe decoder and can I get yeah what I ordered?
And there’s always something in the air, sometimes, suds & soda mix ok with beer
Can I, can I break your sentiment
(to me) you’re just a monument, can’t see no precedent
Just wanna shout what the fuck
And there’s always something in the air
Your face come on is dead and gone, you might as well be said so long
It’s suds and soda a brain decoder and can I wait for my devoter
Get off get up you son of pop the light below is bright on top
It’s suds and soda a smile decoder and can I skip yeah what I ordered?
And can I break your sentiment?
So can I break your sentiment, so can I break your sentiment
So can I break your sentiment, so can I break your sentiment
So can I break your sentiment, so can I break your sentiment
So can I break your sentiment, so can I break your sentiment
So can I break your sentiment, so can I break your sentiment
Friday, friday, friday, friday, friday, friday, friday
Seattle is an interesting song in many ways. First of all, it rocks: there’s some really good guitar work here. Secondly, I really feel this is one of John Lydon’s best vocal performances, with lots of pith and rage that works well against the squealing guitars and funky bass. Finally, it’s curious as to what it’s about; Rumor has it that the song was written after the band had a negative experience in Seattle, but I cannot substantiate those rumors in any way. In many ways, it’s generic enough to cover a lot of different scenarios.
And of course, the lyrics:
Don’t like the look of this old town
What goes up must come down
Character is lost and found
On unfamiliar playing ground
Get out of My World
What in the world
Shoe boxed around the rifle range
Have all your functions rearranged
Your mind and body gagged and bound
On a new familiar playing ground
The ordinary will ignore
Whatever they cannot explain
As if nothing ever happened
And everything remained the same again
What in the world
What in the world
What in the world
Get out of my world
Get out of my world
Get out of my world
Open your mouth now
Secret signs and knowing looks
These happy days will cook the books
Happy to take the misery
This mortal life can bring to me
Don’t like the looks of this town
What goes up must come down
Character is lost and found
On unfamiliar playing ground
What in the world
What in the world
What in the world
What in, get out, get out
Get out of my world
What in the world
Palaces, barricades, threats meet promises
The first time I heard this song, I thought it would be the perfect backing music for the mutant gang from The Dark Knight Returns. It’s loud–very loud–angry, energetic and over the top. Plus there’s really nothing else that sounds like it, at least not that I’ve heard.
The song’s meaning is pretty self-explanatory–it’s about rejecting the system and creating something better. Well, maybe not better, but something different. Either way, I find the song and it’s sound compelling.
And of course, the lyrics:
ACTION!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live: REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What we gonna go for? What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
Welcome to step one - I can’t wait no longer -
Let’s make it happen!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another investigation of our generation!
Sublime information!
The collapse of a century!!!!!
I’m targeted at the Whitehouse
Like a bullet from a gun! Waste my life from scratch…
But at least we will leave a bad taste in your mouth!!!!
Dope - Fly - Fly - don’t take it
Take it out too far and I won’t fake it!
A blank promise - your words -
Nothing else than another hell ride
We got to!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!! What we gonna go for????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!! What we gonna go for????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we gonna go for???? What we gonna go for????
Revolution!!!!!! Action!!!!!
Revolution - Action - Revolution - Action!!!!!!
We got to….
Are you ready???????
A shoot - a pain - with the knife between my teeth
And then I leave you in cold blood!!!! I’m comin’ at ya!!!
I’m comin’ at ya!!!!!!!! Carl Crack like a flamin’ arrow -
Burning the regime of terror!!!!
With a gun pointing at my head
I realise what I could get instead!!!
What you gonna go for????? What you gonna go for?????
What you gonna go for?????????? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!
What you gonna go for?
What you gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What you gonna go for? What you gonna go for?
What you gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
Many people are in power but none of them is one of us -
Press and media any hour - NOW TELL ME:
WHAT’S WRONG WITH US????????????????
In the lion’s throat I stand and wanna know!!!!!!!!
surrounded by me and my gang… your life just blows!!!
BREAK INTO THE CENTER WHERE YOUR HEART GOES!!!!!!!!!
You hold the cigarette like you’re trying to understand
But what if the next person near you
IS TAKING THE TRUTH OUT OF YOUR HANDS????????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we gonna go for????? ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT AIN’T SELF-DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT AIN’T SELF-DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—————-
Now playing: Jethro Tull - Bungle In The Jungle
via FoxyTunes
This is just a great song, possibly my favorite Primus song.
Tommy The Cat isn’t the deepest song in the world–essentially it’s the tale of an alleycat looking for love and boasting about his adventures–but it’s certainly fun. Tom Waits handles the voice of Tommy adroitly, giving the feeling of a top cat telling a story to a group of captivated younger cats, wishing to bask in his experience.
However, what really makes this song work for me is Les Claypool’s bass playing. I truly believe this is his peak, as he goes from outright funky to delivering a solo that might make John Entwistle roll in his grave with envy. Definitely the high point for me.
And of course, the lyrics:
“I remember as it were a meal ago”
Said Tommy the Cat as he reeled back to
clear whatever foreign matter may have
nestled its way into his mighty throat.
Many a fat alley rat had met its demise
while staring point blank down the
cavernous barrel of this awesome prowling
machine.
Truly a wonder of nature this urban predator.
Tommy the cat had many a story to tell,
But it was a rare occasion such as this
that he did.
“She came slidin’ down the alleyway like
butter drippin’ off a hot biscuit.
The aroma, the mean scent, was enough
to arouse suspicion in even the oldest of
Tigers that hung around the hot spot in
those days.
The sight was beyond belief.
Many a head snapped for double - even
triple - takes as this vivacious feline made
her her way into the delta of the alleyway
where the most virile of the young tabbys
were known to hang out.
They hung in droves. Such a multitude of
masculinity could only be found in one
place…
And that was O’malley’s Alley.
The air was thick with cat calls
(no pun intended),
But not even a muscle in her neck did
twitch as she sauntered up into the heart
of the alley.
She knew what she wanted.
She was lookin’ for that stud bull, the he
cat.
And that was me.
Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto
thee…
“Say baby do you wanna lay down by me”
Heroin was a song that scared me the first time I heard it. It seemed very spooky and gloomy, and it sort of gave me the shivers as well. Still, today it’s one of my favorite songs.
A song that was meant to be a sort of anti-drug warning, it was generally misinterpreted as being actually the opposite. From Wikipedia:
“Heroin”, (along with songs like “I’m Waiting for the Man” which dealt with similar subject matter), was chiefly one of the reasons The Velvet Underground were tied to drug use in the media. Some critics declared the band were glorifying the use of drugs such as heroin. However, members of the band (Lou Reed, in particular) frequently denied any claims that the song was advocating use of the drug; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Lou Reed’s lyrics, such as they are on the majority of The Velvet Underground and Nico, were more meant to focus on providing an objective description of the topic without taking a moral stance in the matter.
and
“I meant those songs to sort of exorcise the darkness, or the self-destrutive element in me, and hoped other people would take them the same way. But when I saw how people were responding to them it was disturbing. Because like people would come up and say, ‘I shot up to “Heroin,’” things like that. For a while, I was even thinking that some of my songs might have contributed formatively to the consciousness of all these addictions and things going down with the kids today. But I don’t think that anymore; it’s really too awful a thing to consider. (Lou Reed)”
For me, what makes the song is the changes in tempo, the fatalistic lyrics, Lou Reed’s voice–he never had a great voice, but he used what he had to good effect–and the steady droning beat. Great, compelling stuff.
And of course, the lyrics:
I don’t know just where I’m going
But I’m gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
‘Cause it makes me feel like I’m a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I’ll tell ya, things aren’t quite the same
When I’m rushing on my run
And I feel just like Jesus’ son
And I guess that I just don’t know
And I guess that I just don’t know
I have made the big decision
I’m gonna try to nullify my life
‘Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper’s neck
When I’m closing in on death
And you can’t help me now, you guys
And all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess that I just don’t know
And I guess that I just don’t know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I’d sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor’s suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man can not be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don’t know
Oh, and I guess that I just don’t know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it’s my wife and it’s my life
Because a mainer to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I’m better off and dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don’t care anymore
About all the Jim-Jim’s in this town
And all the politicians makin’ busy sounds
And everybody puttin’ everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds
‘Cause when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don’t care anymore
Ah, when the heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I’m as good as dead
Then thank your God that I’m not aware
And thank God that I just don’t care
And I guess I just don’t know
And I guess I just don’t know
This is such a great song–and no one seems to really know what it’s about. There are tons of theories out there, but nothing that I felt was worth linking to. I won’t even bother speculating.
Besides, it’s such a beautiful melody, and such a cool song. The piano really makes it work, and Bowie’s vocals are on target. This is one of those ballads that I liked instantaneously, and for me, that’s rare.
Here’s a link to a promo made back in 1973
And of course, the lyrics:
It’s a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling “No!”
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she’s hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she’s lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It’s the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he’ll ever know
He’s in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It’s on Amerika’s tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
‘Cause Lennon’s on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
‘Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It’s about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It’s the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he’ll ever know
He’s in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It amazes me that this song never really saw the light of day before 1982, and I’m also amazed that some band hasn’t co-opted it for their own as a regular encore.
This is just one of those great songs that should have been an FM staple–it’s a good rocking song with plenty of room for improvisation, making it an almost perfect jam song. Additionally, it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.
You can listen to this great song below.
And of course, the lyrics:
She’s over by the corner
Got her hands by her sides
They hit her harder harder harder
Till they thought she might die
Well I got a foggy notion, do it again
Over by the corner, do it again
I got my calamine lotion baby, do it again
I got a foggy notion, do it again
She made me do something that I never did before
I rushed right down to a flower store
I bought her a bundle a beautiful batch
Don’t you know something, she sent ‘em right back
Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae
Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae
The first time I heard this song, it was being used as pre-show music for a college production of Vinegar Tom. I loved the way the song sounds and changes time signatures from the verse to the chorus. Also, it’s Kate Bush dude!
A couple of quotes about the song from SongMeanings:
“…a song about epistemology… This song is about how hard it is to obtain knowledge, and how when you get it, it often isn’t as satisfying as you thought it would be … ‘I hold a cup of wisdom, but there is nothing within’ … You achieve some intellectual goal, and you see that it’s just a foothill for a bigger mountain of knowledge behind … ‘I’ve been doing it for years. My goal is moving near. It says, “Look! I’m over here.”, Then it up and disappears’ … (perrific.com).
I must admit, just when I think I’m king (I just begin… to write THE DREAMING…
SAT IN YOUR LAP concerns alienation and the ‘blessing or curse’ to (want to) see deeper. The opening lines express exclusion from the ordered, functioning bourgeois world. Projecting ability onto others but not being able to fit into the “triviality of everydayness”. It ‘hurts’ because it is not real enough. Colin Wilson describes two types of Outsider: the one who feels excluded from knowledge; and the one who Knows (the godlike ‘…I’m King’). The song pendulates between these high and low mental states. (Go see ‘The Outsider’, Colin Wilson, 1956.)
‘When I’m king’ everything fits into place and you see knowledge is Sat In Your Lap. But ‘when I’m dunce’ (see video for SIYL), there is nothing there/within.
SIYL also highlights the dangers of (deluded) knowledge and the knowledge-quest… Adolf Hitler: ‘By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell - and hell, heaven … The greater the lie, the more readily will it be believed’ (Mein Kampf) …
Choose wisely your teachers!The song regards philosophical enquiry - The Longest Journey - as a religious experience… effort, balance, frustration, realisation…
It reminds me of ANNE SEXTON’S “GODS” …And maybe the search ends with:
“Ha, ha, ha
Ho, ho, ho
And a couple of tra - la - las
That’s how we laugh the day away
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!”
And of course, the lyrics:
I see the people working and see it working for them,
And so I want to join in, but then I find it hurts me.
Some say that knowledge is something sat in your lap
Some say that knowledge is something that you never have
I see the people happy, so can it happen for me?
‘Coz when I am unhappy, there is nothing that can move me.
Some say that knowledge is something that you never have
Some say that knowledge is something sat in your lap
Some say that heaven is hell, some say that hell is heaven.
I must admit, just when I think I’m king (I just begin)
Just when I think I’m king, I must admit (I just begin)
Just when I think I’m king
(I just begin.)
I h’ve been doing it for years, my goal is moving near,
I says “Look I am over here,” then it up and disappears.
Some say that knowledge is something sat in your lap
Some say that knowledge is ho ho ho ho.
I want to be a Lawyer, I want to be a scholar,
But I really can’t be bothered, ooh just
Gimme it quick, gimme it, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme.
Some say that knowledge is ho ho ho ho
Some say that knowledge is ho ho ho ho
Some say that heaven is hell, some say that hell is heaven,
I must admit, just when I think I’m king (I just begin)
Just when I think I’m king, I must admit (I just begin)
Just when I think everything’s going great (I just begin)
Hey I get the break
Hey I’m gonna take it all, (I just begin,)
When I’m king, (just begin.)
In my dome of ivory, a home of activity,
I want the answers quickly, but I don’t have no energy,
I hold a cup of wisdom, but there is nothing within,
My cup she never overfloweth and ’tis I that moan and groaneth,
Some grey and white matter, (Give me the Karma Mama
a jet to Mecca, Tibet or Jeddah,
To Salisbury, A monastery,
The longest journey, across the desert,
Across the weather, acaross the elements.
Across the water)