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Homebrew is a pretty cool, high energy song that is most likely about an acid trip. I love the guitar, and the chorus, and it’s just got a nice feeling to the song. It’s a cool, cohesive flavor that just eases along nicely.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Now I know fools get their own when they chit chat
haven’t heard yet but you can bet I’m not with that
with that talk with the digi walk
I struck a bird you heard absurd word to the fact
I’m a cat, nippin’ sippin’ on the flask
passin’ it talkin’ shit but only if you ass
in front of me cause you could run from me but
in the end revenge send ends to the defendant
I cant get caught in the spiral
cause every bit of energy it goes to my survival
out my way, I’m a flicka flacka blotter
ya try to find a weakness but the shit keeps gettin’ harder

Fourth of July
with Lucy in sky
I remember pine trees and the coat of many colors
I was nineteen
I’d do anything
shit like that now scares me but I’d like to do it again
It was Independence day
I’ve seen the other side and I say
oh, I’ve been insane
and I wont ever be the same

Ebeneezer Goode is–say it with me kids–a fun song. It’s got a great beat and you can dance to it. And it’s fun. Really fun. F to the U to the N.

Okay, enough self-parody. This is a good (no pun intended) song. It’s got a good, upbeat feeling, and it’s enjoyable to listen to as well.

I’d never really considered what the song was about before (I preferfed to just let my butt do thinking when I listen to this one), but according to Wikipedia, it’s most likely about the drug ecstasy:

The song is best known for its chorus, “‘Eezer Goode, ‘Eezer Goode/He’s Ebeneezer Goode”, which has been construed as a drug reference: “E’s are good, E’s are good”.[1] The lyrics present the advantages of Ecstasy use with a warning about the drugs abuse thrown in: “But go easy on old ‘Eezer, he’s the love you could lose. Extraordinary fellow, like Mister Punchinello, he’s the kind of geezer who must never be abused”.

The song also contains references to rolling a spliff with the lines “Has anybody got any Veras?”, a reference to ‘Vera Lynns’, the rhyming slang for skins or rolling papers and “Got any salmon?”, which is a reference to ’salmon and trout’ the rhyming slang for ’snout’, a prison word for tobacco.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

There’s a guy in the place
He’s got a bittersweet face
And he goes by the name of Ebeneezer Goode
His friends call him Eezer and he is the main geezer
And he’ll vibe about the place
Like no other man could
He’s refined, sublime, he makes you feel fine
Though very much maligned and misunderstood
But if you know Eezer he’s a real crowd pleaser
He’s ever so good, he’s Ebeneezer Goode
You can see that he’s mysterious,
Mischievious and devious
As he circulates amongst the people in the place
But once you know he’s fun
And something of a genius
He gives a grin that grows around
From face to face to face
Backwards and then forwards,
Forwards and then backwards
Eezer is the geezer who loves to muscle in
That’s about the time the crowd
All shout the name of Eezer
As he’s kotcheled in the corner,
Laughing by the bass bin

He’s Ebeneezer Goode
He’s Ebeneezer Goode
Eezer Goode, Eezer Goode
Eezer Goode, Eezer Goode
He’s Ebeneezer Goode

That’s right. I said it. Rap. Subterranean Homesick Blues is a rap song. Deal with it.

Oh, and Subterranean Homesick Blues is a great rap song. A great song period. There’s shedloads of info about it on Wikipedia. It’s a good read.

Personally, I love the song for it’s feel and shape, and for the very interesting lyrics. In fact, if I were the sort of pretentious internet blogging types who like to analyze lyrics endlessly and toss out pompous words like “zeitgest”, I would do just that.

Ah, what the hey? Just take these with a grain of salt, as I’m really doing them off the top of my head.

The first four lines of the first verse apparently refer to LSD, at least according to the Wikipedia article.

I believe the next four lines refer to what was once known as the “blue flu”, a phrase I haven’t heard in a long time. Because police were not allowed to strike by law, instead all of the officers would call in sick at the same time, there way of protesting for higher wages.

I believe that the “ducking down the alley” line is a reference to soliciting a male prostitute.

Sadly, no good idea about the man in the coonskin cap.

I believe the first eight lines from verse number two refer to the widespread belief (and possible truth) about the FBI wiretapping pretty much anyone they felt like for whatever reason.

The rest of the verse refers to a handful of different things. The fire hose line is easily a reference to the civil rights movement and the use of fire hoses to dispel peaceful demonstrations. The references to keeping a clean nose and watching the plainclothes likely have more to do with police entrapment than cocaine, and I imagine the ‘No Doz” reference is about amphetamines. Finally, I didn’t realize that the Weathermen took their cue from Dylan and not vice versa, but there you go.

Other than the parking meters possibly being a reference to Cool Hand Luke, I don’t have a good idea as to what most of the third verse is about.

The first part of the fourth verse is sort of a story of life sort of thing, with bitter discontent about some of the realities of being a scholar. The rest deals with the idea that going underground is the best way of life–although that’s said somewhat tongue-in-cheek as well.

Okay, enough of me blathering. Please feel free to add your own opinions. Here’s a link to the famous D.A. Pennebaker film clip

And of course, the lyrics:

Johnny’s in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I’m on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he’s got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
It’s somethin’ you did
God knows when
But you’re doin’ it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin’ for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten

Ah get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don’t steal, don’t lift
Twenty years of schoolin’
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don’t wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don’t wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don’t work
‘Cause the vandals took the handles

I’ve always enjoyed LL Cool J. While he’s best known for his boisterous, boasting style rap, for me it’s generally been the quieter, more low-key tunes where he really shines. This is one of those songs.

The smooth jazz style of Going Back To Cali really set the song apart back when it first came out. Additionally, LL’s quietly understated rap gives a great feeling of a laid back fish out of water. The sax vs. the pounding 808 also works nicely too.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. hmm, I don’t think so
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. I don’t think so

[saxophone solo]

I first heard this song about 3-6 months after Bust A Move hit, and I was impressed then. Later, I saw one of those Showtime at the Apollo type shows, this one featuring performances by East coast and West Coast rappers. This was during the beginning of the silly “East Coast/West Coast” rap feud, as well as also the feud between pop rappers and so-called gangsta rappers.

Young MC hit the stage and started performing this song. At the beginning, as a West Coast based pop rapper, he was booed soundly by the crowd. By the end of the song, he got a standing ovation. It’s that good a song–you enjoy it in spite of yourself, at least if that’s part of your thought process. It’s got a great bass line and rhythm, a nice chord progression, and it’s just a cool song.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

aah na-na, na-na

I come off. Yo baby, I come off. Here we go

It’s really interesting the stuff you find out sometimes when researching these posts. I’d always thought this song was an hilarious tale of someone who chose to bore people to death, but I have discovered the song is based on The Killer Inside Me, a novel by James Thompson.

The song is set from the point of the protagonist, a man who seems to be friendly, laconic and perhaps a little bit slow, but that’s apparently only a veneer hiding the truth–he’s a serial killer.

I’ve always liked this song because it has a good hook and because of the humor, but I’ll be listening to it with different ears from now on.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

You’ve probably seen me hanging around
I’m a very familiar face in this town.
A day doesn’t go by that I don’t meet
a lot of my friends walking down the street.
I’m never too busy to stop by the way
and I’ve always got something pleasant to say.
Maybe some perceptive thoughts about the weather
or the latest news from Wall Street, whatever.
I could stand around all day making small talk
gushing platitudes, blocking the sidewalk
tying people up for hours with ease,
my one big talent is shooting the breeze.
When they start to squirm, I really get going
but only my happy-face smile is showing.
Why can’t the y see what I’m trying to hide,
I’m bustin’ a gut, laughing on the inside.
It’s in their smile when I say hello
I can see they think I’m a little bit slow.
But after a while with me, they look dazed
their eyes covered with a donut glaze.
I really start to cook when I see that look
I hit ‘em with every cliché in the book.
Their knees wobble and they start to weave
it’s like they’re begging for permission to leave,
they think they are having a brush with stupidity
I don’t laugh, even though it’s killing me.
Watching them wilt like day-old flowers
Ticking off the minutes as they turn to hours.
They are wondering how much more they can take
I give ‘em a friendly smile and a handshake.
We say goodbye very politely

so I introduce them to the killer inside me.

Yes, I’m a Falco fan. Wanna make something of it?

I think the reason I’ve always enjoyed Falco is that A) I thought his music was pretty good, B) he brought an over-the-top sense of bombast to many of his songs and C) he just seemed to be having so much fun. This song is no different.

The Sound Of Muzik is a nice celebration of what a cool thing music is, and also it’s unifying aspects as well. The song is fun, the video is fun, it’s all just F-U-N.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course the lyrics:

Es beginnt in einem Wald, alle Rechte sind bezahlt
Es es endet doch daheim.
Meine Häende sind so kalt, denn die Zeit die ging ins Land
Meine Seele ist so rein.
Die Rose kennt den Duft
Meine Stimme braucht die Luft
Denn der Wind ist so heiß wie nie
Sei es Rock, Punk, Heavy Metal, Politics, or Classical
It’s all to Musik to me

Hear the James Brown song, hear the church choir sing
It’s the people’s voice they’re gonna bring up that bell and ring
It’s Otis Redding, he’s sitting on the dock of the bay
Give the children what they want, hear the children do the boogie
Do the bang-bang, do the boogie-bang
Hu-la-la-hu-la-la-e
E-oh

I first heard this song years ago on The Box (remember that, kiddies?) and I was very amused initially. Over time, however, I found that I really liked this song. I like Scatman John’s scat-singing, and I very much enjoy the rhythm and the beat. As to the story behind the song, from Wikipedia:

The lyrics detail how he overcame his difficulties with stuttering by turning them into the ability to scat-sing, and encourages children who stutter not to give up.

I think that’s pretty cool too.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

(Scatting by Scatman John)
I’m the Scatman
(Scatting by Scatman John)
I’m the Scatman
(Scatting by Scatman John)
Everybody stutters one way or the other
So check out my message to you.
As a matter of fact don’t let nothin’ hold you back.
If the Scatman can do it so can you.
Everybody’s sayin’ that the Scatman stutters
But doesn’t ever stutter when he sings.
But what you don’t know I’m gonna tell you right now
That the stutter and the scat is the same thing.
Yo I’m the Scatman.
Where’s the Scatman ? I’m the Scatman.
Why should we be pleasin’ all the politician heathens
Who would try to change the seasons if they could?
The state of the condition insults my intuitions
And it only makes me crazy and my heart like wood.
Everybody stutters one way or the other
So check out my message to you.
As a matter of fact don’t let nothin’ hold you back.
If the Scatman can do it brother so can you.
I’m the Scatman.
(Scatting by Scatman John)
Everybody stutters one way or the other
So check out my message to you.
As a matter of fact don’t let nothin’ hold you back.
If the Scatman can do it brother so can you.
I’m the Scatman.
I hear you all ask ’bout the meaning of scat.
Well I’m the professor and all I can tell you is
While you’re still sleepin’ the saints are still weepin’ cause
Things you call dead haven’t yet had the chance to be born.
I’m the Scatman.
(Scatting by Scatman John)
I’m the Scatman….repeat after me
It’s a scoobie oobie doobie scoobie doobie melody
I’m the Scatman….repeat after me
It’s a scoobie oobie doobie scoobie doobie melody
(Scatting by Scatman John)

—————-
Now playing: Beastie Boys - Unite
via FoxyTunes

Austin Powers was not the most recent use of Quincy Jones’ Soul Bossa Nova. That honor goes to Dream Warriors.

My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style utilizes Jones’ 1962 recording very nicely, and counterpointed against the cool vocals, the song really works well. Definitely one I fell in love with the first time I heard it.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

here we go are you ready for one other
Dream Warriors’ noise is new discover-al
once again with a new blend so telephone a friend
(yo dude I just got this new song It’s dope man)
compact disc to the prime is optimist
fans and friends I’m universally cosmic
concrete jungles abound
you stand by the speakers
you’re smothered and covered up in the sound
you stand strong as you pump your fist
I’m talkin’ all that jazz
now what’s my definition
[Chorus:]
my definition
my definition
my definition is this
my definition
my definition
my definition is this
my definition
my definition is this
my definition
when I kick rhymes there’s something said to do damage
hits so strong even superman needs a hand
so bob your head dread as I kick the funk flow
this rhyme is subliminal yet you don’t think so
I walk with a gold cane a gold brain and no gold chain
behind the truth lies there lies a parafix
in the mix is where Dream Warriors go
define if you will but I know so
there is no definition
[Chorus]
rhyme thou I know it to flow it just like a poet
your definition of me is definetly wrong
why must I try to lie and build an alibi
when all you ask is just for me to be me
replace a replacable replacement with this
relax relax relaxtion boombastic
my name is King Lu
(mine is Capital Q)
bags of mostly water search to find my definition
[Chorus]
I sought beauty through the dust of strife
I sought meaning to my music addicition
arise awaken we have need to reverse
a plauge has befallen us no time to reherse
this rhyme speaks it speak and has spoken
this rhyme will not change things
it needs to be changed in a hurse
you find caskets in my rhyme baskets of rhyme
your definition can define
so what’s my definition
[Chorus]
(yo, where’d everybody go?)

Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) is one of those songs that makes you want to get down and boogie. The beat, the horns, the smooth lyrical delivery all mesh together to make for a great, catchy sound. It’s one of those songs that’s great to play when a party is at it’s peak, as it will fill the dance floor–or at least, put people in a good frame of mind.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Ladies and Gentlemen,
as you know we have something
special for you at
Birdland this evening.
A recording for
Blue Note Records

I’ve found it. At last.
Put it on.