On 24 May 1966 Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band appeared on Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is, miming to Who Do You Think You’re Fooling and Diddy Wah Diddy, looking slightly out-of-place amongst the beach-babes and beach-bums. Read More →
This version of Orange Claw Hammer is one of my very favourite things that either Captain Beefheart or Frank Zappa ever recorded. It’s an acoustic performance recorded live on radio KWST in 1975. It’s available on the Grow Fins Rarities 1965-1982 box set.Read More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Safe As Milk[/alert_box] Zig zag wanderer, zig zag wanderer (rep.) You can huff, you can puff You’ll never blow my house down You can zig, you can zag Ole house gonna stay, gonna stay around (rep.) You can jump, you can holler Never lose what ah found Heaven’s free, ‘cept for a dollar You can zig, you can zag Ole house gonna stay, gonna stay around (rep.) The zig zag wanderer had a zig zag child Zig zag traveller fathered mercy mild Found his Queen in Nature’s scene Quenched his thirst where he’d never been Zig zag wanderer (rep.) You can dance, you canRead More →
In 2001 Gary Marker wrote to say the following: Zig-Zag Wanderer was a specific reference to the popular rolling papers of the same name. (“You can huff, you can puff…” doesn’t ring any faint, tinkling bells and conjure up any smoke-drenched images?) I probably read this a while back on the Beefheart newsgroup: someone was confused about the bass line on “Zig-Zag Wanderer” and wanted to know if anyone had transcribed it. Well, one of the difficulties in figuring out the bass part on that song is probably because – and if you listen carefully you can hear it fairly clearly – there are threeRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Shiny Beast[/alert_box] Ah you know you’re a man Yeah, she makes you understan’ Yeah, you know you’re a man Yeah, you know you’re a girl about the same time About the same time I know I’m a man, You know you’re a girl Ah, we’re starting to… Deep down in yr heart you know you’re a girl When I know I’m a man Way down deep in yr heart Way down deep in my heart I got a glow Way down deep in my heart, yer hear me? Yeah, you hear me cryin’ out to you We’re already in love WhenRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Safe As Milk[/alert_box] Around the corner the wind blew back I followed the yellow brick road – It ended up at black-board black, I was taught the gift of love Smilin’ children, painted joy Sunshine bright, girl n’ boy Bag a’ tricks, n’ candy sticks Peppermint kite for m’ toy Yellow brick black-board black Keep on walkin’ n’ don’t look back I walked along happy n’ them came back, I followed the yellow brick road, Lost n’ found, I saw y’ down, alter-bound , alter-bound, I was taught the gift of love. Yellow brick road took m’ load, Sunshine girl, sunshine girl, come t’Read More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Lick My Decals Off, Baby[/alert_box] Woe-is-a-me-bop Om-drop-a-re-bop-om Everbody’s doin’ it Please don’t let them ruin it om (1970) Originally made available at Justin Sherill’s Home Page Replica.Read More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Ice Cream For Crow[/alert_box] When the Witch Doctor Life throws his silent bones some are crowned kings while others lose their thrones When the Witch Doctor Life throws his silent bones small “O” mouths scream and run to Mama Kangaroo insecure pouches wherein hide beggars and drones and babies and bums and buzzards Mama crouches and smiles her old useful smile and old ego roars – laughs yesterday’s gasses while children and angels gasp and follow a shepherd on crutches When the Witch Doctor Life throws his silent bones some flee the dream some turn to stone and the children singRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Trout Mask Replica[/alert_box] Wild life along with my wife I’m goin’ up on the mountain fo’ the rest uh m’ life ‘fore they take m’ life ‘fore they take m’ wild life ‘fore they take m’ wife They got m’ mother ‘n father ‘n run down all my kin Folks I know I’m next Wild life along with m’ wife I’m goin’ up on the mountain fo’ the rest uh m’ life ‘fore they take m’ wild life ‘fore they take m’ wife? wife? ‘fore they take m’ wife Wild life wild life wild life Wild life wild life wild lifeRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on The Legendary A&M Sessions[/alert_box] Who do you think you’re fooling With these things you’re doing You’re gonna start a scandal burn that midnight candle Now who do you think you’re fooling Honey it ain’t me-oh, no! You’re as sweet as candy Just as cute as can be You don’t think I know it But you sure do show it Now who do you think you’re fooling Baby it ain’t me-no! You don’t understand girl you’re living in a mans world You thought you couldn’t stand me Now you try to brand me Now who do you think you’re fooling Honey itRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on The Spotlight Kid[/alert_box] She serves me flowers ‘n yams ‘N in the night when i’m full She brings me white jam ‘N I don’t know where I am In the meadow she brings me Like ah bee she stings me ‘N I don’t know where I am Clouds clingin’ to us ‘N the sun lookin’ through us ‘N in the night when I’m full She brings me white jam ‘N I don’t know where I am (1972) Originally made available at Justin Sherill’s Home Page Replica.Read More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Safe As Milk[/alert_box] Where there’s truth, a green valley steams cottonwood Where there’s peace, a little cloud of music gleams brotherhood Where there’s love, I’d be a boy if I could Where there’s woman, I’d hold her when I should Where there’s woman Where there’s woman honey wine Where there’s woman lovin’ time Where there’s love, for a lover of my kind Where there’s evil, a hounds tooth bears white Where there’s good, is where I’ll be tonight Where there’s love, there burns eternal light Where there’s woman, I’ll take her without spite Where there’s woman Where there’s woman honey wineRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on The Spotlight Kid[/alert_box] When it blows its stacks He ain’t nowhere t’ be found When ah wolf’s claws wear way down Better watch out there’s ah man eater around Hide all the women in town When it blows its stacks All you girls make no mistake He’s as cold as ah snake sleepin’ in the shade He takes um out Out on an iceberg Hand ’em ah Ronson ‘n says I’ll see you around When he straighten up They all bend down He don’t bow t’ bad water He don’t pussy foot around When it blows its stacks He ain’t nowhereRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Shiny Beast[/alert_box] Oh, when I see mommy, I feel like a mummy, Gonna wrap her up Every time I see her Every time I see her I wanna grab her Pull her up to me til I look right through her But she moves so fast that I can’t even see her Her interest fades like breath on the mirror Oh, when I see mommy, I feel like a mummy, Gonna wrap her up Gonna wrap her up Next time I see her Next time I see her I’m gonna seize her Then I’m gonna freeze her It’s the only wayRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Trout Mask Replica[/alert_box] Hoy hoy When Big Joan comes out Her arms are too small Her head like uh ball She tied off her horse ‘n galloped off into the moonbeams She pulled up her blouse ‘n compared her navel to the moon I dig my life for uh while When Big Joan sets up Her hands are too small She’s too fat t’ go out in the daylight So she rolls around all night I’m just sorta thread With uh drooped body I’ll set up with yuh Big Joan I’m too fat t’ go out In the daylight I’ll stayRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Unreleased Lick My Decals Off, Baby outtake.[/alert_box] Well well well well Why do you taste so well? Oh no no no That ain’t the kind of smell Sky ain’t blue, we’re living in hell Well well well well well Well well well well The grounds need attending And you aren’t attending to them well Well well well well Why do you taste so well? You don’t taste so well You don’t taste so well Well well well well Who poisoned you? Well well well well You don’t taste anymore so well You don’t taste anymore so well Well well well well well well TheRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Trout Mask Replica[/alert_box] Light floats down day river on uh red raft o’ blood Night blocks out d’ heaven like uh big black shiny bug Its hard soft shell shinin’ white in one spot well It’s hard place dat I’m livin’ but I’m doin’ well well The white ice horse melted like uh spot uh silver well Its mane went last then disappeared the tail My life ran thru my veins Whistlin’ hollow well I froze in solid motion well well I heard the ocean swarmin’ body well well I heard the beetle clickin’ well I sensed the thickest silence screamRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Trout Mask Replica[/alert_box] I cry but I can’t buy Your Veteran’s Day poppy It don’t get me high It can only make me cry It can never grow another Son like the one who warmed me my days After rain amd warmed my breath My life’s blood Screamin’ empty she cries It don’t get me high It can only make me cry Your Veteran’s Day poppy (1969) Originally made available at Justin Sherill’s Home Page Replica, transcribed by Jonathan MachellRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Unconditionally Guaranteed[/alert_box] The decks were stacked The wind blew low, the wind blew high The stakes were low, the stakes were high Upon the My-O-My Hands low, hands high, Ho-ho-ho, hi-hi-hi Hands low, hands high Upon the My-O-My How was I to know she was so shy? Upon the My-O-My Across the light, across the night You can hear the Captain’s cry Hands low, hands high Upon the My-O-My Got to make her roll, got to make her fly Upon the My-O-My Now tell me, good Captain, How does it feel To be driven away from your own steering wheel UponRead More →
[alert_box type=”info”]Originally appeared on Bluejeans and Moonbeams[/alert_box] Twist ah luck that made you mine A stitch in time, your path crossed mine You’re the reason, love’s the rhyme It’s genuine Now you’re takin’ up all my time When we’re apart you’re on my mind Thinkin’ about you all the time Thinkin’ about you all the time Got my heart and me beatin’ overtime Got my heart and me beatin’ overtime Thinkin’ about you all the time Thinkin’ about you all the time I’m glad I played the game I played And I paid this heart of mine When we met I lost the bet AndRead More →