Our surprise free show in Red Hook this Saturday, August 27th, has been canceled due to hurricane precautions by the city. But in case you'd like to imagine the show that might have been, here's the set list Otto von Dee and I ran through tonight in my basement. We wouldn't necessarily have played it in this order. Make up your own, why don't ya?
The Golem
Cool Papa Bell
Marie Curie
a song for Abigail Adams
Sojourner Truth
Birds of America Don't Care-Oh
Penny Farthing
Whaleship Essex
Dead Horse Bay
Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?
Battle of Brooklyn
Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef
River of Blood
Sacagawea
Henry Box Brown
Tub-Tub-Ma-Ma-Ga-Ga
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
a song for Abigail Adams
a song for Abigail Adams
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c) (p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
abbie abbie abbie
said she didn't get my letter
but oh sweet baby
i like nothing better
i like nothing better
than getting a letter from you
abbie abbie abbie
i'm way across the ocean
18th century mail
tends to get lost
i never stopped writing
i just wrote a letter to you
sent it through braintree, massachusetts
care of the shark-filled sea
write me here i'm still in paris
abbie write a letter to me
abbie abbie abbie
said she didn't get my letter
but oh sweet baby
i like nothing better
i like nothing better
than getting a letter from you
abbie abbie abbie
i'm always with franklin
he lets the cold air in
but i like the window closed
i've heard a lot from him
now i need to hear a little from you
sent it through braintree, massachusetts
care of the shark-filled sea
write me here i'm still in paris
abbie write a letter to me
Abigail and John Adams were famous for the letters they wrote throughout their life. But in the late 1700s and early 1800s when they lived, the mail service was far less sophisticated than it is now and many letters got lost. One time Abigail complained that John had written enough and he protested -- not in the pleading romantic manner of this song, but in the same vigorous manner he used in courtrooms and legal documents. In this song, I give John a different voice from the one we read in his letters, one closer to my own.
Who does what on "a song for Abigail Adams"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric bass
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric guitar, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c) (p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
abbie abbie abbie
said she didn't get my letter
but oh sweet baby
i like nothing better
i like nothing better
than getting a letter from you
abbie abbie abbie
i'm way across the ocean
18th century mail
tends to get lost
i never stopped writing
i just wrote a letter to you
sent it through braintree, massachusetts
care of the shark-filled sea
write me here i'm still in paris
abbie write a letter to me
abbie abbie abbie
said she didn't get my letter
but oh sweet baby
i like nothing better
i like nothing better
than getting a letter from you
abbie abbie abbie
i'm always with franklin
he lets the cold air in
but i like the window closed
i've heard a lot from him
now i need to hear a little from you
sent it through braintree, massachusetts
care of the shark-filled sea
write me here i'm still in paris
abbie write a letter to me
Abigail and John Adams were famous for the letters they wrote throughout their life. But in the late 1700s and early 1800s when they lived, the mail service was far less sophisticated than it is now and many letters got lost. One time Abigail complained that John had written enough and he protested -- not in the pleading romantic manner of this song, but in the same vigorous manner he used in courtrooms and legal documents. In this song, I give John a different voice from the one we read in his letters, one closer to my own.
Who does what on "a song for Abigail Adams"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric bass
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric guitar, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Marie Curie
Marie Curie
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c) (p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
French translation by Rosalie Fisher, French singing coach: Dana Loev
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
ULYSSES
Marie Curie
left Paris
with a suitcase full of radium
"Excuse me...
Are you Marie Curie?"
was the soldier's question.
"That's not me.
I'm not Marie Curie.
No, sir, that's not me.
That's not me.
I'm not Marie Curie.
No, sir, that's not me."
"Leave Paris,
Marie Curie..."
The president told her to go.
"Excuse me,
are you the famous Marie Curie?"
The soldier wanted to know
"That's not me.
I'm not Marie Curie.
No, sir, that's not me.
That's not me.
I'm not Marie Curie.
No, sir, that's not me."
MOBY
Marie Curie
quitta Paris
sa valise remplie de radium
- Excusez-moi,
demanda le soldat.
Êtes-vous Marie Curie?
- Sûrement pas!
Non, [non], ce n'est pas moi,
lui a dit Marie Curie.
Non, monsieur,
Je vous le dis, je n'suis
pas Marie Curie.
But, oui...
I do have a sandwich
and I will share it with you
Mais, oui... Yes!
J'ai bien un bon sandwich
pour nous deux, si ça vous dit.
This year I did a songwriting project with Tom Weiner's class at Smith Campus School in Northampton, MA. Ella Childs (daughter of Bill Childs, host of the radio show Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child) was in the class and during our classroom discussions made a strong case for a song about Marie Curie.
The class song ended up being about Helen Keller, Wilma Rudolph, Rosa Parks, and other important innovators and activists but I still wanted to write the Curie song. The next morning -- before the Dees played at the River's Meltdown -- Ella and I brainstormed. She told me some of her favorite Marie Curie stories and this one seemed to best lend itself to song.
Who does what on "Marie Curie"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): accordion
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Skating in Old Bryant Park
Skating in Old Bryant Park
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
I see you...
skating
in old Bryant Park
round and round we go
You poet!
You're skating
in old Bryant Park
named for you so long ago
A potter's field became Reservoir Square
The lions came in
they built a library over there
You sit there at night
thinking Thanatoptical thoughts
But who knew you came out in the day?
Who knew you knew how to skate?
You're
skating
in old Bryant Park
round and round we go
You poet!
You're skating
in old Bryant Park
named for you so long ago
A potter's field became Reservoir Square
The lions came in
they built a library over there
You sit there at night
thinking abolitiionist thoughts
But who knew you came out in the day?
Who knew you knew how to skate?
You're
skating
in old Bryant Park
round and round we go
You poet!
You're skating
in old Bryant Park
named for you so long ago
We played at the skating rink they set up at Bryant Park, located behind the main branch of the New York Public Library, last year. I wrote this song to play that day.
William Cullen Bryant, an editor, poet, and abolitionist from the 1800s, watches over the park in statue form. In this song he gets up and skates with everyone else.
the lions = you know those big lions in front of the NYPL?
And what are "Thanatoptical thoughts?"
Bryant's most famous poem, the one you probably read in high school, is called "Thanatopsis"
Who does what on "Skating in Old Bryant Park"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): vocals
David Winograd: tuba
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
I see you...
skating
in old Bryant Park
round and round we go
You poet!
You're skating
in old Bryant Park
named for you so long ago
A potter's field became Reservoir Square
The lions came in
they built a library over there
You sit there at night
thinking Thanatoptical thoughts
But who knew you came out in the day?
Who knew you knew how to skate?
You're
skating
in old Bryant Park
round and round we go
You poet!
You're skating
in old Bryant Park
named for you so long ago
A potter's field became Reservoir Square
The lions came in
they built a library over there
You sit there at night
thinking abolitiionist thoughts
But who knew you came out in the day?
Who knew you knew how to skate?
You're
skating
in old Bryant Park
round and round we go
You poet!
You're skating
in old Bryant Park
named for you so long ago
We played at the skating rink they set up at Bryant Park, located behind the main branch of the New York Public Library, last year. I wrote this song to play that day.
William Cullen Bryant, an editor, poet, and abolitionist from the 1800s, watches over the park in statue form. In this song he gets up and skates with everyone else.
the lions = you know those big lions in front of the NYPL?
And what are "Thanatoptical thoughts?"
Bryant's most famous poem, the one you probably read in high school, is called "Thanatopsis"
Who does what on "Skating in Old Bryant Park"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): vocals
David Winograd: tuba
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef
Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Bluebird flies tonight
Climb the stairs it's time to say goodbye
goodbye Dinoland
Goodbye brontosaurus
Real cool meeting you
Will you wait here for us?
Bluebird flies tonight
Our crowded train rides on the 7 line
Goodbye giant rockets pointed up at space and
Goodbye giant globe
Do you see me waving?
Bluebird painted red
A fast train taking us to see the Mets
I see you, giant Globe
Globe, do you remember
How cold it gets out here
In November?
Gb Db Bbm Cb
Bluebird turned to silver blue
they wrote their names all over you
They hid those tags in white then red
The red changed shades
We met again
My bluebird was a redbird now
Headed west
Manhattan bound
Redbird takes a dive
The ocean floor is where you'll end your ride
You went in with a splash
And now you're slowly sinking
I should get a scuba mask
And come ask what you are thinking
Bluebird redbird redbird reef
A subway car beneath the sea
Goodbye bluebird
Can you see
The sun in the waves
Up here?
Inspired by a trip my daughter and I took to the NYC Transit Museum. In the 1960s, the World's Fair came to Queens and the Bluebirds --painted light blue -- were the cars of a special express train that took you right to it. These cars remained in service after the World's Fair and continued to run along the 7 line -- the line that takes you to Shea Stadium / now Citi Field.
In the 80s, these cars were painted a graffiti-resistant red and started being called Redbirds.
These cars were finally retired starting in the late 90s. Many of them were then submerged to be used as artificial reefs off the coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, and elsewhere.
Dinoland, giant rockets = exhibits at the World's Fair
giant globe = that globe that was built for the World's Fair but still lives in Flushing Meadows Park and shows up in lots of movies
Gb Db Bbm Cb = the chords for this section. I always forget them so I decided to just leave them there so I can always find them on this blog.
Who does what on "Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): electric bass, stylophone, toy piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): acoustic lead guitar
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): acoustic rhythm guitar, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Bluebird flies tonight
Climb the stairs it's time to say goodbye
goodbye Dinoland
Goodbye brontosaurus
Real cool meeting you
Will you wait here for us?
Bluebird flies tonight
Our crowded train rides on the 7 line
Goodbye giant rockets pointed up at space and
Goodbye giant globe
Do you see me waving?
Bluebird painted red
A fast train taking us to see the Mets
I see you, giant Globe
Globe, do you remember
How cold it gets out here
In November?
Gb Db Bbm Cb
Bluebird turned to silver blue
they wrote their names all over you
They hid those tags in white then red
The red changed shades
We met again
My bluebird was a redbird now
Headed west
Manhattan bound
Redbird takes a dive
The ocean floor is where you'll end your ride
You went in with a splash
And now you're slowly sinking
I should get a scuba mask
And come ask what you are thinking
Bluebird redbird redbird reef
A subway car beneath the sea
Goodbye bluebird
Can you see
The sun in the waves
Up here?
Inspired by a trip my daughter and I took to the NYC Transit Museum. In the 1960s, the World's Fair came to Queens and the Bluebirds --painted light blue -- were the cars of a special express train that took you right to it. These cars remained in service after the World's Fair and continued to run along the 7 line -- the line that takes you to Shea Stadium / now Citi Field.
In the 80s, these cars were painted a graffiti-resistant red and started being called Redbirds.
These cars were finally retired starting in the late 90s. Many of them were then submerged to be used as artificial reefs off the coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, and elsewhere.
Dinoland, giant rockets = exhibits at the World's Fair
giant globe = that globe that was built for the World's Fair but still lives in Flushing Meadows Park and shows up in lots of movies
Gb Db Bbm Cb = the chords for this section. I always forget them so I decided to just leave them there so I can always find them on this blog.
Who does what on "Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): electric bass, stylophone, toy piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): acoustic lead guitar
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): acoustic rhythm guitar, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?
Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
He tried to find a Northwest Passage
a way from Africa to India
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
He found an island and a river
and sailed around what we call New York City
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Hi-yi-ya
Hi-yi-ya-ya-ya
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
If you believe Rip Van Winkle
Henry retired to the Catskills
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Henry and crew, they all got smaller
At night they make nine-pin thunder
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
I wrote this in my head while driving to a school show in White Plains / Westchester / somewhere in that netherworld between NYC and upstate. The school was doing a curriculum about Henry Hudson and the 400th anniversary of his arrival. I taught the other Dees the tune while we plugged everything in and we performed it that morning.
The second verse is inspired by Washington Irving's short story, "Rip Van Winkle." Everybody knows about how Rip fell asleep then woke up to find everything changed (most notably the British are no longer in charge of the colonies in which he lives). But do you remember the whole bit about Henrik Hudson and his crew bowling in the mountains? They've become gnomes or something and all have long beards. I remember reading the actual "Rip Van Winkle" (rather than a kid's adaptation) as an adult and being like "What? I don't remember this!"
Who does what on "Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
He tried to find a Northwest Passage
a way from Africa to India
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
He found an island and a river
and sailed around what we call New York City
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Hi-yi-ya
Hi-yi-ya-ya-ya
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
If you believe Rip Van Winkle
Henry retired to the Catskills
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Henry and crew, they all got smaller
At night they make nine-pin thunder
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
I wrote this in my head while driving to a school show in White Plains / Westchester / somewhere in that netherworld between NYC and upstate. The school was doing a curriculum about Henry Hudson and the 400th anniversary of his arrival. I taught the other Dees the tune while we plugged everything in and we performed it that morning.
The second verse is inspired by Washington Irving's short story, "Rip Van Winkle." Everybody knows about how Rip fell asleep then woke up to find everything changed (most notably the British are no longer in charge of the colonies in which he lives). But do you remember the whole bit about Henrik Hudson and his crew bowling in the mountains? They've become gnomes or something and all have long beards. I remember reading the actual "Rip Van Winkle" (rather than a kid's adaptation) as an adult and being like "What? I don't remember this!"
Who does what on "Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Golem
The Golem
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2010, 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Ely Levin, Chris Johnson, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
OTTO
The Golem is a superhero made out of mud
It can follow simple commands
But be careful what you ask it to do
Join us as we lift our big feet and walk like the Golem!
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
OTTO
A long time ago
in Prague
Jews were being persecuted
A rabbi used mud from the river
to make a Golem
and brought it to life
to defend the people
The Golem fought for the Jews of Prague
but eventually got out of control
killing and destroying
The Holy Roman Emperor begged the rabbi to stop the Golem
and promised to end the persecuting of the Jews
The rabbi agreed.
He erased the first letter of the Hebrew word "emet" on the Golem's forehead
changing it from "truth" to "dead"
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ULYSSES
If you had your own Golem, a big creature that was big and strong, what would you ask it to do?
ROSIE
Uh... save people.
ULYSSES
Save people?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to make me a mansion and make me candy.
RHYS
If I had a Golem, I'd have it play me a guitar and... sing me a song and... play drums to me.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell it to give me attention.
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ANNABELLE
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to save dogs.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell him to save people.
ROSIE
If I had a Golem, I would save bad guys.
HAZEL
Save bad guys?!
ROSIE
Yes!
GRANT
I wish the Golem was really real. Why are we really real?
ULYSSES
Why are we really real?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to... uh... bonk my dad on the head!
It was reading Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay that first got me excited about the Golem. In that book, one of the characters smuggles himself out of Prague inside a Golem, a statue made of clay, just before World War II. This is one of many tales of the Golem, a creature some call the world's first superhero. Scholars have put him / it in the long line of possible ancestors to Superman and our modern-day comic book heroes that also includes American strongman John Henry, Hercules, Atlas, and many others. People also point to the similarities between the Golem and Frankenstein.
In this song, Otto gives us a short version of one of the variations of the "Golem of Prague" story, possibly the most famous Golem narrative, and some kids -- including my kids Hazel and Grant and Dean Jones' son, Rhys -- say what they would do if they had their own Golems to command.
Google "golem" and check out these books to find out more about the folklore and history related to this fascinating character:
Golem by David Wisniewski
cool, creepy picture book good for advanced kindergarteners or elementary-aged kids. For younger kids, try Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by John Ed. Mayer and Trina Schart Hyman. It's not about the Golem but it's another eerie Jewish tale with scary creatures. My son loved this book when he was two.
The Golem and the Wondrous Deeds of the Maharal of Prague
by Yudi Rosenberg, translated by Curt Leviant
a book for grown-ups that tells a detailed version of the Golem of Prague story and digs deep into the cultural and religious history of the character
The Golem by Isaac Bashevis Singer, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz
out of print, but available online-- looks awesome
Many many other fascinating books about the Golem are out there. Fantasy books, plays, a retelling by Elie Wiesel... Tell us what you find.
Note on the music: In addition to our family shows, the Deedle Deedle Dees do a lot of music for grown-ups. We play swing, blues, bluegrass, soul, R&B, old rock-n-roll and, most pertinent to this song, klezmer.
Klezmer, in brief, is Jewish jazz, traditional and spiritual music that has roots in Jewish culture and religion and is played in an improvisational style. Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee has been largely responsible for introducing the band to this music and getting us gigs where we can play it. It's really fun -- everyone should play klezmer.
This song is my attempt to write a klezmer tune. I originally wrote it as an instrumental. We regularly perform klezmer at bar and bat mitzvahs, other synagogue functions, private parties and other events. Traditional tunes, some of them really really old, make up most of our repertoire but we added this original to the set after it just came to me one day. It's one of our favorite songs to play so I adapted it with lyrics for this album.
Who does what on "The Golem"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): banjo, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, spoken narration, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, interview, vocals, stomping
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals, stomping
Rhys William Jones Ellis, Hazel Phipps-Miller, Grant Phipps-Miller, Annabelle (last name), Rose Lorenzo: commentary
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2010, 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Ely Levin, Chris Johnson, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
OTTO
The Golem is a superhero made out of mud
It can follow simple commands
But be careful what you ask it to do
Join us as we lift our big feet and walk like the Golem!
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
OTTO
A long time ago
in Prague
Jews were being persecuted
A rabbi used mud from the river
to make a Golem
and brought it to life
to defend the people
The Golem fought for the Jews of Prague
but eventually got out of control
killing and destroying
The Holy Roman Emperor begged the rabbi to stop the Golem
and promised to end the persecuting of the Jews
The rabbi agreed.
He erased the first letter of the Hebrew word "emet" on the Golem's forehead
changing it from "truth" to "dead"
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ULYSSES
If you had your own Golem, a big creature that was big and strong, what would you ask it to do?
ROSIE
Uh... save people.
ULYSSES
Save people?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to make me a mansion and make me candy.
RHYS
If I had a Golem, I'd have it play me a guitar and... sing me a song and... play drums to me.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell it to give me attention.
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ANNABELLE
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to save dogs.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell him to save people.
ROSIE
If I had a Golem, I would save bad guys.
HAZEL
Save bad guys?!
ROSIE
Yes!
GRANT
I wish the Golem was really real. Why are we really real?
ULYSSES
Why are we really real?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to... uh... bonk my dad on the head!
It was reading Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay that first got me excited about the Golem. In that book, one of the characters smuggles himself out of Prague inside a Golem, a statue made of clay, just before World War II. This is one of many tales of the Golem, a creature some call the world's first superhero. Scholars have put him / it in the long line of possible ancestors to Superman and our modern-day comic book heroes that also includes American strongman John Henry, Hercules, Atlas, and many others. People also point to the similarities between the Golem and Frankenstein.
In this song, Otto gives us a short version of one of the variations of the "Golem of Prague" story, possibly the most famous Golem narrative, and some kids -- including my kids Hazel and Grant and Dean Jones' son, Rhys -- say what they would do if they had their own Golems to command.
Google "golem" and check out these books to find out more about the folklore and history related to this fascinating character:
Golem by David Wisniewski
cool, creepy picture book good for advanced kindergarteners or elementary-aged kids. For younger kids, try Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by John Ed. Mayer and Trina Schart Hyman. It's not about the Golem but it's another eerie Jewish tale with scary creatures. My son loved this book when he was two.
The Golem and the Wondrous Deeds of the Maharal of Prague
by Yudi Rosenberg, translated by Curt Leviant
a book for grown-ups that tells a detailed version of the Golem of Prague story and digs deep into the cultural and religious history of the character
The Golem by Isaac Bashevis Singer, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz
out of print, but available online-- looks awesome
Many many other fascinating books about the Golem are out there. Fantasy books, plays, a retelling by Elie Wiesel... Tell us what you find.
Note on the music: In addition to our family shows, the Deedle Deedle Dees do a lot of music for grown-ups. We play swing, blues, bluegrass, soul, R&B, old rock-n-roll and, most pertinent to this song, klezmer.
Klezmer, in brief, is Jewish jazz, traditional and spiritual music that has roots in Jewish culture and religion and is played in an improvisational style. Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee has been largely responsible for introducing the band to this music and getting us gigs where we can play it. It's really fun -- everyone should play klezmer.
This song is my attempt to write a klezmer tune. I originally wrote it as an instrumental. We regularly perform klezmer at bar and bat mitzvahs, other synagogue functions, private parties and other events. Traditional tunes, some of them really really old, make up most of our repertoire but we added this original to the set after it just came to me one day. It's one of our favorite songs to play so I adapted it with lyrics for this album.
Who does what on "The Golem"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): banjo, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, spoken narration, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, interview, vocals, stomping
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals, stomping
Rhys William Jones Ellis, Hazel Phipps-Miller, Grant Phipps-Miller, Annabelle (last name), Rose Lorenzo: commentary
Whaleship Essex
Whaleship Essex
Words by Lloyd Miller
Music by Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
(c)(p) 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
BOOKER (pretending to be a PBS voice-over guy)
Once there was a ship
It was a real ship
It was a whaleship
DEES and DEAN (pretending to be dead sailors)
Whaleship Essex!
BOOKER
The ship met a whale
It was a real whale
It was a sperm whale
DEES and DEAN
Sperm whale in the Pacific!
ULYSSES
When that whale drove its head right into the ship
The Essex sank to the bottom
BOOKER
But before it did, survivors gathered what they could from the wreckage...
That's when the real adventure began
There were three boats
small boats
whale boats
DEES and DEAN
Escaped from the Essex!
BOOKER
Their Food and stuff
Weren't nearly enough
And they took to
the Open Pacific!
ULYSSES
One thousand miles west
Were islands that
some said
Were home to, yes,
cannibal civilization
A vote by surviving crew
Capt Pollard overruled
The boats set course for South America
Boat 1: Owen Chase and his sailors separated in a squall
Boat 2: In Pollard's boat all the food was gone before long
Boat 3: Hendricks and co were never seen again
But somebody came back to tell us bout the whole thing
No water no food for days what would you do?
Sailors baking in the sun, son, what would you do?
And how's the story end for the poor Essex crew?
Well go read a book by Philbrick cos I don't think I can tell you
And just like Moby Dick
What this whale did was sick
He picked up speed and rammed the Essex
When Melville heard this tale
Of a whaleship and a whale
He was sailing in the South Pacific
BOOKER
On a whaleship...
Not far from where the Essex sank...
Dean = Dean Jones, producer of our record, leader of Dog on Fleas
If you're a regular reader of this blog then you know I'm obsessed with whales, whaleships, Moby Dick, Herman Melville, and the nonfiction books of Nathaniel Philbrick. Rather than post yet again about these important topics, I'll just say, yet again, read these books:
In the Heart of the Sea - Nathaniel Philbrick (short, breathtaking account of the Essex. You'll read it in an afternoon. This afternoon!)
Revenge of the Whale - Nathaniel Philbrick (same story re-written for YA audience)
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
People always joke about Moby Dick and War and Peace and how they're so long and they say things like "I'd read Moby Dick before I'd do that" and... this makes me really mad. Read Moby Dick. It's not that long. Then read War and Peace. It's somewhat longer but not that long. Both books are well worth your time. Both are better than "Mad Men," better than "The Wire," better than any of the stuff people hear I haven't seen and say "YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW." Yeah yeah yeah. READ MOBY DICK!
Who does what on "Whaleship Essex"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): harpsichord, marching band bass drum, narration, dead sailor vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, scary piano
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals, dead sailor vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, rhumba box, dead sailor vocals
Words by Lloyd Miller
Music by Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
(c)(p) 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
BOOKER (pretending to be a PBS voice-over guy)
Once there was a ship
It was a real ship
It was a whaleship
DEES and DEAN (pretending to be dead sailors)
Whaleship Essex!
BOOKER
The ship met a whale
It was a real whale
It was a sperm whale
DEES and DEAN
Sperm whale in the Pacific!
ULYSSES
When that whale drove its head right into the ship
The Essex sank to the bottom
BOOKER
But before it did, survivors gathered what they could from the wreckage...
That's when the real adventure began
There were three boats
small boats
whale boats
DEES and DEAN
Escaped from the Essex!
BOOKER
Their Food and stuff
Weren't nearly enough
And they took to
the Open Pacific!
ULYSSES
One thousand miles west
Were islands that
some said
Were home to, yes,
cannibal civilization
A vote by surviving crew
Capt Pollard overruled
The boats set course for South America
Boat 1: Owen Chase and his sailors separated in a squall
Boat 2: In Pollard's boat all the food was gone before long
Boat 3: Hendricks and co were never seen again
But somebody came back to tell us bout the whole thing
No water no food for days what would you do?
Sailors baking in the sun, son, what would you do?
And how's the story end for the poor Essex crew?
Well go read a book by Philbrick cos I don't think I can tell you
And just like Moby Dick
What this whale did was sick
He picked up speed and rammed the Essex
When Melville heard this tale
Of a whaleship and a whale
He was sailing in the South Pacific
BOOKER
On a whaleship...
Not far from where the Essex sank...
Dean = Dean Jones, producer of our record, leader of Dog on Fleas
If you're a regular reader of this blog then you know I'm obsessed with whales, whaleships, Moby Dick, Herman Melville, and the nonfiction books of Nathaniel Philbrick. Rather than post yet again about these important topics, I'll just say, yet again, read these books:
In the Heart of the Sea - Nathaniel Philbrick (short, breathtaking account of the Essex. You'll read it in an afternoon. This afternoon!)
Revenge of the Whale - Nathaniel Philbrick (same story re-written for YA audience)
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
People always joke about Moby Dick and War and Peace and how they're so long and they say things like "I'd read Moby Dick before I'd do that" and... this makes me really mad. Read Moby Dick. It's not that long. Then read War and Peace. It's somewhat longer but not that long. Both books are well worth your time. Both are better than "Mad Men," better than "The Wire," better than any of the stuff people hear I haven't seen and say "YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW." Yeah yeah yeah. READ MOBY DICK!
Who does what on "Whaleship Essex"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): harpsichord, marching band bass drum, narration, dead sailor vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, scary piano
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals, dead sailor vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, rhumba box, dead sailor vocals
River of Blood
River of Blood
a song about the circulatory system
words and music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2010
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, the River of Blood
it flows to your toes
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood you can't put your bike in it
But the River of Blood -- lots of things to like in it
Amino acids and gases
blood cells and hormones
Veins bring blood back to the heart
And the arteries are how it goes
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, ride the River of Blood
round the bend of your elbows
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood the heart keeps pumping
that's why it flows
it pumps oxygenated blood to the body
deoxygenated blood to the lungs
2000 gallons a day
60,000 miles
The River of Blood could go around the world
two and a half times
I wrote this song with my daughter Hazel in Vermont one summer. I would push her in the swings every day and sing songs, often songs I made up on the spot. The one that really captured her imagination was "River of Blood." I think I started it just as a fake Johnny Cash / "Blood on the Saddle" / "Ghost Riders in the Sky" kind of song but then changed it into this info-heavy tune about the circulatory system. Hazel helped me come up with some of the best lines, the very best being: "You can't put your bike in it."
Who does what on "River of Blood"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
a song about the circulatory system
words and music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2010
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, the River of Blood
it flows to your toes
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood you can't put your bike in it
But the River of Blood -- lots of things to like in it
Amino acids and gases
blood cells and hormones
Veins bring blood back to the heart
And the arteries are how it goes
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, ride the River of Blood
round the bend of your elbows
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood the heart keeps pumping
that's why it flows
it pumps oxygenated blood to the body
deoxygenated blood to the lungs
2000 gallons a day
60,000 miles
The River of Blood could go around the world
two and a half times
I wrote this song with my daughter Hazel in Vermont one summer. I would push her in the swings every day and sing songs, often songs I made up on the spot. The one that really captured her imagination was "River of Blood." I think I started it just as a fake Johnny Cash / "Blood on the Saddle" / "Ghost Riders in the Sky" kind of song but then changed it into this info-heavy tune about the circulatory system. Hazel helped me come up with some of the best lines, the very best being: "You can't put your bike in it."
Who does what on "River of Blood"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach
Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach
music by Chris Johnson
story by Esther Levine (grandma of Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee)
interview by Lloyd Miller and Ari Dolegowski
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
ESTHER
You want to hear about me bouncing off the stomach of Mayor LaGuardia?
ULYSSES and MOBY
Yes! Yes!
ESTHER
I was looking for an apartment. And I don't know why I was looking for an apartment on Mott Street! I must have seen an advertisement. And I wasn't looking... I was looking this way. I wasn't looking where I was going. And I bounced off this man's stomach... he wasn't much taller than I am. He was short! But I thought I was seven feet tall.
ULYSSES and MOBY laugh.
ESTHER
And he was walking with a guard. And they never stopped me! I bounced right off his stomach. And I said, "Mayor LaGuardia!" And he walked on and I walked on.
ULYSSES
He didn't acknowledge you in any way?
ESTHER
I... we weren't having a conversation! I just bounced off his stomach. And he had a stomach.
musical interlude
ESTHER
I'm on TV?!
MOBY
Not live.
ESTHER
Is my hair combed? Okay, my right side of my profile is my better side. (to Ulysses) You're good.
Esther, Ari's grandma, is a big part of our life. Her apartment is near the school where my wife teaches second grade and where I teach lots of lessons and do songwriting projects so it's a convenient spot for acoustic rehearsals during the week. She loves our visits and treats them as her own private concerts. She always spreads out far too much food and asks whether we would like her to order us a pizza -- an offer we always turn down. I'm usually on my way to swim laps after our rehearsal and everyone else... well, they're just not in the mood for pizza, I guess. Someday we'll say yes.
The story she tells here is one of her classics, one she has retold many times in many different ways. We spent an afternoon with Esther talking about her varied adventures and got most of it recorded. Maybe we'll post the complete interview on this blog sometime.
Who does what on "Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): baritone ukulele, melodica, piano, electric bass
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): interview
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): interview
Esther Levine: storytelling
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
music by Chris Johnson
story by Esther Levine (grandma of Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee)
interview by Lloyd Miller and Ari Dolegowski
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
ESTHER
You want to hear about me bouncing off the stomach of Mayor LaGuardia?
ULYSSES and MOBY
Yes! Yes!
ESTHER
I was looking for an apartment. And I don't know why I was looking for an apartment on Mott Street! I must have seen an advertisement. And I wasn't looking... I was looking this way. I wasn't looking where I was going. And I bounced off this man's stomach... he wasn't much taller than I am. He was short! But I thought I was seven feet tall.
ULYSSES and MOBY laugh.
ESTHER
And he was walking with a guard. And they never stopped me! I bounced right off his stomach. And I said, "Mayor LaGuardia!" And he walked on and I walked on.
ULYSSES
He didn't acknowledge you in any way?
ESTHER
I... we weren't having a conversation! I just bounced off his stomach. And he had a stomach.
musical interlude
ESTHER
I'm on TV?!
MOBY
Not live.
ESTHER
Is my hair combed? Okay, my right side of my profile is my better side. (to Ulysses) You're good.
Esther, Ari's grandma, is a big part of our life. Her apartment is near the school where my wife teaches second grade and where I teach lots of lessons and do songwriting projects so it's a convenient spot for acoustic rehearsals during the week. She loves our visits and treats them as her own private concerts. She always spreads out far too much food and asks whether we would like her to order us a pizza -- an offer we always turn down. I'm usually on my way to swim laps after our rehearsal and everyone else... well, they're just not in the mood for pizza, I guess. Someday we'll say yes.
The story she tells here is one of her classics, one she has retold many times in many different ways. We spent an afternoon with Esther talking about her varied adventures and got most of it recorded. Maybe we'll post the complete interview on this blog sometime.
Who does what on "Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): baritone ukulele, melodica, piano, electric bass
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): interview
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): interview
Esther Levine: storytelling
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth
words by Charlotte Banigan-White and Lloyd Miller
music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Sojourner Truth traveled up the mountain
the moon was right behind her
she looked down the mountain
at those who tried to stop her
The moon looked like a light
and shined on Sojourner Truth
Where she's going
you're invited too
An angry mob broke up the tent meeting
Sojourner's first thought was hiding
She fled to the top of a small rise of ground
It turned into a mountain when she turned around
And sang a song
Sojourner told 'em all
'Bout being born a slave
They heard her out and then they went away
She was good on her feet, I guess
Kind of like you, Moby Dee
I wrote this with the help of some kids in Western Massachusetts. Charlotte, credited at top, wrote most of the lyrics and I came with the chords, tune, etc. I worked with her and a bunch of other kids at First Churches of Northampton on a whole original musical show about the history of the church and the Northampton area called Journey On. The show was performed at the church at Christmas time in 2008. Lots of other adults (Cynthia and Chris!) collaborated on this show -- I'll get your names up here soon.
Who does what on "Sojourner Truth"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, trombone
words by Charlotte Banigan-White and Lloyd Miller
music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Sojourner Truth traveled up the mountain
the moon was right behind her
she looked down the mountain
at those who tried to stop her
The moon looked like a light
and shined on Sojourner Truth
Where she's going
you're invited too
An angry mob broke up the tent meeting
Sojourner's first thought was hiding
She fled to the top of a small rise of ground
It turned into a mountain when she turned around
And sang a song
Sojourner told 'em all
'Bout being born a slave
They heard her out and then they went away
She was good on her feet, I guess
Kind of like you, Moby Dee
I wrote this with the help of some kids in Western Massachusetts. Charlotte, credited at top, wrote most of the lyrics and I came with the chords, tune, etc. I worked with her and a bunch of other kids at First Churches of Northampton on a whole original musical show about the history of the church and the Northampton area called Journey On. The show was performed at the church at Christmas time in 2008. Lots of other adults (Cynthia and Chris!) collaborated on this show -- I'll get your names up here soon.
Who does what on "Sojourner Truth"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, trombone
Penny Farthing
Penny Farthing
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
The little little wheel is called Penny
The big big wheel is called Mr Farthing
Riding through the countryside
Penny
farthing
We sit way on top
Ridin' through the countryside
Penny
Farthing!
We push the pedals and sit way on top
Careful of a sudden stop
Over the handlebars
Come a cropper
Fall on your head
Start all over again
Written for our bicycle-themed variety show in November 2010 at the Knitting Factory. The penny farthing is a dangerous cousin of the bicycle, a vehicle likely to send its rider over the handlebars.
Who does what on "Penny Farthing"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano, lead vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, bicycle sound effects
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
The little little wheel is called Penny
The big big wheel is called Mr Farthing
Riding through the countryside
Penny
farthing
We sit way on top
Ridin' through the countryside
Penny
Farthing!
We push the pedals and sit way on top
Careful of a sudden stop
Over the handlebars
Come a cropper
Fall on your head
Start all over again
Written for our bicycle-themed variety show in November 2010 at the Knitting Factory. The penny farthing is a dangerous cousin of the bicycle, a vehicle likely to send its rider over the handlebars.
Who does what on "Penny Farthing"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano, lead vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, bicycle sound effects
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Phineas Gage Has Something to Tell These People
Phineas Gage Has Something to Tell These People
music by Ely Levin, words by Lloyd Miller (c) (p) 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
PHINEAS PRE-ACCIDENT:
Phineas Gage
I'm on the railroad work gang
boring rock for roadbeds
that's my game
foreman of the crew
i put the powder, fuse and sand
tamp it down with the iron rod in my hand
September in Vermont
doing what I always do
load it up, stand back
b-boom boom boom
Iron flies through my cheek
out the back of my head
they found it 30 yds from the accident
PHINEAS POST-ACCIDENT:
Aw... what's up?
I feel all right
Yeah man I can ride in an oxcart to the boarding house
Anybody see that rod go through my head? Wow.
Phineas Gage
I'm my own stunt double
crow bar through my head
c-cause me no trouble
i do what i want
what I want I do is... um...
what was it I wanted to do?
hey, I know you
so they told me i can't do what I did before
i'm gonna take this tamping iron and go on tour
Barnum will take a handsome dude like me
put me up on the stage, folks'll pay to see
Phineas Gage
I'm my own stunt double
crow bar through my head
c-cause me no trouble
i do what i want
what I want I do is... eat
no, take that food away, I'm tired
I need to sleep
Where's my hat?
I'm hungry!
I'm ready for my bath
take me to the river
is it raining?
i wish it would snow...
DR. JOHN MARTYN HARLOW:
[The tamping iron] entered the cranium, passing through the anterior left lobe of the cerebrum, and made its exit in the medial line, at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures, lacerating the longitudinal sinus, fracturing the parietal and frontal bones extensively, breaking up considerable portions of the brain, and protruding the globe of the left eye from its socket, by nearly half its diameter.
Phineas Gage
I'm my own stunt double
crow bar through my head
c-cause me no trouble
i do what i want
and what I want what I want what I want...
If you've never heard the story of Phineas Gage, Google him or read the book Phineas Gage: A Gruesome But True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman. After you do, write us with any questions you have about our dramatization of his ordeal.
Who does what on "Phineas Gage Has Something to Tell These People"
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): keyboards, programming, medical report reading
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): vocals
Emily Dooley: questions
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, programming
music by Ely Levin, words by Lloyd Miller (c) (p) 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
PHINEAS PRE-ACCIDENT:
Phineas Gage
I'm on the railroad work gang
boring rock for roadbeds
that's my game
foreman of the crew
i put the powder, fuse and sand
tamp it down with the iron rod in my hand
September in Vermont
doing what I always do
load it up, stand back
b-boom boom boom
Iron flies through my cheek
out the back of my head
they found it 30 yds from the accident
PHINEAS POST-ACCIDENT:
Aw... what's up?
I feel all right
Yeah man I can ride in an oxcart to the boarding house
Anybody see that rod go through my head? Wow.
Phineas Gage
I'm my own stunt double
crow bar through my head
c-cause me no trouble
i do what i want
what I want I do is... um...
what was it I wanted to do?
hey, I know you
so they told me i can't do what I did before
i'm gonna take this tamping iron and go on tour
Barnum will take a handsome dude like me
put me up on the stage, folks'll pay to see
Phineas Gage
I'm my own stunt double
crow bar through my head
c-cause me no trouble
i do what i want
what I want I do is... eat
no, take that food away, I'm tired
I need to sleep
Where's my hat?
I'm hungry!
I'm ready for my bath
take me to the river
is it raining?
i wish it would snow...
DR. JOHN MARTYN HARLOW:
[The tamping iron] entered the cranium, passing through the anterior left lobe of the cerebrum, and made its exit in the medial line, at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures, lacerating the longitudinal sinus, fracturing the parietal and frontal bones extensively, breaking up considerable portions of the brain, and protruding the globe of the left eye from its socket, by nearly half its diameter.
Phineas Gage
I'm my own stunt double
crow bar through my head
c-cause me no trouble
i do what i want
and what I want what I want what I want...
If you've never heard the story of Phineas Gage, Google him or read the book Phineas Gage: A Gruesome But True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman. After you do, write us with any questions you have about our dramatization of his ordeal.
Who does what on "Phineas Gage Has Something to Tell These People"
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): keyboards, programming, medical report reading
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): vocals
Emily Dooley: questions
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, programming
And the title of our new album is...
We've decided to go with the top vote-getter in our Facebook poll, but this wasn't the only factor in our decision. A number of people expressed their preference for this title independently of Facebook. Also, our designer Greg Bunch said it was the one that worked best with his graphic ideas for the album cover (which you'll see soon).
Chris Johnson (AKA Booker Dee) came up with this title. Thanks to him, Dees Otto and Moby, and everyone else who sent us their suggestions.
The title of our new album is:
Strange Dees, Indeed
All 18 tracks on Strange Dees, Indeed will be available for reviewers, radio folks, and other media types to download by the end of August. The album will officially be released to the public on October 31st. You'll be able to buy a hard copy on CDBaby or a digital version on iTunes and other services.
I'm in the process of posting lyrics to all the songs on Strange Dees, Indeed on this blog. I'm also including some brief background on each song: what inspired it, what it's about, etc. When I finish this project today or tomorrow you'll be able to find everything simply by searching for the song title(s) you want. And I'll continue to add these entries: related books for kids and grown-ups, your suggestions for where to learn more about the subjects of our songs and more. So check back here frequently -- you'll always find something new and worthwhile.
L
Chris Johnson (AKA Booker Dee) came up with this title. Thanks to him, Dees Otto and Moby, and everyone else who sent us their suggestions.
The title of our new album is:
Strange Dees, Indeed
All 18 tracks on Strange Dees, Indeed will be available for reviewers, radio folks, and other media types to download by the end of August. The album will officially be released to the public on October 31st. You'll be able to buy a hard copy on CDBaby or a digital version on iTunes and other services.
I'm in the process of posting lyrics to all the songs on Strange Dees, Indeed on this blog. I'm also including some brief background on each song: what inspired it, what it's about, etc. When I finish this project today or tomorrow you'll be able to find everything simply by searching for the song title(s) you want. And I'll continue to add these entries: related books for kids and grown-ups, your suggestions for where to learn more about the subjects of our songs and more. So check back here frequently -- you'll always find something new and worthwhile.
L
Dead Horse Bay
Dead Horse Bay
words and music by Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2010, 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Broken baby dolls and animal bones
that's what I found at Dead Horse Bay
Pets used to come here
and leave as glue
So if you hear a bark or neigh...
Put your Leopard-skin pocketbook on your shoulder... now sashay
Fill up your wooden pipe even though it's far decayed
Shake your silver rattle, don't listen to the sound
Pour your tea before the spout falls to the ground
Dead Horse Bay
Can Sitar Boy sing without a head?
Dead Horse Bay
Can a heel from a shoe walk without a leg?
These are the things we found while walking one day
along the beach at Dead Horse Bay
I'd like to come here,
leave as glue
hold together the next thing you make
I wrote this song for our Underwater Halloween variety show at the Knitting Factory in October 2010. The show was a collaboration with Underwater New York. This song was inspired by an exhibit on their site, a place I'd highly advise you to visit: http://underwaternewyork.com/category/body-of-water/dead-horse-bay-body-of-water/
Who does what on "Dead Horse Bay"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): electric bass, banjo, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
words and music by Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2010, 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Broken baby dolls and animal bones
that's what I found at Dead Horse Bay
Pets used to come here
and leave as glue
So if you hear a bark or neigh...
Put your Leopard-skin pocketbook on your shoulder... now sashay
Fill up your wooden pipe even though it's far decayed
Shake your silver rattle, don't listen to the sound
Pour your tea before the spout falls to the ground
Dead Horse Bay
Can Sitar Boy sing without a head?
Dead Horse Bay
Can a heel from a shoe walk without a leg?
These are the things we found while walking one day
along the beach at Dead Horse Bay
I'd like to come here,
leave as glue
hold together the next thing you make
I wrote this song for our Underwater Halloween variety show at the Knitting Factory in October 2010. The show was a collaboration with Underwater New York. This song was inspired by an exhibit on their site, a place I'd highly advise you to visit: http://underwaternewyork.com/category/body-of-water/dead-horse-bay-body-of-water/
Who does what on "Dead Horse Bay"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): electric bass, banjo, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Sacagawea
Sacagawea
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees
She swaddles her baby
Tucks him in a paddleboard
Climbs into the pirogue
as the wild Missouri roars
SUH- KAH - GA - WEE - AH!
Charbonneau lets the tiller go
screams prayers to the sky
baby in one arm, a Momma
saves our supplies
You gave us words, Janey
Tomorrow we climb to the sea
No map and no road
Hungry sick and cold
And so far from home...
Only 33 of us
went all the way and back
Only one
She's the one
baby on her back
Yes, Sacagawea is the same as the person we called "Sacajawea" when I was a kid. Most of the current books and documentaries use this new spelling and pronunciation in a attempt to be truer to how she might have said it herself. In Lewis and Clark's journals they spell her name many different ways -- her language was all verbal so English speakers like them could only approximate how words were spelled. Sacagawea is the current politically correct way to spell her name -- this will probably change by the time the album actually comes out.
At a party years ago, a friend of Anand Mukherjee (AKA Innocent Dee who founded the band with me) told me that we should write a song called "Sacajawea, Sock It To 'Em!" (she used the old pronunciation). I tried for a while but just couldn't come up with anything that wasn't stupid.
But then during the recording of this album I saw some footage of Queen at Live Aid. I realized -- I'm not saying this in jest -- all that ROCK can truly be. I attempted to write a Queen song about Sacagawea. It's not up to the level of what Freddie Mercury was doing during that concert -- and certainly not all that rock can truly be -- but we like it. We perform this song and feel sort of like Freddie and that's not such a bad feeling.
Janey = William Clark's pet name for Sacagawea. This song is sung from his imagined point of view.
Who does what on Sacagawea (Sock It To 'Em!)
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano, electric bass, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees
She swaddles her baby
Tucks him in a paddleboard
Climbs into the pirogue
as the wild Missouri roars
SUH- KAH - GA - WEE - AH!
Charbonneau lets the tiller go
screams prayers to the sky
baby in one arm, a Momma
saves our supplies
You gave us words, Janey
Tomorrow we climb to the sea
No map and no road
Hungry sick and cold
And so far from home...
Only 33 of us
went all the way and back
Only one
She's the one
baby on her back
Yes, Sacagawea is the same as the person we called "Sacajawea" when I was a kid. Most of the current books and documentaries use this new spelling and pronunciation in a attempt to be truer to how she might have said it herself. In Lewis and Clark's journals they spell her name many different ways -- her language was all verbal so English speakers like them could only approximate how words were spelled. Sacagawea is the current politically correct way to spell her name -- this will probably change by the time the album actually comes out.
At a party years ago, a friend of Anand Mukherjee (AKA Innocent Dee who founded the band with me) told me that we should write a song called "Sacajawea, Sock It To 'Em!" (she used the old pronunciation). I tried for a while but just couldn't come up with anything that wasn't stupid.
But then during the recording of this album I saw some footage of Queen at Live Aid. I realized -- I'm not saying this in jest -- all that ROCK can truly be. I attempted to write a Queen song about Sacagawea. It's not up to the level of what Freddie Mercury was doing during that concert -- and certainly not all that rock can truly be -- but we like it. We perform this song and feel sort of like Freddie and that's not such a bad feeling.
Janey = William Clark's pet name for Sacagawea. This song is sung from his imagined point of view.
Who does what on Sacagawea (Sock It To 'Em!)
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano, electric bass, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Birds of America Don't Care-Oh
Birds of America Don't Care-Oh
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Birds of America don't care-oh
How they look in pictures
Well maybe sparrows
the coot is vain
so's the black cap titmouse
Creeping warblers complain
but not like the screech owl
If they'd been alive to see themselves drawn
what would they have to say about John James Audubon?
Other creatures would be flattered
to see themselves in handsome books,
postcards and calendars
But birds are fickle, fancy fellows
a canary'll take you to court over a shade of yellow
If they'd been allowed to critique his work
Would his name still be synonymous with birds?
Would the Grey-Crowned Purple Finch take offense?
Or the Least Peewee Flycatcher be incensed?
Can't you see Bonaparte's gull now, hand to his breast?
And we've all seen bob-o-links and vireos bothered by less
Never a man to hunt birds for sport
Audubon still ate some Birds of America
after he finished up their portraits
Written after I read the book Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. At one point in this historical novel, Thomas Cromwell and others critique their portraits by Hans Holbein. These paintings of course are part of every art history slide show for the period, definitive works that are studied by most aspiring art scholars or artists. I really liked imagining these works when they were brand-new and people were looking at them saying things we might say: "Do I really look like that?"
So, my mind working the way that it does, this caused me to wonder: What if Audbuon's birds saw themselves as depicted by the name who, in many ways, is "synonymous with birds?" What would they have to say about paintings, which, in the world of bird and animal art, are just as definitive as Holbein's portraits.
Um, yeah. That's the nutty story of how this nutty song came about.
Who does what on "Birds of America Don't Care-Oh"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, crow, pigeon and other bird calls
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, trombone, bird orchestration
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Birds of America don't care-oh
How they look in pictures
Well maybe sparrows
the coot is vain
so's the black cap titmouse
Creeping warblers complain
but not like the screech owl
If they'd been alive to see themselves drawn
what would they have to say about John James Audubon?
Other creatures would be flattered
to see themselves in handsome books,
postcards and calendars
But birds are fickle, fancy fellows
a canary'll take you to court over a shade of yellow
If they'd been allowed to critique his work
Would his name still be synonymous with birds?
Would the Grey-Crowned Purple Finch take offense?
Or the Least Peewee Flycatcher be incensed?
Can't you see Bonaparte's gull now, hand to his breast?
And we've all seen bob-o-links and vireos bothered by less
Never a man to hunt birds for sport
Audubon still ate some Birds of America
after he finished up their portraits
Written after I read the book Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. At one point in this historical novel, Thomas Cromwell and others critique their portraits by Hans Holbein. These paintings of course are part of every art history slide show for the period, definitive works that are studied by most aspiring art scholars or artists. I really liked imagining these works when they were brand-new and people were looking at them saying things we might say: "Do I really look like that?"
So, my mind working the way that it does, this caused me to wonder: What if Audbuon's birds saw themselves as depicted by the name who, in many ways, is "synonymous with birds?" What would they have to say about paintings, which, in the world of bird and animal art, are just as definitive as Holbein's portraits.
Um, yeah. That's the nutty story of how this nutty song came about.
Who does what on "Birds of America Don't Care-Oh"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, crow, pigeon and other bird calls
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, trombone, bird orchestration
Cool Papa Bell
Cool Papa Bell
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Cool Papa
Cool cool Papa
Cool Papa
Cool Papa Bell
Swing, Papa
Swing swing, Papa
Swing, Papa
Swing, Papa Bell
Ring, Papa
Ring ring, Papa
Ring, Papa
Ring ring the bell
Cool Papa
Cool cool Papa
Cool Papa
Cool Papa Bell
Cheetah cheetah
When your feetah
Go round and round
Go round and round
Cheetah cheetah
When your feetah
Go round and round
Go round and round
RAP:
Scored from first on a sac bunt
Hit by his own hit slidin into second
So many stories, some of 'em true
Like the day he said to Satchel,
"I'll bet you
I can turn off the light
and get in my bed
before that bulb goes dark overhead.
Satch didn't know there was a short in the lightswitch
Found out later...
He was like "aw..."
I wrote this song with my son when he was 2. I originally planned to add more words that described, in my typical information overload form, all about the Negro Leagues and Cool Papa's career. When my son responded to the simple chorus and began to sing it with me, though, I decided just to leave the song as a simple sing-song tune that even our youngest fans could join us in singing. I added the rap later because I love that story about Satchel Paige and James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell.
Who does what on "Cool Papa Bell"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): keyboards, electric bass, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, synth, vocals
s
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Cool Papa
Cool cool Papa
Cool Papa
Cool Papa Bell
Swing, Papa
Swing swing, Papa
Swing, Papa
Swing, Papa Bell
Ring, Papa
Ring ring, Papa
Ring, Papa
Ring ring the bell
Cool Papa
Cool cool Papa
Cool Papa
Cool Papa Bell
Cheetah cheetah
When your feetah
Go round and round
Go round and round
Cheetah cheetah
When your feetah
Go round and round
Go round and round
RAP:
Scored from first on a sac bunt
Hit by his own hit slidin into second
So many stories, some of 'em true
Like the day he said to Satchel,
"I'll bet you
I can turn off the light
and get in my bed
before that bulb goes dark overhead.
Satch didn't know there was a short in the lightswitch
Found out later...
He was like "aw..."
I wrote this song with my son when he was 2. I originally planned to add more words that described, in my typical information overload form, all about the Negro Leagues and Cool Papa's career. When my son responded to the simple chorus and began to sing it with me, though, I decided just to leave the song as a simple sing-song tune that even our youngest fans could join us in singing. I added the rap later because I love that story about Satchel Paige and James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell.
Who does what on "Cool Papa Bell"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): keyboards, electric bass, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, synth, vocals
s
Ah Ahimsa
Ah Ahimsa
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c) (p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
CHORUS
Ah... ahimsa
Shake out your limbsa
Drift to the ground, yeah
Make a lotus flower, yeah
Mahatma Gandhi
He's the one who told me
He fought the British Army
Without a gun
ULYSSES
I say "ahimsa" and I mean "do no harm"
BOOKER
"himsa" - harm in Sanskrit
"a" - "no" or "non"
ULYSSES
I read about nonviolence and I'm like yeah that's my philosophy
But as soon as I leave the house I feel differently
Why can't people be nice to me?
BOOKER
Have you wanted to punch somebody... But then walked away? That's ahimsa... Sort of.
Gandhi's idea of ahimsa was that you didn't even think about punching the person in the first place...
ULYSSES
Ahimsa, it's easy, man
When you read what the Swamis said
But not so easy when someone hits you on the head
I'm all about ahimsa when I'm standing on my head...
But not so much when I see a kid push my kid
I'm like, yo, is anyone else practicing ahimsa around here?
How did you do it, I'd like to know
When the cops came out with the riot hose?
How did you do it, I'd like to know
When they whipped out the clubs and started whacking you?
Ahimsa... I know what you're going through
Ahimsa... It's hard to do
Ahimsa
I wrote a first draft of this song while working at a wild school in the South Bronx. I was working with four fourth grades, each studying a different country. The class studying India had an especially difficult time practicing nonviolence. Kids punched, pinned, choked, and generally battered each other just as a matter of course, the classroom teacher unable to stop them and I, armed with my guitar and my jokes, only able to distract them from their brawls. One day, in an attempt to rein in this one kid who was always throwing himself on the floor to do push-ups or roll around, I suggested that we do some yoga. The kids loved it and it became immediately the only thing they ever wanted to do. I decided to work it into our songwriting activities and in the performance of our song itself.
"Ah Ahimsa," in its original form ("Do the Ahimsa") began with a sun salutation and then each line was accompanied by a different yoga move (or pseudo yoga move). Honestly, it was the only way I could get the class through the whole song without someone being injured.
I always liked the idea of the song but the music not so much. It was a standard 12-bar blues that I wrote on the spot as I stood in front of a chaotic classroom searching for something that would quickly get them singing along. When I began to consider reviving the tune for this new album I rewrote the melody over some more interesting -- and Bollywoodish -- chords, added a B section, and changed the point of view of the song to my own. The spirit of the kids is still there, though. Nonviolence is a great idea but a hard thing to put into practice, especially when no one around you is practicing ahimsa.
Who does what on "Ah-Ahimsa"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): keyboards, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, professional Bollywood drum machine, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c) (p) 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
CHORUS
Ah... ahimsa
Shake out your limbsa
Drift to the ground, yeah
Make a lotus flower, yeah
Mahatma Gandhi
He's the one who told me
He fought the British Army
Without a gun
ULYSSES
I say "ahimsa" and I mean "do no harm"
BOOKER
"himsa" - harm in Sanskrit
"a" - "no" or "non"
ULYSSES
I read about nonviolence and I'm like yeah that's my philosophy
But as soon as I leave the house I feel differently
Why can't people be nice to me?
BOOKER
Have you wanted to punch somebody... But then walked away? That's ahimsa... Sort of.
Gandhi's idea of ahimsa was that you didn't even think about punching the person in the first place...
ULYSSES
Ahimsa, it's easy, man
When you read what the Swamis said
But not so easy when someone hits you on the head
I'm all about ahimsa when I'm standing on my head...
But not so much when I see a kid push my kid
I'm like, yo, is anyone else practicing ahimsa around here?
How did you do it, I'd like to know
When the cops came out with the riot hose?
How did you do it, I'd like to know
When they whipped out the clubs and started whacking you?
Ahimsa... I know what you're going through
Ahimsa... It's hard to do
Ahimsa
I wrote a first draft of this song while working at a wild school in the South Bronx. I was working with four fourth grades, each studying a different country. The class studying India had an especially difficult time practicing nonviolence. Kids punched, pinned, choked, and generally battered each other just as a matter of course, the classroom teacher unable to stop them and I, armed with my guitar and my jokes, only able to distract them from their brawls. One day, in an attempt to rein in this one kid who was always throwing himself on the floor to do push-ups or roll around, I suggested that we do some yoga. The kids loved it and it became immediately the only thing they ever wanted to do. I decided to work it into our songwriting activities and in the performance of our song itself.
"Ah Ahimsa," in its original form ("Do the Ahimsa") began with a sun salutation and then each line was accompanied by a different yoga move (or pseudo yoga move). Honestly, it was the only way I could get the class through the whole song without someone being injured.
I always liked the idea of the song but the music not so much. It was a standard 12-bar blues that I wrote on the spot as I stood in front of a chaotic classroom searching for something that would quickly get them singing along. When I began to consider reviving the tune for this new album I rewrote the melody over some more interesting -- and Bollywoodish -- chords, added a B section, and changed the point of view of the song to my own. The spirit of the kids is still there, though. Nonviolence is a great idea but a hard thing to put into practice, especially when no one around you is practicing ahimsa.
Who does what on "Ah-Ahimsa"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): keyboards, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, professional Bollywood drum machine, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Track listing for the new record
These titles aren't all final. We're just posting them to help you if you're participating in our Facebook poll to name the record.
Sacagawea (Sock It to 'Em)
we reach for Queen levels of rock pomposity on this tune sung from the POV of William Clark
River of Blood
a song about the circulatory system
Marie Curie
featuring Moby Dee's first singing on record -- in French!
Sojourner Truth
written for a show about the history of the Northampton area
Dead Horse Bay
written for our "Underwater Halloween" show, a collaboration with Underwater New York. http://underwaternewyork.com/category/body-of-water/dead-horse-bay-body-of-water/
Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef
a ballad for the subway cars that originally took passengers to the World's Fair then were painted graffiti-proof red, then were eventually sunk to become reefs
Cool Papa Bell
about the Negro League star
A Song for Abigail Adams
a love song sung by an idealized John Adams
Skating in Old Bryant Park
What if the statue of William Cullen Bryant behind the New York Public Library got up and started ice skating?
Birds of America Don't Care-Oh
Audubon's birds talk back. They don't like those paintings as much as everyone else does.
Whaleship Essex
The tale that inspired Moby Dick retold with a fake PBS narrator, rapping, singing sailor ghosts and other weirdness.
Camperdown Elm
an ode to my favorite Brooklyn tree
Ah-Ahimsa
Ahimsa, the philosophy of non-violence practice by Gandhi, is harder to put into practice than you think. I wrote an original draft of this Bollywood send-up while working with a wild class in the South Bronx studying India.
Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?
original draft written for a school show in Westchester. They were doing a Hudson 400 curriculum.
Penny Farthing
about those dangerous cousins to bicycles with one giant wheel and one tiny one.
Bo Obama
a story song about allergies, hypo-allergenic dogs, and one dog's rise to the White House
Phineas Gage
A hip hop account of the famous neurological case
The Day I Ran into Mayor LaGuardia's Belly
Esther, grandma of Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski) tells one of her famous stories over a swinging tune written by Chris (Booker Dee)
The Golem
A marching / dancing tune about the mythical creature / superhero made of mud.
Sacagawea (Sock It to 'Em)
we reach for Queen levels of rock pomposity on this tune sung from the POV of William Clark
River of Blood
a song about the circulatory system
Marie Curie
featuring Moby Dee's first singing on record -- in French!
Sojourner Truth
written for a show about the history of the Northampton area
Dead Horse Bay
written for our "Underwater Halloween" show, a collaboration with Underwater New York. http://underwaternewyork.com/category/body-of-water/dead-horse-bay-body-of-water/
Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef
a ballad for the subway cars that originally took passengers to the World's Fair then were painted graffiti-proof red, then were eventually sunk to become reefs
Cool Papa Bell
about the Negro League star
A Song for Abigail Adams
a love song sung by an idealized John Adams
Skating in Old Bryant Park
What if the statue of William Cullen Bryant behind the New York Public Library got up and started ice skating?
Birds of America Don't Care-Oh
Audubon's birds talk back. They don't like those paintings as much as everyone else does.
Whaleship Essex
The tale that inspired Moby Dick retold with a fake PBS narrator, rapping, singing sailor ghosts and other weirdness.
Camperdown Elm
an ode to my favorite Brooklyn tree
Ah-Ahimsa
Ahimsa, the philosophy of non-violence practice by Gandhi, is harder to put into practice than you think. I wrote an original draft of this Bollywood send-up while working with a wild class in the South Bronx studying India.
Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?
original draft written for a school show in Westchester. They were doing a Hudson 400 curriculum.
Penny Farthing
about those dangerous cousins to bicycles with one giant wheel and one tiny one.
Bo Obama
a story song about allergies, hypo-allergenic dogs, and one dog's rise to the White House
Phineas Gage
A hip hop account of the famous neurological case
The Day I Ran into Mayor LaGuardia's Belly
Esther, grandma of Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski) tells one of her famous stories over a swinging tune written by Chris (Booker Dee)
The Golem
A marching / dancing tune about the mythical creature / superhero made of mud.
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