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The Obeah Man is Gone

by Traditional Graffiti

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about

Written as an homage to Captain Beefheart at the time of his passing, it contains references to his music, and was endorsed by John French when I sent it to him. One of two songs on the album marking the passing of a cultural hero.

lyrics

OBEAH MAN IS GONE

I woke up this morning I knew there was something wrong
The ashtray was still burning, my whiskey was all gone.
From the grey gun metal morning, came a distant jungle song
It crept up without warning, the Obeah Man (pause) is gone.

Ch:
Tell the oldJack Rabbit, the Rooster and the Crow
Tell them all about it, they’ll all want to know.
Sing it down the Delta, ring it in Vermont,
In every hobo shelter, the Obeah Man (pause) is gone

Down in the sailor’s tavern, they’ve closed their doors for good
And every hard-luck sailor, would join him if he could.
They’ll sing his praises loudly, and crown his name in song
Then let salt tears run down their beards, the Obeah Man is gone.

Some say that he was voodoo, like the gris gris gumbo man
He could hoe down with the hoodoo, to the sound of a magic band.
But he went back to the desert, when he thought his work was done,
And now a message come back along the track, that the Obeah Man, is gone

Now I’m too old to be foolish, too young to be wise
But there’s a veil of mystery, that’s fallen from my eyes
There’s no magic in the moonlight no shadows from the sun
No flicker in the firelight, the Obeah Man has gone

credits

released June 1, 2014
Ian 'the Pump' Macintosh, Lead Vocal, Guitar, Shakers
Marcus Holden, Snake Fiddle, Drum Programming

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Traditional Graffiti Sydney, Australia

Formally performing as the Wheeze & Suck Band,
Ian 'The Pump' Macintosh, Johnny 'Red Tips' Milce, and Nigel 'Muddy' Walters formed the Traditional Graffiti Band in 2018 to continue and expand upon the Wheezer's music and performance style. ... more

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