Necromancer
These songs were all written on my Fender Rhodes electric piano except Creole Moon, which was written in my head.
They were all written between early 1994 and the beginning of 1995, with the following exceptions;
* Creole Moon was originally written for the trio in 1993, who played it like a Led Zeppelin number and broke it; and
* Necromancer and I Love a Killer were both started in mid-1992, and both remained 80% unfinished until late 1994; and
* Sound Off and Jump Sauce were pieced together at the last minute, when the album started looking too short.
Sound Off finally made its live debut in 2009.
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1. Why Mess With a Good
Thing
Now I’ve been thinking, what I want to say
And what I’m thinking, there’s no easy way
I need to tell her, I think I changed my mind - I’m leaving her behind
You better listen to what we say
You don’t really want to throw it away
Think it over - there’s still time
Think it over - I’m not lying
A good woman is hard to find
Why mess with a good thing?
It ain’t another, calling me away
No it ain’t another, I just don’t want to stay
I know it ain’t fair, but I know it’s time - I’m leaving her behind
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2. Stand Up
Music inspired by Solomon Burke,“Everybody Needs Somebody To Love”
Over the hill, in a Caribbean rain - Down a moonlit path into the sugar cane
I hear the rattle, the drum beat - The crack of the whip, shuffling feet
Dead men stumble along - The legs drag on but the wills are gone
I can walk and I can see - And I can tell that I’m not free
Hey hey hey, keep a-walkin, you’re movin too slow
Hey hey hey, keep a-walkin, you got miles to go
Raised up from the mud by the mambo woman’s spell
A puppet in a limbo dance on the road to hell
I should’ve died back on the line
I want to know why am I still here, beyond my time
Hey hey hey, don’t stop, you’re workin for me - Baby I’m so tired
Hey hey hey, you can’t stop, you’re working for me - I want to close my eyes
Hey hey hey, keep a-workin, wo-wo-wo
Hey hey hey - Twilight under a curse
Hey hey hey - When the body lives and the soul dies first
Hey hey hey - Set me free - Stand up - I belong with the dead
Hey hey hey - Leave me - Stand up - Get out of my head
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3. All Night Long
I won’t be your prize - I won’t be your doll - I won’t be there at all
Don’t call me fine - Don’t call me yours - Don’t call me at all
I don’t need this scene - I don’t need no dreams - I don’t need you at all
You’re gonna dread each and every night - Alone in bed with the dawn in sight
Tossing from side to side wondering where I’ve gone
You’re gonna wake up drowned in tears - You’re gonna wish you died last year
You’re gonna cry, cry, cry all night long
All night long, you’re gonna cry - All night long, cry my name
All night long, until your tired eyes are dim with pain
All night long, you’ll be crying - All night long, crying over me
All night long, until your heart can’t stand no more, no more - All night long
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4. Sound Off
Theme suggested by World War
II
Well I ain’t seen a sorrier crew
That’s right, I’m talking to you
Mama’s boys, through and through
But you’ll be men when I’m done with you
One - two - three - four
One - two - sound off!
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5. First Kiss
One smiles , one sighs, so sweet and shy
Love’s flame shines in their eyes
One look, both know, this must be right
Love’s fire will burn tonight
If this is love, don’t pull away
Your life will hold, your pride can wait
Cause if this chance never comes again
You’ll walk an aimless road to a barren end
Soft winds, a warm night, stars on the rise
Love’s flame will light the skies
One touch and young hearts take wing and fly
Love’s fire drives them higher
First kiss - as fresh as spring
First kiss - the angels sing
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6. Jump Sauce
Music inspired by a black zydeco
band I saw playing at a bar in New Orleans 25 years ago,
doing it as “Joe Pete Got Too High”
What is this? You should try some. It’s reeeally good. Is this safe? Well . . .
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7. Necromancer
Music inspired by Muddy Waters, “Mannish
Boy”
I learned the truth at my mother’s knee - I listened close, what she said to me
And now that I’m grown, and I’m on my own - I still remember and I still understand
There’s nothing easier than a man
I can make them fall - I can make them stand
I can make them crawl - And eat from my hand
Gonna get me a man
Got a dead man’s hand - Cut it off at midnight
I’ve got candles boiled down from a white baby’s fat - And I’ve got the sight
I took your hair and your pictures - I saved your old clothes
Got the will and the words and the way - And I’ll have your soul
You’d see but your eyes are too heavy - You’d leave but your legs are too weak
You’d stop but your heart’s beating too fast - Shhh - Don’t speak
This hour is mine - One more step till the end
Come inside me, and I promise - You’ll never see daylight again
You’ll wake as a slave to my heart and you’ll love me as one of the damned
I’ll make you fall - and I’ll make you stand
I’ll teach you to crawl - You can eat from my hand
Gonna get me a man
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8. Marceline
Music inspired by LaVern Baker,
“You’d Better Find Yourself Another
Fool”
This has to end - I wish we’d never met - I wish that I could leave
Look what you’ve done to me - You made a shell of me - You took all that I had
You’re not right - Baby you’re not right - You better leave while you still can
You gotta find a new fool - You’re gonna need a fool you’ll never lose
You gotta find a new fool - Go find another, I’m through
You gotta find a new fool
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9. Funeral Train
Theme suggested by Earl
Robinson’s folk opera, “The Lonesome
Train”
Day is ending, sun is down
A hush falls across the town
They all hear the train down the track
Rolling slowly, draped in black
An empty coach, curtains drawn
Coffin edged in silver, coming home
From the churchyard, bells toll
Tears fall and the drivers roll
The engine climbs the last hill
Diesels die and the wind is still
Sorrow hangs like a spell
Dark as love - Farewell
Lay down your dreams - Lay down and be released - Lay down and go in peace
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10. I Love a Killer
Music inspired by the
Shangri-Las
I’d been with Johnny for the best years of our lives
I’d shared his happiness and his pain
I’d seen him once as a good man and a friend
And I’d seen him falling to cocaine Oooh, falling to cocaine
There’s no mercy for a junkie on the run
Half a key is too much to forgive
Johnny burned them, and I knew he couldn’t hide
I knew they’d never let him live Oooh, he’d never live
I don’t think I’ll ever forget that last sad look on Johnny’s face,
as he died right there in the bed beside me.
I knew I was next, but then the killer’s eyes met mine,
And the air between us grew heavy and still . . .
He reached his hand out and he touched my skin
I kissed his fingers, and felt him strong and thin
I rose to hold him, he put the gun away
I pulled him to me and I made him stay
It doesn’t matter, if it’s wrong or right - Just as long as he’s with me tonight
I love a killer
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11. Save Me
Music inspired by Hank Ballard,
“Deep Blue Sea”
Well, now I’ve been touched by the fire of love
I’ve been swept deep into the cold black sea
And it’s been hard to walk the line Yes it has
Between the fire and the sea Calling to me
The fire and the sea Calling to me
I hear the fire and the sea Calling to me Listen
Which one will it be? To claim me
Which one will it be? To claim me
Now I’ve flown too high, and I’ve sunk too low
I’ve been too loose, and too cheap with my soul
Now I’m clinging to a single ray of hope
Falling upon me In my need
Falling upon me In an answer to my plea
Save me - Save me - Guide me by the hand
Save me - Save me - Lead me to the promised land
When doubts assail us, and faith is weak
The heart will lose what it seeks
But when faith is certain, true and strong
Then love lights the way and the heart can’t be wrong
There is a love that stands like a fortress
Like a shelter, awash in light
It rises like a rock from an angry sea
And it shines like a beacon in the darkest night
Save me - Save me - Guide me forevermore
Save me - Save me - Lead me to the farthest shore
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12. Creole Moon
The lights have failed And turned deep blue
I see by fever And dreams of you
Rain and broken mirrors Will see me through
Shining high Creole moon
Stars catch fire And spin like wheels
Nerves so wired They ring like steel
Too numb with love to feel Heaven reel
Riding high Creole moon
Fire on the horizon, rivers running high
Shock waves rolling underfoot, pulling like the tide
Must be the Creole moon, rising in the sky
That’s the Creole moon, high high high
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