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Rating: When speaking of them, it's natural to think immediately of that monumental debut, the violent females were already catapulted into legend for that first album, condemned to associate their identities with that album, despite "Hallowed Ground," 1984, and despite Gano, who collected new stories (which were, in fact, the same as that eponymous one), to create another collection of sparse songs of rage through the blend of blues, voodoo, country, and that rustic, pagan, and bare folk that heavily influenced the roots scene of folk revival through punk attitudes and consciousness-raising in American indie of the '80s.
Gano with this record pushes everything into the mystical religious recesses that permeated his life, his love/hate towards religion is well represented by the opening track, the deadly "Country Death Song." This first track marks an important turning point in their music, you can indeed notice a distinctively country touch led by the banjo, moving between Appalachian traditions and ritual child killings (in honor of the Dead Kennedys?), but its country rhythm seems more of a lugubrious march that evokes visions of desperados, with Gano's voice repeating "I started making plans to kill my own kind. I started making plans to kill my own kind" and "Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves. Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God save." "I Hear The Rain," a brief track with almost obsessive repetitiveness leads us to "Never Tell," where another strange instrument for rock tradition, the marimba, is present: "Never Tell" alone is worth the entire album, here comes the restless vein, the nervous vein, the punk vein after all, the refrain is monumental (and also very famous), the ride is contagious on the desert highlands of northern Mexico and the far south of the USA, the bastards born from the crossing of equally bastard races are losers who animate sacrificial rites, ignite spirits and the gasoline-sprinkled crosses that crowd the highways.
"Jesus Walking On The Water" is a ballad, very melodic, that blends touches of gospel and folk. You never know if the tone is serious or a mockery, America sounds like fiction, maybe a cinematic fiction, or in its primordial essence, a dream-like fiction. I once walked in an unhealthy corner of New Mexico, certain things now remain to be thought of only by cadaverous ones who have seen death in the face like me. Sergio Leone is far, there are no sepia-colored cowboys around, there are no rifles, the blonde waitress of the saloon is just a pathetic simulacrum of an extinct scenario (just like me).
"I Know It's True (But I'm Sorry To Say)" is a sweet ballad, a song to sing around the fire, tear-jerking if it weren't for Gano's lyrics containing explicit sexual references and perhaps even more. The title track is dark and swampy, yet another high-class number, Voodoo ignites, the same that permeated the rituals of the Doors and the Gun Club, one of the meanings of the term "voodoo," "being in a trance," derives in part from the fact that slaves were not granted proper burial, which, it was said, gave rise to tormented souls and the living dead, also known as zombies. In New Orleans, the souls of deceased ancestors are carefully preserved through customary rites such as jazz funerals, with brass bands and top hats and umbrella parades. The dichotomy Voodoo/Christianity should not be misleading, Voodoo is a religious practice that mixes Christianity with elements of African origin, imported by black slaves, about three-quarters of Haiti's eight million inhabitants identify with this religion. Vodun, like Christianity, is a religion of many traditions, Voodoo is thus a fusion between Christianity and the spiritism of tribes forcefully taken from Africa and brought to America as slaves.
A quick shift in style and here "Sweet Misery Blues" bows to us, a spaced-out blues infected by Lou Reed in the voice and the very music. It sounds like this, raw, off-key, and dirty like the very soul of the Violent Femmes. The politically incorrect "Black Girls," memorable drum overture before giving way to the free jazz of the sax, listen up, John Zorn, the genius himself also making a racket with crazy fretters along with a combo of horns let loose, a raucous orgy.
The album ends with "It's Gonna Rain," a mix of gospel and harmonica blues, a kind of biblical prophecy, who knows how ironic in its intentions, narrating the story of Noah's Ark: "Now who, who, who do you think I am? Well, I built this ark with Japheth, Shem, and Ham" sings Gano and honestly a laugh escapes too, because, according to them, what it takes to rid the world of sickness and suffering is the great flood.
A manifesto to the courage of this street trio, the courage of Gano's speeches against Catholics and Calvinists who killed in the name of God, I believe their strength was in talking about very serious and very sad things (religion, death, youth unrest, lack of ideals) with a strong ironic, even self-ironic, and boisterous vein.
This record represents the epic of the new southern gothic: because believe it or not there are ghosts and specters that have always swum in the Mississippi.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Country Death Song (05:02)
I had me a wife, I had me some daughters.
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters.
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Well, I'm a thinkin' and thinkin', till there's nothin' I ain't thunk.
Breathing in the stink, till finally I stunk.
It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
Come little daughter," I said to the youngest one,
Put your coat on, we'll have some fun.
We'll go out to mountains, the one to explore.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Come little daughter, I will carry the lanterns.
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caverns.
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
A led her to a hole, a deep black well.
I said "make a wish, make sure and not tell and
close you're eyes dear, and count to seven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove.
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love.
I through my child into a bottomless pit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
Gather round boys to this tale that I tell.
You wanna know how to take a short trip to hell?
It's guarenteed to get your own place in hell.
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well.
Take your lovely daughter and throw her in the well.
Don't speak to me of lovers, with a broken heart.
You wanna know what can really tear you apart?
I'm going out to the barn, will I never stop in pain?
I'm going out to the barn, to hang myself in shame.
Gordon Gano: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Brian Ritchie: Acoustic bass guitar
Victor DeLorenzo: Drums, Vocals
Tony Trischka; Banjo
Produced by Mark Van Hecke
Recorded at Secret Sound Studio, New York City
03 Never Tell (07:10)
Some people stand like trees, without a word
and what that means is that some people don't talk.
Oh please pardon me mister.
Ya know I just didn't hear you the first time that you said that,
but now that you repeat for me, I'll be sure to do what I can.
Ya know I'm going to do what I can,
do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gonna do what I can,
do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
but no more, you understand?
Oh please pardon me father.
Ya know I just didn't hear you that, that, that
that first time that you said th...
help me, help me, help me, help me...
Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it.
I'll be sure do, do, do what I can.
Do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
but no more, you understand?
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance. (4 times)
I had so much on my mind.
I was so glad when I died, oh...
Listen to me baby.
Can you keep a secret for me?
Make sure no one finds out,
cause then the lights will go out,
and I will find you out,
and I will cut you up.
Uh hmm, don't ask me why,
because, I said, I said, I said
I'm gonna do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. (3 times)
but I'll have none of that, you understand?
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know nothin'? You ain't never going to tell on someone.
What you going to do?
Gonna turn, gonna turn rat fink?
What you wanna do?
Do want to see, do you wanna see what it's like to sink?
Sink down, sink down, sink down, down, down to the bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down, to the bottom of the river, sink, down sink.
Sink down, down. Down, down to bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down to the bottom of the river.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone. (3 times)
Ah, ah, oh, I tell you what it's like, I tell you what it's like, oh.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell. (3 times)
I stood right up in the heart of Hell,
I'm never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Ah...
04 Jesus Walking on the Water (03:07)
and oh my, oh my, oh my, tell me is it true.
Did he, did he, did he die upon that cross?
and did he, did he, did he come back across?
Jesus walking on the water.
Sweet Jesus walking in the sky.
Sinking sand, took my hand, raised me up,
and brought me up.
I can hold my head up high.
Will I, will I, will I be true to my birth?
and will I, will I, will I give what I'm worth?
Oh yes sir, yes sir, yes sir, I come when you call,
and yes sir, yes sir, yes sir, sweet Jesus, my all-in-all.
06 Hallowed Ground (04:18)
The prophet is a fool
the spiritual man is mad
For the multitude of thy iniquity
And the great hatred...
Everyone's tryin
to decide
where to go
when theres no place to hide
I follow the bombs as theyre coming down
This must have been
Hallowed Ground
Ooooooo ooo ooo ooooo ooo oo o o
No matter what
they decide to have done
burn up the clouds
Block out the sun
My hope is in
one they cant bring down
My soul is in
Hallowed Ground
Oo ooo oooo oo
I see the fear
Its on the rise
Lets catch the enemy
By surprise
Bury your treasure
Where it cant be found
Bury it deep
In Hallowed Ground
Ooo ooo ooo oooo oo ooo oo o
Ooo ooo ooo oooo oo ooo oo oooooooo
07 Sweet Misery Blues (02:51)
Yeah I saw you walkin down the street
I could tell by your look that you didn't wanna meet
so this time
I went away
But next time
Im just gonna have to say
"Could I buy a dress or something?
Could I buy ya some jewelry or something?
Would ya go out with me or something?
Would ya sleep with me or something?"
Ya better watch out!
If your trains moving too fast.
Ya better look out!
if youre living in the past because
Thats why you'll never lose
These sweet, misery blues
Thats why you'll never lose
These sweet misery blues
Yeah im gonna corner you in an elevator
and you wont be able to put me off till later
I'll put on my charm
I'll tingle your spine
I'll take off my charm
And then you'll wanna die
"Could i buy you a dress or something?
Could I buy ya some jewelry or somethin?
Would you go out with me or somethin?
Would ya sleep with me or somethin?"
YOU BETTER WATCH OUT
cause you can't get rid of me
Ya better look out
Oh baby dont you see?
Thats why you'll never lose
These sweet misery blues
Thats why you'll never lose
These sweet misery blues
08 Black Girls (05:41)
I dig the black girls, oh so much more than the white girls.
I was so pleased to learn they were faster.
Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, oooh and after.
Along comes a faggot white boy.
Said look, look, look for some kind of joy.
They come around so queer and quiet,
but inside rebel and riot.
Said I dig the white boys,
Oh, so much more that the black boys.
I was so pleased to learn they're not smarter.
Go on, give, give, give it to me harder, harder, harder, just say harder.
You know I love the Lord of hosts,
the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.
I was so pleased to learn that he's inside me
In my time of trouble he will hide me.
I dig the black girls.
I dig the black girls.
I dig the black girls.
I dig the black girls.
Gordon Gano: Vocals, guitar
Brian Ritchie: Electric Bass, Slide Bass, Jew's Harp, Vocals
Victor DeLorenzo:Drums,Vocals
John Zorn: sax, clarinet Peter Balestrieri: Sax Drake Scott Cornetto
Produced by Mark Van Hecke
Recorded at Secret Sound Studio, New York City
09 It's Gonna Rain (04:11)
Now who, who, who do you think I am?
Well, I built this ark with Japheth, Shem, and Ham.
Now what, what, what do you think it's gonna do
when I live by faith and now my work is through?
It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain)
I said it's gonna rain (It's gonna rain)
Yes, It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain.)
I'm so happy to say (It's gonna rain)
Oh It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain) on the world today
Now when, when, when I am in doubt
and I think that things for me will never work out,
but where, where, where the heart is true,
ya know Lord, your God, will never forsake you.
It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain)
I said it's gonna rain (It's gonna rain)
Yes, It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain.)
I'm so happy to say (It's gonna rain)
Oh It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain) on the world today
repeat verse 1 (drums only)
It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain)
I said it's gonna rain (It's gonna rain)
Yes, It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain.)
I'm so happy to say (It's gonna rain)
Oh It's gonna rain (It's gonna rain) on the world today
Forty days and forty nights (It's gonna rain)
Forty days and forty nights (It's gonna rain)
Hallileua, it's alright (It's gonna rain)
Everybody's sleepin' tight (It's gonna rain)
Oh, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's gonna rain tonight.
repeat chorus three times
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