"And frankly, there's nothing so unusual about being a Jewish Cowboy..."
Ok, so as far as I know, So Called (aka Josh Dolgin) a Montreal-based Jewish hip hop musician, has never roped a bull. But, in the song "You Are Never Alone" off of his latest album, Ghettoblaster, he draws on images of Jewish cowboys to great effect. In a manner that reminds me a lot of Mare Winningham's "Refuge Rock Sublime" (see my review), So Called uses images of cinema cowboys to connect to the emptiness of the open range to a more sublime heaven. Check it out.
"ride with the tumbleweed rolling free
at night I look to the stars that's when I heard a voice call to me
... you are never alone"
So Called - You Are Never Alone
(Related posts: Mare Winningham's "Refuge Rock Sublime", Jewish Cowboys Part 1: Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys &
Jewish Cowboys Part 2: Scott Gerber)
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15 comments:
Hi! Great blog :). Could you please tell me where could I find lyrics for that song? Thanks
Glad you like :)
Unfortunately, Socalled hasn't published his lyrics anywhere that I'm aware of and I've only transcribed the bit I needed. I just sent Socalled an email asking if he'll share the lyrics with us. I'll let you know if I hear anything.
I'm looking for the lyrics too:/
we demand lyricification
Grin. I emailed Socalled but haven't heard back yet. I'll try again.
My wife and I gave our absolute best effort at transcribing this awesome, awesome song. Please -- enjoy!
And frankly, there's nothing so unusual about being a Jewish cowboy
Cowboy. I'm a cowboy.
On a trail to nowhere all I have is a horse
Even he would leave if he broke free of this curse
All I've got's memories they aren't even mine
And the dry wind wails till my song is blown away
At night I look to the stars
Well they say cut it free
(The poor ranger/The chrome angel)
At night I look to the stars
(Man who buzz fly from high as disguise his lines)
They say cut it free
I'm a cowboy. I'm a cowboy.
As I ride this road the journey of my life
Through a world with no love
I stop and wonder why
As I come to a town and lay my saddle down
Then I search for some peace
But it's nowhere to be found
Ride like a tumbleweed rollin' free
At night I look to the stars
That's when I heard a voice speak to me
You are never alone
Ya da da da da, Ya da da da
At night I look to the stars
Ya da da da da, Ya da da da
They say cut it free
This is striaght from the horse's mouth
We are buried treasure
Vagabonds travellin' on gravel ponds
Battle's going strong forever, ever
This is straight from the horse's mouth
We are buried treasure
Vagabonds travellin' on gravel ponds
Battle's going strong forever, ever
Bounty on my head spurs on your feet
We are the out-of-towners
the county gives us grief
On iron horses we gallop at light speed
New sheriff in town
I still fit the description
So they stressin' me to do 'em like ashtrays
Put the clip in maintain
Cause I been chosen like hyroglyphic inscriptions
To be decoded by those who ain't frozen
Word up
I'm a cowboy. I'm a cowboy.
Now there's no tomorrow
Only yesterday
But to live in the past
Is to ride your life away
I can feel in my bones
I will die all alone
Right down to the ground
Like the sage brush before me
Ride like a tumbleweed rollin' free
At night I look to the stars
That's when I heard a voice speak to me
You are never alone
Ya da da da da, Ya da da da
At night I look to the stars
Ya da da da da, Ya da da da
They say cut it free
The poor ranger, see how the sun settin' on anger
'X' marks the spot for unknown danger
Man who buzz fly from high as disguise his line
So bees bumble and the days stretch away and leave the weed tumble
The kid’s Billy, fly filly, illy, the bop-bitty
The hot hit he shot from the sound of something pretty
Ever clear he won’t hook it in a straight line
A circle in a square
Point is, you’re stuck right there
Ride like a tumbleweed rollin' free
At night I look to the stars
That's when I heard a voice speak to me
You are never alone
Ya da da da da, Ya da da da
At night I look to the stars
Ya da da da da, Ya da da da
They say cut it free
Cowboy. (You are never alone.) I'm a cowboy.
Hey Anonymous, thanks! You and your wife did great.
I'm pretty sure it says:
"At night I look to the stars
Ya da da da da, Ya da da da
They say Kaddish for me"
Kaddish is a Jewish prayer, often a prayer of mourning for someone deceased.
Also, it's "let the sage brush beat for me" another Jewish reference for a deceased person.
huh. I'm feeling dense. I've never heard of a Jewish saying that included "sage brush." Do you know where that comes from? Or maybe the Yiddish version?
HI. Just to let you know, the words
"Well they say cut it free" is actualy
"they say kaddish for me."
If you are a big Josh/socalled fan, maybe you'll like what I posted after his jazz festival concert a few weeks ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYWZDlgnHjs
Ps next time I see Josh, (end of August probably) I will ask him about posting his lyrics.
Thanks for posting the video. Great fun! I just blogged it.
tied down to the ground
like the sage bush before me
Socalled's latest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEHApTNMAgM
I'll be posting more soon.
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