“In which a vagabond finds a new headpiece, and new confidence.”
In the summer
In the city
In a dumpster in the street
That's where I found it
I looked around me
And there was no-one to be seen
I took a breath
I took a dive
I felt the trash and I felt alive
This is how it started
Next morning
Sunday morning
Feel different to the core
I don't remember
Whatever happened
I'm not myself and I'm not sure
Get on my feet
I touch my head
I feel the hat, I feel so fine
Tell us 'bout the hat now
So black
So high
Even the heat don't dare
Look me in the eye
Round edge
Smooth sides
I'm the king of tramps now baby
Watch me as I fly
This hat is an amazing hat
Keeps me warm while I still look cool
From a bum straight to a real class act
Stylish and sweet
He's the king of the street
Black Betty
Raw Freddy
Fat Ed and mr. Chang
My new minions
My hat companions
We've invented our own slang
It's my domain
You don't complain
You pick the street I name the price
Now we're getting somewhere
Conclusion
A great fusion
Of function and of style
I was a no-one
But now I'm someone
And I will be for some while
A pimp pope
A bum boss
A tyrant tramp, a cool clochard
Tell us 'bout the hat now
So black
So high
Even the heat don't dare
Look me in the eye
Round edge
Smooth sides
I'm the king of tramps now baby
Watch me as I fly
This hat is an amazing hat
Keeps me warm while I still look cool
From a bum straight to a real class act
Stylish and sweet
He's the king of the street
We are walking the streets
To the sound of the beat
Everybody wants to see the hat
It’s black and tall, and cooler than y’all
A sight you won’t forget
I’m like a gorilla, with a roar like Godzilla
When I’m walking down my turf
I smite the few, that don’t do like I do
So you better not get on my nerves
Like a big scary bat with a sizeable hat
I’m soaring in the dark of the night
I got nothing to fear, got nothing to do
I guess that’s quite alright
This is the end of the song,
And I’d love to go on
But we’re running out of time
If you like this beat just press ‘repeat’
And you’re gonna be just fine
Another set of impossibly slick jams from an Aussie outfit who bathe disco-inspired rhythms in funky synths and psychedelic textures. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 3, 2024
UK jazz-rock icons pay tribute to British trumpeter Harry Beckett in the second entry in My Only Desire Records’ Brit Jazz 45s series. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 1, 2024