Omaha the Cat Dancer
The Kiss and the Knife
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- Category: Shakers Songs
- Published: Thursday, 04 February 2016 21:14
- Written by Super User
- Hits: 1809
Disreputable Character
Bob Berlien and the White Women were, respectively, Bob Berlien himself, spouse Kathy Routliffe, and Sandy Andina. Between the three of them, they terrorized the Chicago indie music scene with their wild mixture of cabaret, punk rock, and folk mutations. They were our parent band, in that they did more to create the Shakers than anyone who wasn't actually in it. We stole material, arrangements and inspiration from them without shame. Bob himself was always a disreputable character, who had a habit of coloring his hair to suit his mood. One day, he decided to grow it out because he'd forgotten what color it originally was ... and it came out white.
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By BOB BERLIEN I’m on the wrong side of a marriage I’m on the outside, I’m looking in I know that I should turn away and run, But time and time again, I just give in. CHORUS: And I’m beginning to like this pinball life Sliding squeaky-clean between the kiss and the knife. The danger treats me nice, you know. It really makes the adrenalin flow, And the energy makes the attraction grow toward you. I’ve seen her man and he’s a big one, I know he’d tear me limb from limb, But when I fall into her sweet, sweet arms, The very last thing I think about is him. (chorus) I better grab my clothes and run now. I can hear him coming up the drive. But I just can’t resist one last illicit kiss. My God, am I gonna make it out of here alive? (chorus) © 1985 by Bob Berlien |
Goofus and Gallant
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- Category: Shakers Songs
- Published: Thursday, 04 February 2016 21:13
- Written by Super User
- Hits: 2622
Lowlights for Rebels
The other side of Howard Ashby Kranz. Every child who's ever been to visit the dentist, remembers through a haze of terror a magazine called "Highlights For Children." One of the features of that magazine was an illustrated strip contrasting the lifestyles of Goofus, a ne'er-do-well slacker (before there was a name for it) who was slovenly, disrespectful, and generally apathetic, and Gallant, a "model child" who always kept his hair neat, practiced Good Table Manners, Spoke Respectfully To His Elders, and generally Served As An Example. If you really want to know what happened to them, here's the scoop.
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By HOWARD ASHBY KRANZ Goofus eats his ice cream cone from the bottom And blows bubbles in his Coke with a straw. Gallant chews his mixed vegetables well After showing his clean hands to Pa. Goofus reads comic books and in class he draws pictures Of rocket ships going to the Moon. Gallant reads Kipling, and Adventures from the Bible, And does his homework in the afternoon. Get off my gettin’ on! Get off my gettin’ on! Get off my gettin’ on! Well I could work it out if you’d leave me alone. Now Gallant knows that Goofus has some kind of understanding With Debbie, the Queen of the Prom. Gallant took Debbie to a candlelight dinner, She didn’t know where he was coming from. Debbie wants to be a Supreme Court justice But she doesn’t believe in the Law. Gallant lies awake nights thinking about something He’s seen that he shouldn’t have saw. Papa took Gallant to a Christian psychiatrist Who gave him a relaxant and a talk. Debbie’s mama knows she’s still getting into no good Though she watches her like a hawk. Goofus rolls around in the back yard in his good clothes Getting stains all over his knees. Gallant sits in the Good Citizens’ Club Saying, Thank You, You’re welcome, and Please. Now Gallant is an accountant for the 3M Companies He has everything he imagines that he needs Goofus is a drummer working at the mattress factory Trying to kick a bad habit of weed. Debbie married Gallant, but she goes bowling every weeknight And Goofus is in the same league. Anyone of them could have been anything they wanted If you listeners would only believe. Get off my getting on! Get off my getting on! Get off my getting on! I could work it out if you’d leave me alone. © 1985 by Howard Ashby Kranz |
Sassafrass Jones
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- Category: Shakers Songs
- Published: Thursday, 04 February 2016 21:11
- Written by Super User
- Hits: 1510
Apocalyptic Rock
This, my most famous song, was inspired by Too Much Harlan Ellison, and also I think, to being dragged to a midnight showing of 'A Boy and His Dog.' It became so popular in SF fan circles that one night while I was playing, Harlan himself was dragged in to listen to it. He was very polite. I know you've heard much more gruesome stuff than this, but this was 1974.
I did illustrate the song for Will Shetterly and Emma Bull's Steeldragon Stories in 1983, just as Omaha was starting to catch on (published for a brief time by them).
Harmonica by Fred Levy Haskell.
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By REED WALLER Sassafrass Jones, he liked to chew bones By the fireside, in the red light And Barnaby Street, he ate human meat That he killed by himself in the dead of night Now these two men stumbled through the wreckage Of what was left of the U.S. of A, I’ve seen them fly through a Cobalt blue sky And I’m the only one who’s left to see them pay, But Sassafrass Jones, he went out on his own Down the bloody road to New York Crater And Barnaby Street, he lit north from the heat He would have brought his wife, but he’d ate her. Now I followed them away across the desert, I followed them across a radioactive plain. I’ll see them dead, if it costs me my Chromium head, Cause they’re the only ones who’s left to blame. But Sassafrass Jones, he died all alone With no help from me, he walked under a boulder. And Barnaby Street, he had bad news to eat. He weren’t no damn fun, he just fell right over. Now that they’re gone, ain’t no point in living on, Time has robbed me of my bloody chore, And I can go to my grave, now there’s no one left to save, But I’ve tried to die so many times before. © 1974 by Reed Waller |
Cry Out Loud
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- Category: Shakers Songs
- Published: Thursday, 04 February 2016 21:12
- Written by Super User
- Hits: 1773
Guy Romance
Yes, I know that's an oxymoron. Guys have a rather brutish way of looking at even the finer things in life. In that spirit, I decided to do a sex-themed song of my own for the album, throwing good taste and good sense to the winds. I mean, couldn't I have just written something about relationships instead? But like the troupers they were, Nate, Al, and even Kate got up on stage and sang this with me. Now that's dedication!
Please appreciate Nate's amazing bass work on this one.
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By REED WALLER You tell me that you know I love you You know that you’re my pride and joy But you could use some reassurance That I don’t mind you making noise. Love, when you’re coming, it makes me feel so proud. Baby, when you love me, I love to hear you cry out loud. You say you had some mixed reactions From lovers that you used to know But girl, I like the kind of action Who loves her man and lets him know. Lover, when you’re coming, it makes me feel so proud, Baby, when you love me, I love to hear you cry out loud. Now I don’t care about the neighbors Forget about the whole damn lot I just want to do you favors Till you’re screaming out with all you’ve got. Lover, when you’re coming, it makes me feel so proud. Baby, when you love me, I love to hear you cry out loud. © 1988 by Reed Waller |
Wildcat
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- Category: Shakers Songs
- Published: Thursday, 04 February 2016 21:10
- Written by Super User
- Hits: 1801
The Omaha Rock Video
This is the tune that launched Omaha to stardom. The video, the leopardskin outfit, the Herd, was all for this. To showcase the terpsichorean skills of our heroine, Kate cranked out a zippy tune with lots of flash, some pointedly feline vocalizing, and a few hairpin turns. It was fun sneaking it into the book again for her final dance at the "A" Block block party. I guess we're all just going to have to imagine how famous she got after that.
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By KATE WORLEY See that little kitten sittin’ there at the bar, Looks like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Your heart starts to sinking and you start to thinking And your thoughts start traveling south. Now hold it right there, son, stop where you are And listen to what I say. If you’re just looking for a cheap easy catch You better look for easier prey. This one’s a wildcat If you’re in a hurry, boy you better turn around She’s a wildcat No one’s ever caught her, no one’s ever brought her down She’s a wildcat. So take it slow and easy and don’t move too fast And don’t try to tell her no lies. And if you win her hand and she takes you for her man You’re in for a nice surprise. Watching her float as she moves across the floor Looking so easy and free She looks so sweet and shy, but the gleam in her eye Says there’s more there than what you can see. She’s a wildcat If you spark her desire, then you’ll feel her fire burn. She’s a wildcat If you get to love her, lover then you’re gonna leam, She’s a wildcat. Say you come on gentle and finally win her heart, And you think that you’re sitting nice. Watch your step, son, you’re not home free yet. Let me give you one piece of advice. If you ever think that you can mess around Maybe this thought will give you pause. Just because she’s got velvet fur Doesn’t mean that she ain’t got claws. She’s a wildcat No one’s gonna own her, don’t think you can run around. She’s a wildcat Just because you claimed her, don’t think you can tame her down. She’s a wildcat If you love her true and you save her all of your smiles, She’s a wildcat But if you treat her right, she’ll sure make it worth your while. © 1988 by Kate Worley |
