Category: pre-minstrel tension

Recorded as a live video some time ago:

Here’s an audio version captured from the video and mastered to raise the levels slightly:

Backup copy:

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A much older, slower version:

Backup copy:

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You can’t cage a butterfly / not unless you break his wings
You can’t cage a butterfly / unless you break his wings
You can cage a songbird / but you can’t make him sing

I went over the hill / and I heard some flyer blow
I went over the hill / and I heard that midnight flyer blow
I’ve been too long in the city / time to grab my grip and go

You think I’m fooling / but, honey, it’s a fact
You think I’m fooling / but, honey, it’s a fact
You had a good old mule / but you just broke his back

David Harley

Backup:

 

Harley aged 60-something having fun adding lead break to Harley aged 30 something. Clearly, the words have changed a bit over the years. Originally recorded on cassette sometime in the 80s, probably playing my ES175D copy or my Ovation Viper: the lead break was added with a Les Paul Special.

I rolled out my paper this morning to see what Lady Luck would say
She said “Sorry boy, no joy: It’s just another rainy day…”

Slow down, Lady Luck: why d’ya turn your back on me?
I never meant you any harm at all, but you really have your knife in me

Rolled out of bed this morning, in hopes to see some sun
But a long cool woman put the freeze on me and the good times are dead and gone

Slow down, Lady Luck: lady, won’t you let me be?
I never meant you any harm at all, but you really have your knife in me

I don’t mean to bring you down, I don’t mean to take you too deep
But I’m bored and bad and on my own and I need me a place to sleep

I think I’ll point my feet at the highway and move a little further down the line
If my shoes get stuck maybe Lady Luck will let me go this time

Words & Music by David Harley, copyright 1975

There once existed a recording of this with some percussion. Long gone. More rock than blues, in a pastiche sort of way.