Author: Joe Eddie

As the river turns, you will turn …

As The River Turns

I ran down to the muddy Red River, try and catch some fish
Saw a shooting star the night before, I had made a wish
Asked the man down at the dock which direction I might try
He only smiled and looked at me, and gave me this reply:

“As the river turns, you will learn
As the river turns, you may turn”

I shove off ashore, head North looking for some shade
Hook and worm on my rod, and my engine h’up my vessel, cut the grade
But then here come the Devil, swimming up from below
Clear as the sun shining, it’s the Devil, the Devil and he says, “Joe,

As the river turns, you will yearn
As the river turns, you will burn”

Well fee fi fo fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman
Be he ‘live, or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to mix my bread
Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed to see such sport, and the dish ran away with the spoon

As the river turns, you will turn
As the river turns, you will turn

When I was born, I was pure, my hair was golden, my heart was sure
I don’t know, but I’ been told, streets of Heaven are lined with gold

As the river turns, you will turn
As the river turns, you will turn

I went through the door, and took off my crown, I unhooked my rod, and laid it down
I killed the band and sunk my boat, Set fire to every word I wrote, and set the burning ash afloat

As the river turns, you will burn
As the river turns, you will burn

Crazy Chester and Anne Marie met in the fog, sailed off to sea
I said goodbye to the Devil, and he said goodbye to me
You can set off running, take your time, friend of the Devil is a friend of mine
Say hello to the fishermen, ’til I pass this way again

As the river turns, you will turn
As the river turns, you will turn
As the river turns, you will turn

Rough cut first draft of a new song, my Week 4 song submission to the local Half Brothers 2018 songwriter challenge

Into The Belly Of The Catfish

When the sun is high, and the river flows
Gonna let that Muddy Waters run down deep between my toes
Gonna let that tall grass cut me
Let that sparrow sing
Gonna drink that Poison Ivy
‘Cause to me that ain’t no thing
Mmm, gonna let that dirt and violence wash down with the detritis
I’m goin’ deep down into the belly of the catfish

Ain’t no first rose of summer gonna prick my finger
Ain’t no cold sunrise gonna warm my bones
Don’t need no satisfaction like The Rolling Stones
There’s ain’t nothin’ goin’ on around here, is there, Mr. Jones?
I don’t need no pretty lady to dance with
I’m going deep down into the belly of the catfish

Ain’t no hangman jury, no gallows tree
No judge’s gavel put no shackles around me
No convict ship, no iron gang
No crows to wait to pick my bones while I hang
No day and night the irons gonna clang
But into the bush I’ll go when I slip my chains
Mmm, they ain’t seen the likes of me yet
I’m going deep down into the belly of the catfish

Don’t need no angels of mercy, need no wings of wax
I don’t need no freight train blues on no sleepy railroad tracks
I don’t need no hobo moonshine to spark no boxcar fire
I got no use for the numbers that go down on the wire
I don’t need no twilight to cast my fortunes, no
I’m going deep down into the belly of the catfish

No big dark cavern, no crashing rocks
No big black mountain gonna make me stop
No green sea serpent, no white wing dove
Ain’t no red storm arisin’ gonna keep me from my love
Uh, no, you don’t know who you mess with
I’m going deep down into the belly of the catfish

Lord said unto Jonah, “Go to Nineveh and tell,
If you don’t, Jonah, I’ll send you to the belly of a whale.”
Jonah said he’d do it, but he went fishin’ instead
For three nights Jonah had whale’s belly for a bed
Mmmhmm, and he begged the Lord for forgiveness
Now I’m going deep down into the belly of a catfish

Now gather ’round close so when I talk you’ll understand
My name is Captain Joe Eddie, the rudest S.O.B. to walk on land
You can ask your Mama, I’m the worst she’s seen
I’m a First Class Discharge from the Merchant Marine
I’m trouble, and I’m always cryin’
I’m going deep down into the belly of the catfish

“Friend Of The Devil” is written by Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia, and John ‘Marmaduke’ Dawson.

I’ve felt a recent sort of eternal kinship with Mr. Hunter after seeing a video of him performing at the Newport Folk Festival. I have two copies of his “Box of Rain” book of Grateful Dead song lyrics, and he’s always been to me a poet and prophet of the highest order. His songs with the Grateful Dead are pure magic, and the words in them are full of wisdom and consolation … a church of my musical religion. Watching him perform solo with an acoustic guitar was so humanizing, humbling, yet by the end of the song he appeared entirely powerful, and I’d say that his song lyrics, his poetry, have gained esteem with me since I saw the video.

I wondered about the lyrics of this song today, and when I looked it up, decided to record a quick take.

The image in the video is Buffoon playing a lute, Frans Hals, 1623

Howdy y’all, here’s the next chapter in my song submissions to the local Half Brothers 2018 songwriter challenge .. and it IS a challenge .. hope you enjoy, and as always, thanks for listening! — Joe Eddie

All On The Banks Of The Muddy Red River

As I went out one bright new morning
New fishin’ hook to try
All on the banks of the Muddy Red River
A fair damsel caught my eye

Since the morning was so nice
New summer sun shin’d bright
Thought I’d catch up to the lady
If my footsteps might

I saw her go around the bend
Up past the hollow log
Along the banks of the Muddy Red River
A’bounding with her dog

With three long steps I was beside her
And what I first thought was her dog
Bounding along with this lovely girl
Was indeed an ugly frog

His eyes were big and his cheeks were fat
On his mouth he wore a frown
His legs were long even when he sat
And on his head he wore a crown

And as I stood in awkward wonder
This frog turned to me and croaked
“Brekekex-brekekex-coax-coax,”
Were the words he spoke

I said, “Excuse me, fine young girl,
I do not mean to impose,
But I would follow a pretty girl like you
Anywhere she goes.”

“Well yes, kind sir, I understand,
But you are not the first,” said she,
“For to this man I am betrothed,
And to my heart he holds the key.”

“What man? What man?” I wondered aloud,
For no man could I see
But “Brekekex-coax-coax,”
Croaked again that frog to me

Well wonder and then laughter came
For what they did imply
That the girl and frog were meant to be
I laughed so hard I nearly cried

As the summer was brand new
And the morning sun was warm
I thought I’d play a word or two
Before I took my hook and worm

“Well tell me lady, if thou pleased,
Tell how could it be,
That such a frog with croaks as these,
Could be betrothed to thee?”

She swooned and held her breast to him
As he looked back at me
With his “brekekex-coax-coax” croak
It was a sight to see!

“Well kind sir, since thou asked,
‘Tis simple, plain as this:
Frog Prince has earned my love at last
By a promise and a kiss.”

And as the summer was brand new
And the sun shone nice and bright
I thought I’d ask one further question
If perchance I might

“Lovely darling,” says I, “so
Although you’re to be wed,
Please be my love and leave this toad
And take my hand instead?”

“Brekekex-brekekex-coax-coax,”
The frog croaked deep and high
“Brekekex-brekekex-coax-coax,”
Came the frog’s reply

“Young man of wicked false deceit and lies,
Brekekex-coax,” he said,
“You shall have my lovely bride
If you can take this crown from my head!”

And as the sun shone nice and bright
And the summer was brand new
I decided I should strike this frog
Without further ado

“Well yes, kind frog, that’s quite a duel.
Your challenge I acccept.
With one fell swoop I shall have the jewels
Which upon your head are kept.

And with your crown I shall have my prize
With which you now abide
Sweet lady, diamond of my eyes,
Then you shall be my bride!”

And with my right hand I struck right out
While my left swung round and round
I reached up to that tall frog’s snout
While my feet jumped off the ground

And I wouldn’t lie if I said
I landed square upon his crown
But his fungus skin made me slip instead
Into the Muddy Red River and drown

And as the summer was brand new
And the sun shone bright and hot
T’was into the mouth of a Muddy Red River catfish
I felt myself had got

And on the banks I heard their laughter
That frog bound his bride away
All along on a bright new morning
Of a brand new summer’s day