For the Captain - A Tribute to Don Van Vliet (1941-2010)

My love goes out to Don, my gratitude to the Magic band, and my thoughts and condolences to Jan Vliet.

Robert Kramer - pump organ
Evan Morgenson - upright bass
Graham Thomas - guitar, voice, songwriting

I woke early this morning
and the sun was shining down,
beating a song so clear --
a beautiful and dirty sound.
And I followed a trail of paint
through the sands, patterns, shadows.
The ravens, close behind me
fixed our mistakes upon the road.
At the source of all this color,
a sight, truly, to behold:
a doctor eating trout, licking moonbeams, milking crows,
and a beast shining in a spotlight, mirrored furiously with bongos.
In a moment, it all stopped
and we stood listening to the birds,
eyes open, ears astonished,
in awe of what we heard.
For me, it was something
I'd only felt - but from the start.
You woke me up from such a coma,
struck the beef inside my heart.
You were a madman; you were a genius;
a poet, painter, shaman, king.
Oh, case of the music -- they owe you so much.
And I owe you everything.
You helped make me into Me.
I hope you were so happy.
Oh, Captain, my Captain --
the Magic of your seas..
If I could make it to your desert
where your funeral be,
I'd lay upon your body
one rose that I mean.
Oh Captain, my Captain:
shake the bushes, shake the trees!
I'll lay upon your body
one rose that I mean.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• don
• glen
• van
• vliet
• tribute
• captain
• beefheart
• magic
• band
• trout
• mask
• replica
• doc
• at
• the
• radar
• station
• lick
• my
• decals
• off
• baby

[Newdaybear]

Thank you

[gthomasfilms]

@Newdaybear You are so incredibly welcome.

[2kool4skewl77]

The Captain Forever! <3

[mussie302]

Absolutely wonderful guys. I cried at the end of this. I would echo every one of your words. Something unique and irreplaceable has gone from the world with Don's passing. He changed the way I look at music and probably opened my eyes to many things too. At least his work remains for us to enjoy. Thank you.

[MrVisitor2]

Great words guys. Also a solo guitar tribute to the Captain (one of the truly great rebel musicians and painters of our time)by Ian Staples at RED SQUARE 33

[bathamsbottom]

The world is poorer now and the desert more barren, so if you ever get the chance to lay a rose, then please also lay one for me my friend.