Ignored Obscured Restored
The great New Orleans R&B artist, songwriter and record producer, Dave Bartholomew, died on June 23rd. I’m totally embarrassed that I missed it but that was right around the time that I was in Sonoma for 3 days and on the east coast for the following 10.
Even if you don’t know him by name, I’m certain that you’ve heard his work. He wrote or co-wrote many Fats Domino hits, like “The Fat Man”, I’m Walkin’”, “Blue Monday”, and “Ain’t That a Shame” – a pop #1 in 1955. And there’s more — “I Hear You Knocking” (Smiley Lewis) and “My Ding-a-Ling” (Chuck Berry).
He produced Lloyd Price’s “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” that was an R&B #1 in 1952, and Domino’s “Blueberry Hill.”
Today’s first SotW is Bartholomew’s own “The Monkey.”
“The Monkey” is a social commentary about the way humans have descended from “the monkey” but doesn’t always behave like the superior species. (Unfortunately, a very apropos sentiment in today’s divisive political climate.)
Here’s another thing a monkey won’t do
Go out on a night and get all in a stew
Or use a gun or a club or a knife
And take another monkey’s life
Yes, man descended, the worthless bum
But, brothers, from us he did not come
In 2004, Elvis Costello released a song called “Monkey to Man.”
The opening lyric is “A long time ago, our point of view was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew.” I would venture to say the significance of that reference was missed on all but a few. (Now you’re in the know!) There’s a YouTube video of Costello and Bartholomew doing a live performance of “The Monkey” together with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Costello’s song picks up where Bartholomew’s left off.
And now the world is full of sorrow and pain
And it’s time for us to speak up again
You’re slack and sorry, such an arrogant brood
The only purpose you serve is to bring us our
food
Sit here staring at your pomp and pout
Outside the bars we use for keeping you out
You’ve taken everything that you wanted
Broke it up and plundered it and hunted
Ever since we said it you went and took the
credit
It’s been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from
monkey to man
XTC also recorded a track with another variation on the theme.
“The Smartest Monkeys” was on their 1992 album, Nonsuch and tackles the subject of homelessness.
Well man created the cardboard box to sleep in
it
And man converted the newspaper to a blanket
Well you have to admit that he’s come a long way
Since swinging about in the trees
We’re the smartest monkeys
Thank you, Dave Bartholomew, for the legacy you left us and the inspiration you paid forward. RIP.
Enjoy… until next week.