The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy : Lyrics : Harlan

The Jazz Butcher Lyrics Harlan

Lyrics

Harlan

Well I've been bouncing off the walls
Cause that was all I had to work with at the time
I had nothing to say
I got a message from a friend
He keeps his number in the phone book
But I don't use it
I got nothing to say
We never ever spoke
But I listen what he tells me
Ooh I wonder what he'd tell me
I know I've got to think accurately
He doesn't suffer fools
Time's a-wasting
So now I've got no mouth but I'm still screaming
Chorus:
And Harlan
Harlan says we're not alone
But I'm still waiting
With all these rags
By my telephone

There's a mad old boy in a Batman baseball cap down at the intersection
Waiting till the cavalry arrives
Like every day had its own meaning
Everyone would have its colour
So did numbers...
What the hell, it's only our lives.
Chorus
Jefty is the boy next door
And Jefty is five
The same as he was in 1954
huh?
A boy and his dog
Alone against tomorrow
Alone against tomorrow
People could lose their grip
And deep below the Earth
In caves the size of Africa
Infinitely slowly
The pain is rarified and tainted to our special needs
Always
Cause I can't live with myself if living's without you
Chorus
Oh there must be millions like us
Millions
Outside
You know all about it...
And I'm standing here
While you know all about it
You know all about it
There's one more thing, girl:
It's so tough knowing where you are...
It's so tough knowing where you are
And I just don't seem to get out that much these days.
I want to hold you in my arms.

Found On

Buy These Records

Condition Blue

For all the pain and crap from which this record was made, the actual sessions were a gigantic and wonderful party. This was warmly received by The Outside World, less popular among those who counted themselves JBC afficionados. This IS the sound of me having fun, and getting me to do that in those dark days of mid-1991 was no small job.

creation_records, sky_records LP;CD

Unconditional

One of the better Creation-era compilations. Canadian release.

Polygram

The Violent Years

Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )

Fire Records 4xCD

Pat Says

The Butcher Says..

Ellison, of course.

If you let me out on my own in that condition, what do you think is going to happen? Butcher and Twilight Zone collide on the streets of Hollywood, resulting in ongoing art-misery attack and some deeply aquamarine guitar from that nice Peter Astor. Source: Unconditional liner notes

"Jefy Is Five" is one of a number of Harlan Ellison story-titles that litter the lyrics to the song that bears his name. Like:

"Time's A-Wastin'"
"I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream"
"A Boy And His Dog"
"Alone Against Tomorrow"

It's what I call a T-Rex Letter. You know, where fans of a group write a letter about that group, quoting all their song titles? One of those. In an introduction to one of his collections, Mr. Ellison writes that he tells these stories to tell people that "You Are Not Alone"... because we're ALL IN THE SHIT TOGETHER! What a dude!

He does, incidentally, keep his number in the L.A. phone book. That line is true. So, I should warn you, is the one about his not suffering fools. He is an impatient man, and should not be approached for quotable quotes on the subject of the JBC by those who could do without being told to... uh... go someplace else. Source: Pat Letter: 1994-09-13 1994-09-13 (Tuesday, 13^th of September 1994 - 29 years 24 days ago)

Live Stats

2 documented performances (click to explore)

1995	1 (JBC)
2003	1 (Pat Solo)

Media

30 Second Teaser

Visitor Feedback

Visitors' comments for this page [Add your own]

RIP Mr. Ellison
dougenglish[at]-remove-hotmail.com - DE
29Jun2018 7:53 AM (5 years 93 days ago)
RIP Mr. Ellison. I largely learned about your work from this song, which is my second favorite song from my favorite JBC record.
Harlan
tictok[at]-remove-comcast.net - Mark Owens Grand Rapids, Michigan
30Jul2014 7:11 AM (9 years 63 days ago)
Though I had not heard of The Jazz Butcher before, I bought the CD because of the track entitled "Harlan" (Harlan Ellison). Why? I wanted to add it to my Little Ellison Wonderland collection of my long time friend
Harlan Ellison's work (and those things that are creatively connected to Harlan, such as art and music). Was I happy? Yes, I was indeed happy.
Harlan
gexley[at]-remove-comcast.net - Ginger Exley, Boston USA
9Jun2013 11:41 PM (10 years 114 days ago)
Hi, I'd just like you to know that I actually had the opportunity to meet Harlan Ellison about ten years ago at a writing workshop, and I gave him my copy of Condition Blue, so he could hear the awesome song written about him. After that I could not find the album again for awhile. Recently I found it to be available again and I have been enjoying it as much as I used to, and "Harlan" is still my favorite.
Harlan
krawczyk.mark[at]-remove-gmail.com - Mark (Baltimore, MD...or points thereabout)
16Jun2010 1:22 PM (13 years 108 days ago)
Harlan is my favorite Jazz Butcher song.

It's just damn beautiful, uplifting, and heartbreaking all at once.

Thanks for writing and recording this song. Really. Thank you.
Harlan
h2ofuego[at]-remove-yahoo.com - James Duval
28Feb2009 6:28 PM (14 years 216 days ago)
Harlan live from Mallorca 96' reunion show is one of the most beautiful renditions I've heard of any song ever!!
long time
mdiwan[at]-remove-shaw.ca - Dwight Calgary Canada
4Mar2005 7:10 PM (18 years 213 days ago)
I’m sitting and ripping some of my cherished butcher collection for my ipod. Harlan, sweetest song I had heard in awhile as memory recalls when I first got the cd. I Had the opportunity to see pat and the boys do it live in Winnipeg during the subsequent tour...spot on performance -it was a great show.
fucking brillant
ukla22[at]-remove-cox.net - Omaha, NE
7Sep2003 5:33 PM (20 years 27 days ago)
Pat,
this is one of your best. I'm always at a loss for how Condition Blue got left out as I think it might be your most complete piece.