This week, Jim’s theme for Song Lyric Sunday is artistes who haven’t been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but who we think should have been.

Naturally, the first thing I did, in a process of elimination. was to check out who was actually already in there. Pretty much all of the usual suspects, unsurprisingly; certainly most of my favourites.

But after some thought I realised that there was, from my point of view, one glaring omission: Captain Beefheart. So I settled down here at my keyboard and started streaming, in search of something suitable.

I ruled out the great masterpiece album ‘Trout Mask Replica’ (1969) at an early stage. It’s brilliant but definitely challenging, especially if you’re not overly familiar with the Captain’s….er, style.

There is so much to chose from nonetheless, but I finally settled on this, from ‘The Spotlight Kid’ (1971). That album, plus the following year’s ‘Clear Spot’, I’d say form a reasonably accessible introduction to an artiste who surely should be in that Hall of Fame.

Now here ya come baby
With yer tail draggin’ the gravy
Y’ know yer P’s ‘n Q’s
What ya don’t know baby
Is you givin’ me the blues
Ya got juice on your chin
Eggs on the drain-board
Pie on the wall
Dirt on the rug
I come home late
‘N I stumbled ‘n swore
Ya won’t even give me a hug
Ya had my things all laid out by the door
I’m leavin’
I’m gonna take up with ah mermaid
‘N leave you land lubbin’ women alone
‘N leave you land lubbin’ women alone
Ya said ya had it together once
Now yer head’s around the bend
I’m tellin’ ya woman
Ya better get it back together again
I’m gonna grow fins
‘N go back in the water again
If ya don’t leave me alone
I’m gonna take up with ah mermaid
‘N leave you land lubbin’ women alone
‘N leave you land lubbin’ women alone
Now here ya come baby
With yer tail draggin’ the gravy
Ya know yer P’s ‘n Q’s
What ya don’t know woman
Is yer givin’ me the blues

Written by Don van Vliet

Song Lyric Sunday 16 July 2023