An enigmatic folk nomad, McCombs is a quintessentially American artist; "he's quietly become one of (the country's) finest chroniclers of fringe characters, a writer of heart-rending love songs and psychedelic odes to the natural world, a teller of tall-tales with a sense of humor dry as desert wood, and that rare folksinger who actually sings about the folk." His vocals range somewhere between the anxious drone of Lou Reed, the hollow croon of Elliott Smith, the lilting melody of Morrissey, and the driving earnestness and complexity of bards such as Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan. His lyrical style is alternately vivid and weary, laconic and yearning, or drifting into the high-spirited and whimsical.
After cutting his first EP, Not the Way in San Francisco in 2001, McCombs relocated to Baltimore, MD. There he released "Not the Way" in 2002 and recorded his first full-length, A, in 2003 on Monitor Records. He spent the next few years touring: playing All Tomorrow's Parties; and opening for bands such as Modest Mouse, The Decemberists, and Belle and Sebastian; before recording his second LP PREfection, which was released on 4AD in 2005.
McCombs' subsequent releases have been on the highly successful British independent label Domino Recording Co. 2007's Dropping the Writ was named one of Amazon's Best Albums of that year. Catacombs was voted one of the 50 greatest albums of 2009 by Pitchfork Media, and features Academy Award-nominated actress and singer Karen Black on the track Dreams-Come-True-Girl. During this period, McCombs toured with the likes of Arcade Fire, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, José González, Beach House, and The Walkmen.
Catacombs also established McCombs' relationship with engineer/producer Ariel Rechtshaid, member of The Hippos and Foreign Born, who produced Grammy-winning hit Climax for Usher, the Plain White T's Grammy-nominated No.1 platinum-selling single Hey There Delilah, and albums for Vampire Weekend, Sky Ferreira, Snoop Lion, and Haim, among others.
In 2010 McCombs played Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, L.A.'s Culture Collide Festival and Invisible Children Benefit. 2011 offered an extensive headlining tour, an appearance at SXSW, and two albums released by McCombs and produced by Rechtshaid: Wit's End in April and Humor Risk in November. The two albums were made simultaneously. In an interview with Pitchfork, McCombs explains: "Wit's End was started years ago and it slowly made its way to the finish line. Humor Risk was just punched out. They're friends but they're different. Wit's End is like a stew; Humor Risk is the raw food diet."
Big Wheel and Others, McCombs' seventh full-length (and first double album) was released in October 2013. The album is rooted in the Americana mythos of the Wild West, from the San Francisco drug culture to the gunslingers and gold rush of the nineteenth century. The album once again features Karen Black on a version of the track Brighter!, her final recording before passing away due to ampullary cancer in August, 2013. Big Wheel is dedicated to her memory.
http://cassmccombs.com
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
Cass McCombs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A tug on Jupiter′s beard
Equal parts bay, henbane and kelp
A tooth from a spotted wolf's whelp
Garlic, cayenne, turmeric and lime
A wood spoon to stir into slime
Who′s laugh?
Nasty medicine
Medicine, kinky medicine
A taste of your own medicine
Sister Moon whisper the words over the fire
Homegrown medicine
Sensual purple of a deeper shade
Visions flash on a new blade
Montezuma's flesh; licorice tomb
The smile of a young girl in bloom
Add whatever you want for taste
And share! Don't let it go to waste!
Who′s laugh?
Medicine, voodoo medicine
Chinese medicine
Medicine, tantric medicine
A taste of your own medicine
Honey, a little too much, exactly right
Who′s laugh?
Medicine, goofy medicine
Country medicine
Medicine, freaky medicine
A taste of your own medicine
Medicine, cellular medicine
Planetary medicine
Medicine, outlaw medicine
Laughter is the best medicine
The lyrics of Cass McCombs's song "Laughter Is The Best Medicine" are a mixture of whimsy and intrigue. The first stanza describes an eclectic mix of ingredients that suggests a recipe for some exotic potion. The references to Jupiter's beard and wolf's whelp tooth evoke a fantastical, mystical world. The second stanza continues this theme with references to Montezuma's flesh and licorice tomb, and a young girl in bloom.
The central motif of the song is medicine, but presented with a twist. Instead of conventional medicine, Cass McCombs describes an alternative form of healing that is "funky" "kinky" "voodoo" "tantric" and "outlaw". The idea of "homegrown medicine" suggests a return to ancient, natural remedies that are handed down through generations. The implication is that there are other ways of healing beyond what is currently available on the market.
The final line, "laughter is the best medicine", is a familiar phrase, but in the context of the song it takes on a deeper meaning. The laughter referred to is not just a platitude, but a form of medicine in and of itself. The song suggests that laughter can be a way of healing, connecting with others, and finding joy in life's oddities.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugar and spice and everything weird
Combine unusual and unexpected ingredients to create something unique and special
A tug on Jupiter′s beard
Do something bold and daring, challenge the impossible
Equal parts bay, henbane and kelp
Use natural elements from the land and sea to create a balanced mixture
A tooth from a spotted wolf's whelp
Incorporate a fierce and rare ingredient to enhance the power of the medicine
Garlic, cayenne, turmeric and lime
Blend potent and flavorful spices for added depth
A wood spoon to stir into slime
Use a traditional tool to blend all ingredients together
Who's laugh?
Question the source of happiness and joy
Medicine, funky medicine
This medicine has a unique and unconventional style
Nasty medicine
This medicine may not taste good, but it will heal you
Medicine, kinky medicine
This medicine has unusual and surprising effects
A taste of your own medicine
Experience the same treatment you give to others
Sister Moon whisper the words over the fire
Invite the spirits and the guidance of the moon for a powerful and transformative healing ceremony
Homegrown medicine
Grow the ingredients for this medicine yourself, with love and care
Sensual purple of a deeper shade
Invoke the power of the color purple, which symbolizes creativity and spiritual enlightenment
Visions flash on a new blade
Experience vivid and magical dreams and insights
Montezuma's flesh; licorice tomb
Incorporate exotic and ancient elements to enhance the mystical effects of the medicine
The smile of a young girl in bloom
Infuse the medicine with the beauty and joy of youth and new beginnings
Add whatever you want for taste
Customize this medicine to your own liking and preferences
And share! Don't let it go to waste!
This medicine can benefit others, so don't keep it all to yourself
Medicine, voodoo medicine
Use the power of magic and spirit for this medicine
Chinese medicine
Incorporate the ancient principles of Chinese healing into this medicine
Medicine, tantric medicine
This medicine employs the methods of tantric practice for healing and transformation
Honey, a little too much, exactly right
Sometimes too much sweetness can balance out the bitterness of medicine
Medicine, goofy medicine
This medicine has a silly and playful effect
Country medicine
Use the healing traditions and remedies of rural areas and communities for this medicine
Medicine, freaky medicine
This medicine can have strange and unexpected effects
Medicine, cellular medicine
This medicine works on a deep and cellular level to bring healing and transformation
Planetary medicine
This medicine is in alignment with the cycles and rhythms of the planets
Medicine, outlaw medicine
This medicine challenges societal norms and expectations, and can be rebellious in nature
Laughter is the best medicine
The true essence of healing can come from finding joy and humor in life
Writer(s): Cass Mccombs
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RedClayFH
Fuck, I love this song so much. Never fails to lift me and get me singing!
@litalsumu188
So...Sweet
@kemalsalic3521
Masterpiece
@ravenmartin3097
For a disco song, play this at 1.5x
@Welltotheski
i'll try it, lol!
@TheN1H1LL
Heard this in a bar in the middle of no where in Malaysia drinking Guinness and i instantly loved it.
@scrapleapple
sounds like a vibe. i love this song
@RedClayFH
Always come back to this. Just love this song.
@sosodtikvica
Lyrics are great witty sexy funky.. Melody goes so well.. Love the album already!
@RedClayFH
Great collection of songs.