Growing up in DC, Spooky became interested in punk and go-go music, and attended Bowdoin College in Maine, earning degrees in French literature and philosophy. He began writing science fiction and formed a collective called Soundlab with several other artists.
In the mid-1990s, Spooky began recording a series of singles and EPs. His debut LP, "Songs of a Dead Dreamer", is now widely regarded as a formative influence on illbient. "Riddim Warfare" was an underground hit that include collaborations with Dr. Octagon and other cult figures in indie rock.
He then worked with several other artists on various collaborations and mix CDs, returning in 2002 with "Modern Mantra". That same year saw the release of "Optometry", a widely acclaimed collaboration with avant-jazz players Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Guillermo E. Brown and Joe McPhee. This album also features portions of a breaks record by Billy Martin of Medeski Martin & Wood.
DJ Spooky also composed the score for the 1998 film SLAM, featuring poet/actor Saul Williams in the lead role. The film went on to win both the Cannes Camera D'Or and the Sundance Festival Film Festival Grand Jury Prize.
In 2004 DJ Spooky released a book, Rhythm Science published by MIT Press. The same year saw the launch of his film/music/multimedia performance piece "DJ Spooky's Rebirth of a Nation". A live audio/video re-mix of D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation which includes footage from choreographer Bill T. Jones and a score newly composed by DJ Spooky, "Rebirth of a Nation" was commissioned by the Lincoln Center Festival, The Festival d'Automne a Paris, The Spoleto Festival USA, and the Vienna Festival. DJ Spooky continues to tour the world performing this work.
2005 sees the release of "Drums of Death", DJ Spooky's CD based on sessions he recorded with Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Other guest artists include Chuck D. of Public Enemy and Vernon Reid of Living Color. The record was co-produced by Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto.
DJ Spooky is also a professor of music mediated art at the European Graduate School where he co-teaches (with Michael Schmidt) an Intensive Summer Seminar in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.
Not to be confused with the similarly named, UK electronica duo, Spooky.
Come Together
DJ Spooky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He come groovin' up slowly
He got joo joo eyeballs
He one holy rollers
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker
He just do what he please
He got toe jam football
He got monkey finger
He shoot Coca Cola
He say I know you, you know me
One thing I can tell you is
You got to be free
Come together, right now
Over me
He bad production
He got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard
He one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knees
Hold you in his armchair
You can feel his disease
Come together, right now
Over me
He roller coaster
He got early warning
He got muddy water
He one Mojo filter
He say one and one and one is three
Got to be good looking
Cause he's so hard to see
Come together right now
Over me
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
The lyrics to DJ Spooky's "Come Together" are a reimagining of the Beatles' classic song with the same name. The song is a call for unity, encouraging listeners to come together and embrace their differences. The song's opening verse describes a mysterious figure, known as flat top, who is grooving up slowly with joo joo eyeballs and hair down to his knees. He's a joker who wears no shoeshine and has a monkey finger that shoots Coca Cola. Despite his eccentricities, flat top encourages freedom and just does what he pleases. The chorus sums up the song's message, inviting listeners to come together over me, despite our differences.
The second verse of the song continues with descriptions of flat top, including his bad production, walrus gumboot, and Ono sideboard. He is a spinal cracker who holds you in his armchair and makes you feel his disease. The chorus is repeated, strengthening the message of unity and togetherness despite differences. The final verse describes flat top as a roller coaster with early warning and muddy water. He is a Mojo filter who believes that one and one and one is three. Despite his elusiveness, he challenges us to be good-looking because he is so hard to see. The chorus is repeated again, bringing the song to a close with a strong statement of unity and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Here come old flat top
An introduction to the arrival of a man with a flat haircut.
He come groovin' up slowly
He arrived slowly, taking his time.
He got joo joo eyeballs
His eyes are mysterious and seemingly otherworldly.
He one holy rollers
He is deeply religious or spiritual.
He got hair down to his knee
He has long hair that reaches down to his knee.
Got to be a joker
He has a playful or mischievous personality.
He just do what he please
He acts according to his own will and is unrestrained by societal expectations.
He wear no shoeshine
He does not care for appearances or material possessions.
He got toe jam football
His toes are dirty or unclean.
He got monkey finger
He has nimble fingers that are quick and agile.
He shoot Coca Cola
He is quick to take advantage of commercial opportunities.
He say I know you, you know me
He is familiar with the people around him, and they know him as well.
One thing I can tell you is
He offers a statement of wisdom or insight.
You got to be free
He believes freedom is essential for a good life.
Come together, right now
He calls for unity and cooperation in the present moment.
Over me
He asserts his own importance and influence in bringing about this unity.
He bad production
His behavior or actions are questionable or subpar.
He got walrus gumboot
He has unusual or quirky footwear.
He got Ono sideboard
He possesses furniture designed or owned by Yoko Ono.
He one spinal cracker
He has the ability to manipulate others, possibly in a negative or harmful way.
He got feet down below his knees
He has an unusual or abnormal physical appearance.
Hold you in his armchair
He has the ability to seduce or influence others with his words or power.
You can feel his disease
His influence is harmful or toxic in some way.
He roller coaster
His personality or behavior is unpredictable or erratic.
He got early warning
He is quick to sense danger or potential problems.
He got muddy water
His actions or intentions are unclear or questionable.
He one Mojo filter
He has the power to influence or control others through his music or charisma.
He say one and one and one is three
His ideas or beliefs are unconventional or unorthodox.
Got to be good looking
He believes physical appearance is important.
Cause he's so hard to see
He is elusive or difficult to comprehend or understand.
Come together, yeah
A repetition of the call for unity and cooperation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The traveler
One of the best albums I've ever heard. Spacey instrumentals that take you to another place
Sandan Saiyan
The traveler illbient creates some very fantastic things.It's not hard to mix up trip hop,jungle and ambient but only Dj Spooky did it(and Aphex Twin but he's innovator of another genre so i think DJ Spooky should get his own reward for creating this amazing sound).Thanks AT and his side projects,DJ Shadow,DJ Krush,Amon Tobin and some other geniuses from Warp and Ninja Tune for atmospheric music😪😏
playroomcreative
Yes.
edNbo
huge album. got it on vinyl not long ago it sounds mint!
Killkor
One of a kind. Iconic Illbient.
shawn terstegen
This and all his CDs are great
danny ray
HAHAHAHA cd's.......
Flyboyhalo Publishing
y los mundos, los cielos, el sol, el tiempo, los pajaros cantando, los espiritos viajando, me alertan a la belleza de que mi Dios as gran
Koto Koto Koto
Pretty awesome! He's doing a show at my school this week that I probably won't be able to go to, and I'm kind of bummed about that fact. Glad I checked him out, though.
Koto Koto Koto
Yep! This was back last semester when he was there, though