Fred Cole has engineered most of the band's recordings and mastered them on a mono lathe that was used for The Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie."
Their early records, such as In the Graveyard, were released on the Tombstone Records label, named for the musical equipment store Fred and Toody operated at the time. Soon they caught the attention of the German label Music Maniac, and toured Europe successfully. Not until the mid-nineties did they tour the United States. Much of their following is in Europe.
A U.S. filmmaking team (Kate Fix and Jason Summers) produced a 2004 documentary, Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story, which played in independent theaters around the U.S., New Zealand, and Melbourne International Film Fest, and might be offered with the upcoming Dead Moon box set on Sub Pop Records. Dead Moon has recorded for labels such as Empty Records, but most releases are on Music Maniac abroad and Tombstone in the U.S. The Tombstone label has also provided cheap mastering and duplication for other bands, serving more as a cooperative than a promotional vehicle.
Fred and Toody are in their sixties. They currently own the Tombstone General Store in Clackamas, Oregon, and are building a shopping center nearby.
Pearl Jam often covers the song It's OK.
In December 2006 they retired:
2006-12-13 - AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DEAD MOON
After 20 yrs, Dead Moon is retiring. It has been a journey we will always treasure and feel that a worldwide family has emerged in its place. Dead Moon became much bigger than the band itself, it became a DIY underground hopeful for a lot of people. The candle is still burning!
--Fred Cole
(from http://www.subpop.com)
2007-05-18 PIERCED ARROWS
For the first time in a long time, Fred and Toody Cole were nervous. Six months after the breakup of their legendary garage-rock outfit, Dead Moon, the Coles were about to debut a new group—something they haven’t had to do for 20 years. And their new trio, Pierced Arrows, had only six practices under its belt at showtime.
http://localcut.wweek.com/2007/05/23/pierced-arrows-at-ash-street-saloon-may-18-2007/
Parchment Farm
Dead Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm,
Ain't never done no man no harm
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack,
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm,
Ain't never done no man no harm.
The lyrics to Dead Moon's song "Parchment Farm" are straightforward and depict the experience of a prisoner at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, which was also known as Parchman Farm. The repetition of the phrase "I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm" highlights the feeling of being trapped and confined, with no escape or hope for release. The lyric "Ain't never done no man no harm" speaks to the injustice of being incarcerated for minor crimes or even false accusations.
The second verse mentions the grueling work of picking cotton, which was commonly done by prisoners at Parchman Farm. The line "Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack" emphasizes the endless labor with no respite. The mention of the "twelve-gauge shotgun at my back" adds to the feeling of oppression and violence that prisoners at Parchman Farm experienced.
Overall, the lyrics of "Parchment Farm" convey a sense of hopelessness and suffering that were prevalent among prisoners at Parchman Farm as they endured harsh living conditions, forced labor, and constant surveillance.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I am currently located on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I am currently located on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm,
My current location is Parchman farm.
Ain't never done no man no harm
I have never caused harm to any individual.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
I am filling an immense bag with cotton that is never fully stitched up.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
My task is to put cotton in an enormous bag that seems to never be filled completely.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack,
I am engaged in the activity of filling cotton in an enormous, never-ending bag.
A twelve-gauge shotgun at my back.
At this moment, I am carrying a twelve-gauge shotgun on my back.
Ain't never done no man no harm.
I have never caused harm to any individual.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MOSE ALLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind