Santa Barbara, CA folker F.J. McMahon cut his sole release, Spirit Of The G… Read Full Bio ↴Santa Barbara, CA folker F.J. McMahon cut his sole release, Spirit Of The Golden Juice, in 1969 following a stint in southeast Asia while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Reflective and contemplative, the album’s outsider, lo-fi folk vibe pulls from his experiences in Vietnam, at times sounding aesthetically like a sonic counterpart to Jim Schoenfeld with traces of both Fred Neil and Tim Hardin scattered throughout. Regarding the album’s namesake, in an old interview with the Lama Workshop, McMahon explains “the song “Spirit Of The Golden Juice” is about my experiences in Vietnam, Thailand and the PI. The “golden juice” is I.W. Harper bourbon which was the fuel of the times.”

the learned man
F.J. McMahon Lyrics

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There′s a man
On a hillside
Overlooking
The western sea

As I asked him
One simple question
He looked away from me

Now, he was old
And lived the learned life
This man knew more
And most men will

I still I asked him
The same question
He retained his silence still
I stood the gazing at the trees and the ocean
Wondering why he wouldn't speak
Then it came to me in one quick motion
And I apologize for interrupting his piece

I walked away thanking him inside
For answering my questions and saving my pride
He′d answered me the only way he could
The time had taught him much the man and so he understood

Now I know the lesson by the sea
I must have an answer if the only one to ask is me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "The Learned Man" by F.J. McMahon speak about a man who is known to be wise and learned. He is described to be on a hillside, overlooking the western sea. The singer approaches him to ask a question, but the man looks away without answering. Despite being old and knowledgeable, he refuses to answer the question that has been asked. The singer gazes at the trees and the ocean, wondering why the learned man would not speak. Finally, he realizes that the man answered him in his own way - by not answering at all. The time had taught him much and so he understood how the answer to the question has to come from within.

The song is a reflection on the importance of seeking answers from within oneself. It emphasizes the understanding that the answers that one seeks may not be provided by anyone but the individual itself. It highlights the importance of learning from others, but also the need to trust oneself and rely on one's intuition for answers.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a man
There is an old, wise man

On a hillside
He lives on a hillside

Overlooking
He is looking out onto

The western sea
The ocean on the west

As I asked him
When I asked the man

One simple question
A single question I had for him

He looked away from me
He turned his head, avoiding eye contact

Now, he was old
The man was aged

And lived the learned life
He had lived a life of knowledge and understanding

This man knew more
He possessed more knowledge

And most men will
Than most others ever will