He is considered a member of the "first generation" of American free improvisors, reflecting influences from European free players including, among others, Derek Bailey and Evan Parker. In 1978, Kaiser founded the Metalanguage Records label with Larry Ochs (Rova Saxophone Quartet) and Greg Goodman.
Kaiser was a member of the aggregation French Frith Kaiser Thompson, together with fellow experimental musicians John French, Fred Frith, and English folk-rocker Richard Thompson. They recorded two eclectic albums, Live, Love, Larf & Loaf (1987) and Invisible Means (1990).
In 1991, Kaiser went to Madagascar with fellow guitarist David Lindley, where they spent two weeks recording music with Malagasy musicians. Three volumes of this music were released by Shanachie under the title A World Out of Time.
Since 1998, Kaiser has been collaborating with trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith in the "Yo Miles!" project, releasing a series of tributes to Miles Davis's 1970s electric music. This shifting aggregation has included musicians from the worlds of rock (guitarists Nels Cline and Mike Keneally, drummer Steve Smith), jazz (saxophonists Greg Osby and John Tchicai), and Indian classical music (tabla player Zakir Hussain).
In 2001, Kaiser spent two and a half months in Antarctica on a National Science Foundation Antarctic Program Artists & Writers Grant. He has subsequently returned to work as a research diver. His underwater camerawork was featured in the Werner Herzog film The Wild Blue Yonder (2006).
The Needle and the Damage Done/Tonight's the Night
Henry Kaiser Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you, baby, can I have some more?
Oh, oh, the damage done
I hit the city and I lost my band
I watched the needle take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done
I know that some of you don’t understand
Milk-blood to keep from running out
I've seen the needle and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie's like a settin’ sun
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Bruce Berry was a working man
He used to load that Econoline van
A sparkle was in his eyes
But his life was in his hands
Well, late at night when the people were gone
He used to pick up his guitar
And sing a song in a shaky voice
That was real as the day was long
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight’s the night
Early in the morning, at the break of day
He used to sleep ’til the afternoon
And if you never heard him sing
I guess you won't too soon
’Cause, people, let me tell you
It sent a chill up and down my spine
When I picked up the telephone
And heard that he died out on the mainline
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight’s the night
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Tonight's the night tonight's the night
Oh tonight's the night
The lyrics to Henry Kaiser's song "The Needle and the Damage Done/Tonight's the Night" touch on the destructive nature of drug addiction and the toll it takes on individuals and their loved ones. The song opens with a sense of desperation as the singer pleads, "I caught you knockin' at my cellar door, I love you, baby, can I have some more?" This illustrates the addictive nature of drugs, as the singer is torn between their love for the person and their understanding of the damage drugs can cause.
The second verse depicts the singer's personal experience witnessing the destructive power of drugs when they mention losing their band and watching another person succumb to the needle. The phrase "the damage done" is repeated several times, emphasizing the irreversible harm caused by addiction. The lyrics acknowledge that not everyone understands the singer's perspective on addiction, but they sing the song out of love and compassion for those affected.
The following verses introduce Bruce Berry, a working man who used to play music and had a spark in his eyes. However, his life was ultimately in his own hands, and he would pick up his guitar and sing a song when no one else was around. The verses hint at his struggle with addiction, as he would sleep until the afternoon and ultimately met a tragic end, dying on the mainline.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Needle and the Damage Done/Tonight's the Night" explore the devastating impact of drugs on individuals, relationships, and communities. It serves as a cautionary tale and a call for empathy and understanding towards those battling addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
I caught you knockin' at my cellar door
I discovered you seeking entry to the hidden part of myself
I love you, baby, can I have some more?
I have affection for you, darling, can I receive additional emotional nourishment?
Oh, oh, the damage done
Oh, the effects and harm that have been caused
I hit the city and I lost my band
I arrived in the urban environment and lost my musical group
I watched the needle take another man
I witnessed the instrument of addiction consume another individual
Gone, gone, the damage done
Departed, departed, the negative consequences that have occurred
I sing the song, because I love the man
I perform this song, as it is an expression of my affection for the individual
I know that some of you don't understand
I am aware that not all of you comprehend
Milk-blood to keep from running out
I rely on substances infused in my bloodstream to prevent their depletion
I've seen the needle and the damage done
I have witnessed the syringe and the harm it inflicts
A little part of it in everyone
A small component of this is present in each person
But every junkie's like a settin' sun
However, every addict is akin to a sun that is nearing its setting, fading away
Bruce Berry was a working man
Bruce Berry was an individual who engaged in labor
He used to load that Econoline van
He used to fill the Econoline van with items
A sparkle was in his eyes
A gleam could be seen in his gaze
But his life was in his hands
However, he possessed control over his own existence
Well, late at night when the people were gone
Late at night when the individuals were absent
He used to pick up his guitar
He would grab his guitar
And sing a song in a shaky voice
And vocalize a tune with an unsteady tone
That was real as the day was long
That was authentic and genuine, just like the duration of the day
Early in the morning, at the break of day
In the early hours of the morning, at daybreak
He used to sleep 'til the afternoon
He used to slumber until the afternoon
And if you never heard him sing
And if you never experienced his singing
I guess you won't too soon
I suppose you won't anytime soon either
'Cause, people, let me tell you
Because, individuals, allow me to inform you
It sent a chill up and down my spine
It evoked an unsettling sensation throughout my body
When I picked up the telephone
When I answered the telephone
And heard that he died out on the mainline
And was informed that he perished alongside the main railway line
Oh tonight's the night
Oh, this evening is the time
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elizabethdarrow-jones8537
David and his daughter Rosanne ~ Henry Kaiser on guitar ~ impeccable ❤
@richardmontgomery2567
That's got to be David Lindley singing.