When live he has a loop pedal that allows him to record a loop live and then sing/play over the top of the loop. Watch this YouTube video for an idea.
Aside from solo performance he is also well known for the many bands he has been involved with - most notably Totally Gourdgeous, Oxo Cubans and Bomba.
Lots of his songs are available free as MP3 on his Myspace and his website: http://www.malwebb.com/
"You're a freak" said Ani DiFranco of Mal (really!)
"He's like Bobby McFerrin, Aphex Twin and Cole Porter playing scrabble" - B.Freely
Ringbark
Mal Webb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The gambolling horses bound
And throw the Toorak cowboy
To the ground
So will he survive, take a dive
Or flay his foe alive
Armed with a Gucci watch
And a 4-wheel drive
Subdivide your soul
A troll will take its toll
A virtual tear, so sincere
Is programmed to appear
The sound of patting backs is coming near
That's my turn off, let me out right here
The Earth doesn't understand economics
Volcanoes really don't give a hoot
About political theory
Gravity goes down
And entropy tends to go up
Whatever that means to a rock
And for the ocean there's no notion
Of religious devotion and yet we'll still be
Finding new cows to kowtow to
When the sun gives up with a cough
'Cos we think we're so tough
So is it a rort to export
The same stuff we import?
All in the name of good financial sport
Humanity flows in exposing
Something on the nose
On the face of the Earth
A nasty freckle grows
Ringbark your heart
Subdivide your soul
A troll will take its toll
Exorbitant fees catch the breeze
And spread like some disease
Ascending graphs are going to
Bring us to our knees
That's my turn off, let me out here please
The song "Ringbark" by Mal Webb is a commentary on the state of our society, where money and power dominate everything else. The opening lines describe the excess and speed of this world, where the "money-go-round" is overwound and the "gambolling horses" throw the "Toorak cowboy" (referring to the wealthy and entitled residents of the affluent Melbourne suburb of Toorak) to the ground. The question is then posed whether the cowboy will survive, take a dive or flay his foe alive, armed with his Gucci watch and 4-wheel drive. This sets the stage for the rest of the song, where Mal Webb questions our priorities as a society.
The chorus, "Ringbark your heart, Subdivide your soul, A troll will take its toll," is a call to action, telling listeners to protect what really matters to them before it's too late. The image of "ringbarking" a tree, which involves removing a strip of bark from around the trunk, is used metaphorically to suggest the need to strip away the superficial layers of our lives and focus on what's important. The "troll" referred to here could be interpreted as the destructive forces of greed and self-interest that can take a toll on our lives.
The second verse continues the critique of our society, with Mal Webb pointing out that the Earth doesn't understand our concepts of economics and political theory. He uses the example of volcanoes not caring about politics to illustrate the point that we are just one small part of the natural world. The line "Finding new cows to kowtow to" suggests that we are always searching for something to worship or idolize - be it money, power, or ideology - even when these things are ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Line by Line Meaning
The money-go-round is overwound
The constant cycle of making and spending money has reached unsustainable levels.
The gambolling horses bound
People are recklessly spending money and taking risks without considering the consequences.
And throw the Toorak cowboy to the ground
The wealthy and entitled are not immune to failure and can be brought down by their own arrogance.
So will he survive, take a dive or flay his foe alive
The outcome of a risky business venture is uncertain and could result in either success, failure, or harm to others.
Armed with a Gucci watch and a 4-wheel drive
Material possessions do not guarantee success or happiness.
Ringbark your heart
Protect yourself from emotional harm by creating emotional boundaries.
Subdivide your soul
Do not let yourself be consumed by material possessions or societal expectations.
A troll will take its toll
Online harassment and negativity can have a significant impact on one's mental health.
A virtual tear, so sincere, is programmed to appear
The emotional responses elicited by social media can be manufactured and are not always genuine.
The sound of patting backs is coming near
People often congratulate themselves for insignificant or unethical accomplishments.
That's my turn off, let me out right here
The singer wishes to separate themselves from the societal norms and expectations that they view as harmful or superficial.
The Earth doesn't understand economics
The planet is not capable of understanding or caring about the economic decisions made by humans.
Volcanoes really don't give a hoot
Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions are not affected by human politics or economics.
About political theory
Political ideologies and theories are irrelevant to the natural world.
Gravity goes down
Gravity is a fundamental force that affects all objects on Earth.
And entropy tends to go up
Systems tend to move towards a state of disorder and randomness over time.
Whatever that means to a rock
The natural world does not have the capacity to understand or care about the concepts of gravity and entropy.
And for the ocean there's no notion
The ocean does not have conscious thought or understanding of human concepts such as religion or politics.
Of religious devotion and yet we'll still be finding new cows to kowtow to
Humans will continue to devote themselves to new societal and cultural values and beliefs.
When the sun gives up with a cough 'cos we think we're so tough
Humans often overestimate their abilities and influence in the grand scheme of the universe.
So is it a rort to export the same stuff we import?
Is it ethical to sell the same products that are imported from other countries?
All in the name of good financial sport
Some economic decisions and practices may be viewed as competitive or even a game, rather than ethical or moral.
Humanity flows in exposing something on the nose
Human activities often reveal the negative impact that humans have on the environment and other species.
On the face of the Earth, a nasty freckle grows
Humanity's impact on the planet can be viewed as a harmful blemish on an otherwise beautiful and natural world.
Exorbitant fees catch the breeze
High fees and costs associated with financial and other services can spread quickly and easily.
And spread like some disease
High fees and costs have the potential to harm individuals and the overall economy.
Ascending graphs are going to bring us to our knees
Increasing economic growth and wealth inequality may eventually lead to societal and economic collapse.
That's my turn off, let me out here please
The artist wishes to disengage from societal and economic practices that they view as harmful.
Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.