1) Moondog was the pseudonym of Louis T. Hardin (May 26, 1916 – September 8, 1999). Hardin was a blind New York City street musician, influential composer and former beat poet. From the late 1940s until 1974, he was a permanent fixture on 54th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, wearing a cloak and Viking-style helmet, sometimes busking or selling music, but often just standing silent and still. He was known not only for his music and poetry, but also for the distinctive Viking garb that he wore all his life, including a horned helmet, cloak and spear. He routinely gave away copies of his work to anybody who would take them. In this way, he came to the attention of producer James William Guercio, who took him into the studio to record an album, released as "Moondog" (1969) on the CBS label. The track Stamping Ground, with its odd preamble of Moondog saying one of his epigrams, was featured on the sampler double album "Fill Your Head with Rock". A brief phrase of another track on the album, Bird's Lament (In memory of Charlie Parker) was sampled by Mr. Scruff as the basis for his 7-minute track Get A Move On.
Hardin played drums for the high school band in Hurley, Missouri before losing his sight in a farm accident involving a dynamite cap at the age of 16 After learning the principles of music in several schools for blind young men across middle America, he taught himself the skills of ear training and composition. He studied with Burnet Tuthill and at the Iowa School for the Blind. The music of Moondog in the 1940s and '50s is said to have been a strong influence on many early minimalist composers; Philip Glass has written that he and Steve Reich took Moondog's work "very seriously and understood and appreciated it much more than what we were exposed to at Juilliard."
A second album produced with Guercio, and featuring both himself and his daughter as vocalists, contained song compositions in the forms of canons and rounds. It did not make an impression on popular music as the first had. The two CBS albums were re-released as a single CD in 1989.
In a search for new sounds, Moondog also invented several musical instruments, such as the "Oo", a small triangular shaped harp, and the "Trimba", a triangular percussion instrument invented in the late 40s. The Original Trimba today is still played by Stefan Lakatos, Swedish percussionist, close friend and pupil of Moondog, who also taught him how to build the instrument.
Moondog had an idealised view of Germany ("The Holy Land with the Holy River" — the Rhine), where he settled in 1974. A young German student named Ilona Goebel accommodated him, first in Oer-Erkenschwick, and later on in Muenster in Westphalia, Germany, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Moondog visited America in 1989, at the invitation of the New Music America Festival in Brooklyn, stimulating a renewed interest in his music.
He recorded many albums, and toured both in the US and in Europe — France, Germany and Sweden.
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2) Moondog was the name of the post-Gorilla Biscuits, pre-Quicksand project-band of Walter Schreifels, started due to his desire to sing for a band, and to follow the path Gorilla Biscuits had been on before their break-up (one Moondog song, “Distance”, was actually written for the 2nd Gorilla Biscuits full-length that never happened). It’s now being sold as a digital download at Anthology Recordings The band also featured Gorilla Biscuits’ drummer Luke Abbey. The band’s only recorded output is a series of demo-recordings (recorded at Don Fury’s legendary Lower East Side recording-studio). These sessions had Abbey playing drums, with Schreifels handling both guitar, bass and vocals. The few times they played live, Abbey switched to bass, with Armand Majidi (Sick of It All, Rest In Pieces) on drums, and the guitars being handled by Tom Capone (Beyond, Bold, Quicksand, Handsome, Instruction) and Howie (Alone in a Crowd). Although further sessions were planned (which most likely would have led to official releases), the band ultimately collapsed before this took place, with Schreifels shifting focus towards his new band Quicksand, who were initially meant to inherit some of the Moondog-songs, but with the band going in a very different direction than Moondog, that idea was eventually scrapped.
The band only played a handful of live shows (at infamous locations like CBGB and ABC No Rio), and the only officially released Moondog-track (Expression) appears on the “Look At All The Children Now” compilation LP (Evacuate Records, ‘90). Another post-GB band, namely CIV (featuring GB-singer Anthony “Civ” Civarelli, -bassist Arthur Smilios and -drummer Sammy Siegler) also recorded the Moondog-song “They Said We Were The Best” for their first full-length record (“Set Your Goals - an album that Schreifels also helped write songs for).
A bootleg 7” of Moondog-songs did appear sometime in the early 90’s, featuring 2 songs from the demos, making them gain a certain cult status. After years of pressure from fans, Schreifels recently (2006) “released” a number of songs from the demos through the online label Anthology Recordings, making them officially available for the first time.
Do Your Thing
Moondog Lyrics
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Be fancy-free to call the tune you sing.
Don't give up!
That's not the way to win a loving cup.
Do your best,
and opportunity will do the rest.
Don't give in!
Capitulation is the greatest sin.
what's right for you, to do with all your might.
Don't regret!
What might have been, you might as well forget.
Stand your ground,
and while you're standing there, be duty-bound.
Learn to wait,
and while you're waiting, learn to concentrate.
Make amends!
All enemies I call potential friends,
Calm your fears,
and hope to cope at least a hundred years.
Make your mark!
If need be, even make it in the dark.
Mum's the word!
My sage advice, pretend you haven't heard.
Moondog's song "Do Your Thing" is a call to action for listeners to be true to themselves and not give in to cultural pressures or the expectations of others. The lyrics suggest that success comes from doing what is right for oneself and working hard to achieve it. The song is an upbeat and positive anthem that carries a message of self-empowerment and determination.
The first stanza of the song urges the listener to be confident in their actions and not to give up on their dreams. It encourages them to be unique and to create their own path without worrying about the opinions of others. The second stanza emphasizes the importance of perseverance and not giving in to defeat. The third stanza advises the listener to do what is right for them and not to dwell on missed opportunities. The fourth stanza reminds them to stand their ground, stay focused, and be patient while waiting for opportunities.
The final stanzas of the song underscore the importance of making friends instead of enemies, being brave, and making a lasting impact. The lyrics also urge listeners to keep their plans to themselves and not be discouraged by the opinions of others. Overall, "Do Your Thing" is a powerful reminder that success comes from within and that, with hard work and determination, anyone can achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Do your thing!
Be true to yourself and do what makes you happy.
Be fancy-free to call the tune you sing.
Take control of your life and make your own decisions without fear of judgment.
Don't give up!
Persevere even when things get tough.
That's not the way to win a loving cup.
Giving up will not lead to success or happiness.
Do your best,
Put your best effort into everything you do.
and opportunity will do the rest.
Good things happen to those who work hard and stay positive.
Don't give in!
Stand up for yourself and your beliefs, even when others try to bring you down.
Capitulation is the greatest sin.
Giving in to pressure or outside influences goes against your true self.
Do what's right,
Live your life in accordance with your own moral compass.
what's right for you, to do with all your might.
Only you can determine what is right for you and you should put all your effort into achieving it.
Don't regret!
Do not dwell on past mistakes or missed opportunities, focus on the present and future.
What might have been, you might as well forget.
Accept that you cannot change the past and move forward with a positive attitude.
Stand your ground,
Stay true to yourself and your beliefs even in difficult situations.
and while you're standing there, be duty-bound.
Use your time wisely and productively, with a sense of purpose.
Learn to wait,
Patience is key in life, learn to wait for the right opportunities to come your way.
and while you're waiting, learn to concentrate.
Use the time while you wait to improve your skills and focus on your goals.
Make amends!
Do not hold grudges against others, make an effort to repair damaged relationships.
All enemies I call potential friends,
Even those who have wronged you in the past can become allies or friends in the future.
Calm your fears,
Do not let fear control your life, take steps to manage it and overcome it.
and hope to cope at least a hundred years.
Have a positive outlook on life and hope to live a long, happy and fulfilling life.
Make your mark!
Leave your own unique mark on the world by being true to yourself and pursuing your passions.
If need be, even make it in the dark.
Sometimes the most important and meaningful achievements are made in times of darkness and adversity.
Mum's the word!
Sometimes it is best to keep your own counsel and not share your thoughts or feelings with others.
My sage advice, pretend you haven't heard.
Take advice from others, but ultimately make your own decisions based on your own beliefs and priorities.
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jacob Johnson
on Coffee Beans
Coffee beans make the finest coffee of all
it's time to take
a coffee break
to sit a while and savor
the rarest coffee flavor
of bean coffee
I make with bottled spring water
is my day
Maru Lazzaroggi
on Maybe
Maybe someday, I'll be recognized for what I am before I'm dead and gone.