Founded by Creager in 1992, they have long held true to their mission of enlightening the common man as to the power and versatility of the mighty cello. Historically influenced, and constantly costumed, Rasputina keeps a small legion of incredibly passionate admirers enthralled with their earnest musicianship. Considered to be quite a pioneer and visionary, Melora and her group have inspired countless young people to pick up the cello, and have re-inspired many uninspired string players. Rasputina considers this to be the finest payment for their work.
Professional involvements have included Nirvana, Ultra Vivid Scene, Marilyn Manson, Porno For Pyros, Belle and Sebastian,and Cheap Trick.
Former Members of Rasputina:
Julia Kent (89-99)
Kris Cowperthwaite (00-02)
Zoë Keating (02-06)
Sarah Bowman (06-08)
Jonathon TeBeest (00-08)
Calico Indians
Rasputina Lyrics
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Of the evil rent collector coming in the night
Got to tied for 40 bushels, but it don't seem right
Up to the manor house to pay the Great Patroon
We had taken our wilderness
And turned the Earth to bounty by the rake's caress
Never owning what we tilled below the crescent moon
The sheriff was about to sell the cows
Or otherwise extort the rent
So they met in barns and in out of the way places
To scheme all night on how to get the rent
What do you wear for civil war in 1844
In upstate New York?
What do you wear for civil war in 1844
In upstate New York?
These Indians wore Calico dresses
They were belted at the waist
Red flannel pantaloons or
Those masks ..... looking things
With fringe around the neck
Horns upon their forehead
Course animal hair put on for a beard
At the pow-wow among the grotesque
The chief wore a striped calico young lady's dress
Blow on the tin dinner horn over the valley
Call all the formerly normal men to revolt and rally
The Feudal Land Laws should be abolished
What are you waiting for? it's 1844!
The worm has begun to turn
I saw those Calicos scorn and spurn their accusers
With threatening talk and rough, tough threatening gestures
The feeling was stronger and stronger
(Stronger and stronger)
They tried to talk like real Indians might:
"Me want cider" and the like
Many a head had worn this crown of feathers
I tried to be the leader of the Anti-Rent Rioters
I recognized it as having belonged to a left-handed neighbor
Ooh a little Indian man called Sander
Blow the tin dinner horn over the valley
Call all the formerly normal men to revolt and rally
The Feudal Land Laws should be abolished
What are you waiting for, it's 1844?
The worm has begun to turn
Three, four, five, waaah!
Waaah!
The song "Calico Indians" by Rasputina paints a vivid picture of the Anti-Rent War that took place in upstate New York in 1844. The lyrics describe how the tenants, who had turned the wilderness into fertile land, were forced to pay rent to their landlords, the Great Patroons, without owning the land themselves. The rent collectors were hated and feared by the tenants, who organized meetings in secret places to try to scheme ways to avoid paying rent. The song highlights the desperation of the situation, where even the sheriff threatened to sell the cows or extort the rent.
The reference to wearing "calico dresses" is an allusion to how the anti-renters masked themselves as Native Americans during their protest rallies. The song describes how these protesters wore calico dresses, red flannel pantaloons, and animal hair as beards, with horns on their foreheads. They would gather in pow-wows, where the chief even wore a striped calico dress, mocking the very people and culture that the Europeans had pushed out of the area.
The song encourages the listeners to rally and revolt against the feudal land laws that oppress them, and it ends with a triumphant call to arms, where the worm has begun to turn. Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the struggle between the oppressed and the oppressors, and it highlights the desperation and creativity that people often use to fight for their rights.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh how we used to hate the sight
We despised the rent collector visiting in the night
Got to tied for 40 bushels, but it don't seem right
We're forced to pay 40 bushels of crops, which feels unjust
Up to the manor house to pay the Great Patroon
We head to the landowner's estate to pay the rent owed
We had taken our wilderness
We turned the wild land into fruitful fields
And turned the Earth to bounty by the rake's caress
We made the soil productive with the help of tools
Never owning what we tilled below the crescent moon
We didn't own the land that we cultivated
The sheriff was about to sell the cows
The sheriff threatened to take our cows
Or otherwise extort the rent
Or force us to pay in other ways, through blackmail or coercion
So they met in barns and in out of the way places
We gathered secretly to discuss how to resist the landlord and the sheriff
To scheme all night on how to get the rent
We devised plans to avoid paying rent or to resist the sheriff's authority
What do you wear for civil war in 1844
What clothes are suitable for the conflict about to break out in 1844 in upstate New York?
These Indians wore Calico dresses
The rebels wore colorful dresses resembling those of Native Americans
They were belted at the waist
The dresses were cinched at the middle
Red flannel pantaloons or Those masks ..... looking things
They wore either red pants or masks with unclear design
With fringe around the neck Horns upon their forehead
The masks had fringes and fake horns over the forehead
Course animal hair put on for a beard
The rebels wore animal hair to create fake beards
At the pow-wow among the grotesque
During their secret meetings, the rebels disguised themselves as grotesque figures
The chief wore a striped calico young lady's dress
The leader of the rebels wore a striped dress of a young woman
Blow on the tin dinner horn over the valley
Sound the horn to call all men to revolt
Call all the formerly normal men to revolt and rally
Summon all who used to obey feudal laws to join the resistance
The Feudal Land Laws should be abolished
The laws that deprive us of land ownership must be repealed
What are you waiting for? it's 1844!
The year has arrived, what's stopping us from fighting back?
The worm has begun to turn
The tide of events has changed in our favor
I saw those Calicos scorn and spurn their accusers
I witnessed the rebels despising those who accused or intimidated them
With threatening talk and rough, tough threatening gestures
They used strong words and gestures to intimidate their adversaries
They tried to talk like real Indians might: 'Me want cider' and the like
They imitated how Indians spoke, using expressions like 'Me want cider'
Many a head had worn this crown of feathers
The headdress with feathers was worn by many rebels
I tried to be the leader of the Anti-Rent Rioters
I aspired to become the head of the resistance group
I recognized it as having belonged to a left-handed neighbor
I noticed that the headdress had belonged to my left-handed neighbor before
Ooh a little Indian man called Sander
A small man who went by the name of Sander was involved in the uprising
Three, four, five, waaah! Waaah!
Repetitive chanting or sounds marking the fight or resistance
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MELORA CREAGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind