1) A New Y… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands who have used the name The Godz:
1) A New York City-based garage rock band formed in 1966
2) A 1970s American hard rock group from Columbus, Ohio
1) The Godz were a NYC-based garage rock band that existed from 1966 to 1973. Their style varied from early noise rock to avant-garde and psychedelic rock.
The Godz were part of the Lower East Side, Manhattan scene that produced Allen Ginsberg, the Fugs and the Holy Modal Rounders. Consisting of guitarist Jim McCarthy, bassist Larry Kessler, autoharpist Jay Dillon, and drummer Paul Thornton.
Working on the ESP-Disk label, the first recording, 1966's Contact High With The Godz, was an attempt to rise above the limitations and accepted norm for popular music at the time. 1967 produced Godz 2, a bolder, more adventurous soundscape which is, in some people's opinion, the group's masterpiece. The Third Testament, in 1968, saw the quartet become a trio. In 1973, a fourth and last group LP Godzundheit was recorded.
Rock Critic Lester Bangs in a 1971 issue of Cream magazine referred to the Godz as "...a pure test of one of the supreme traditions of rock & roll: the process by which a musical band can evolve from beginnings of almost insulting illiteracy to wind up several albums later romping and stomping deft as champs."
By 1973 the Godz had split up, with McCarthy going on to pursue a solo career, eventually settling as a photographer. Kessler became a record dealer, Thornton an actor, and Dillon moved to the wilds of New Jersey.
Unfortunately, in July 2005, Jay Dillon's niece posted a message on the Hummingbird Mountain website, explaining that a showing of his art was to take place and that he had passed on several years before. The news of Jay's death reconnected the rest of the members in 2006, leading to the discussion of possibly collaborating again.
2) The Godz were an obscure hard rock/arena rock outfit of the late '70s and '80s. This band was formed in the Midwest in 1976, when bassist/producer Eric Moore got together with lead guitarist Mark Chatfield, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Bob Hill, and drummer Glen Cataline. All four of them contributed lead vocals. The Godz signed with Casablanca in 1977, which was also the year in which they had an opening spot on Kiss' Love Gun Tour. (Cheap Trick was the other opening act on that tour.) On their selftitled album are at least two tracks you might want to listen to: "Gotta Keep A Runnin'" and "Candy's Going Bad", which is a cover of Golden Earring. It originally appeared on their 1973's Moontan album.
The Full Story of Eric Moore & The Godz is located right here: http://www.thegodz.net/
He's a Fool
The Godz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spent a week with a crew in a cheap motel one night
They were game for my fame, looking up at me with bloodshot eyes
But the same old story and cold cruel morning line
They had the nerve to talk about me
(Gals) He's a fool (Eric) He's never gonna settle down
(Gals) He's a fool (Eric) He's never ever gonna learn
(Gals) He's a fool (Eric) He's gonna get what he deserves
(Gals) He's gonna burn
(Gals) He's gonna burn
You can't catch me baby
Now listen here
Down in Texas had a mexican girl, she was brown and lime dress
Took some reds, sang the blues, drank tequila by the Rio Grande
She was made of pain that belonged to me, she was such a mess
Saying hombre all your love, stay here and be my man
You've got to be kidding me
(Gals) He's gonna burn
(Eric) Watch me burn baby
Repeat versus #1
(Gals) He's a fool (Eric) I'm never gonna settle down
(Gals) He's a fool (Eric) I'm never ever gonna learn
(Gals) He's a fool (Eric) I'm hang
Around with every tramp(slut-LIVE) in town
(Gals) He's a fool (Eric) I'm gonna get what he deserves
The Godz's song "He's a Fool" is a fast and upbeat rock song that tells a story of the singer's encounters with two different women in different parts of the country. The first verse starts with the singer being with a blonde woman in Detroit who had a "machine gun mouth." The pair spent a week together in a cheap motel, but the singer realizes that the woman was not interested in him and goes on to describe being with a group of people who spoke negatively about him, calling him a "fool." The chorus repeats the line about the singer being a "fool" and not being able to settle down or learn from his mistakes.
In the second verse, the singer tells the story of being with a Mexican woman in Texas who sang the blues, drank tequila and was "made of pain." She pleads with the singer to stay with her, but he is not interested, and once again the chorus repeats the notion of the singer being a "fool." The song ends with the singer repeating the chorus again, with the women singing along.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in Detroit had a blonde, machine gun mouth, she was my-y try
I was with a woman in Detroit who was outspoken and fierce
Spent a week with a crew in a cheap motel one night
I spent a week with a group of people in a cheap motel for just one night
They were game for my fame, looking up at me with bloodshot eyes
They were excited about my success, looking at me with tired and bloodshot eyes
But the same old story and cold cruel morning line
But the same old story of regret and disappointment in the cold morning light
They had the nerve to talk about me
They had the audacity to talk about me behind my back
He's a fool (Eric) He's never gonna settle down
Eric is foolish for not settling down
He's a fool (Eric) He's never ever gonna learn
Eric is foolish for not learning his lesson
He's a fool (Eric) He's hanging around with every tramp in town
Eric is foolish for hanging around with promiscuous women
He's a fool (Eric) He's gonna get what he deserves
Eric will receive the consequences of his foolish actions
He's gonna burn
He will suffer the consequences of his actions
You can't catch me baby
I cannot be caught and controlled by anyone
Down in Texas had a mexican girl, she was brown and lime dress
I was with a Mexican woman in Texas who wore a brown and lime dress
Took some reds, sang the blues, drank tequila by the Rio Grande
We took some drugs, sang sad songs, and drank alcohol by the Rio Grande river
She was made of pain that belonged to me, she was such a mess
She was emotionally unstable and her pain was tied to me
Saying hombre all your love, stay here and be my man
She pleaded for my love and asked me to stay with her
You've got to be kidding me
I couldn't believe what she was saying
I'm never gonna settle down
I refuse to settle down and commit to one person
I'm never ever gonna learn
I refuse to learn from my mistakes
I'm hang around with every tramp(slut-LIVE) in town
I associate with promiscuous women in town
I'm gonna get what he deserves
I will receive the consequences of my actions
Writer(s): Eric Moore
Contributed by Jacob K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrReymoclif714
When I bought this on vinyl,no one had ever heard of them and to this day I cannot elicit a positive response when I bring up their name?
@ROADWARRIORMUSTANG
Godz Rule
@davidregen1420
Love the Godz. Found out about the guys in 1984 when I was in Germany partying my ass off as a civilian employee working for Uncle Sam.
@rebeccagoede998
You'll get one from me every time, I mean EVERY TIME! Saw them at the Agora in Youngstown, I believe Youngstown. GREAT SHOW!
@MrReymoclif714
1978 was the year I bought this album.
@larrybriglio44
GREAT to hear others who love the Godz, first saw them in N.Y.C. I think 78 or 79!!
@slim420ist
Had the pleasure of crossing paths with Eric Moore a few times over the years and let me say he is a true rock n roll legend! Soo underrated over the years! Keep on rockin Eric your music will liv e forever!
@ROADWARRIORMUSTANG
AMEN BROTHER
@danhold1
Well said
@mstaff49
My band used to play this song years ago. This band was very good but never got the national recognition that they deserved. Still love to listen to them today.