It was quickly knocked up in half an hour while sitting in a cafe thinking of what to write for Joe Meek who they were meeting shortly. There was a Nina Simone album cover on the wall called "Craw Daddy" and they thought that would do as the title but they still had no song. So they started writing poetry. Literally anything that rhymed but not necessarily making any sense.
The song riff came from a something that one of the guitarists used to play repeatedly for his amusement.
It is probably the 1st Punk Rock single ever made!
Steve Howe - Guitar
Ray Fenwick - Guitar
Kevin Driscoll - Bass
Paul Holm - Drums
Crawdaddy Simone
The Syndicats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A seller of lies
A heart so cold
He seemed to hypnotize
He always walks alone
Crawdaddy Simone
He had no axe to grind
But his luck was good
He always dressed in style
He always walks alone
Crawdaddy Simone
He ain't got no friends
He ain't got no friends
He ain't got no friends, yeah
He ain't got no friends
He always walks alone
Crawdaddy Simone
Baby some black day
Crawdaddy will show
If he comes your way
Oh man you better go
Just leave him alone
Crawdaddy Simone
He ain't got no friends
He ain't got no friends
He ain't got no friends
He ain't got no friends
He always walks alone
Crawdaddy Simone
The Syndicats' song "Crawdaddy Simone" is a haunting and dark track that tells the story of a man known as Crawdaddy Simone, a supposed seller of lies and cheater. The lyrics paint a picture of a man with a heart as cold as ice and who seems to hypnotize those around him. He walks alone, indicating that he has no one to rely on or trust, and the song suggests that he always has some element of luck, which enables him to always dress in style. However, despite his well-dressed demeanor, he never smiles, and the song warns the listener that if Crawdaddy ever approaches them, they ought to leave him alone.
The lyrics of "Crawdaddy Simone" evoke a sense of darkness and mistrust concerning the titular character. The phrase "Crawdaddy" itself is often associated with a type of small freshwater crustacean, and the use of this nickname in connection with the character reinforces the idea that he is slimy, cold, and untrustworthy. The lyrics suggest that he is a master of deception, and he has no friends or allies. The repetition of the line "He ain't got no friends" emphasizes his isolation, and the listener is left feeling that this is a man to keep an eye on, a man to be feared.
Line by Line Meaning
Cheating was his trade
His profession was to deceive.
A seller of lies
He made his living by selling falsehoods.
A heart so cold
His emotions were frigid and unfeeling.
He seemed to hypnotize
He had the power to entrance and control others.
He always walks alone
He prefers solitude and is content to be by himself.
Crawdaddy Simone
This is his nickname.
He had no axe to grind
He had no ulterior motives or hidden agendas.
You never saw him smile
He rarely expressed happiness or joy.
But his luck was good
Fortune smiled upon him.
He always dressed in style
He took pride in his appearance and attire.
He ain't got no friends
He has no companions or confidants.
Yeah he ain't got no friends
He lacks social connections.
Baby some black day
At some point in the future, a terrible event will occur.
Crawdaddy will show
He will reveal his true nature.
If he comes your way
If you encounter him.
Oh man you better go
It would be wise to avoid him.
Just leave him alone
Don't engage with him in any way.
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@iamdamosuzuki_
That last part almost sounds like no wave!
@Sandbagger300
Couldn't agree more! It's amazing how many GREAT 60's songs never have seen the light of day on the radio. And the guitar work back then blows away anything seen today!
@f.d.3289
The fourty seconds 1:15 are the best fourty seconds ever in rock'n'roll and punk and rock and music in general. Still remember how it blew me away first time I heard it, 15 years ago. God bless these guys!
@anothersettlementneedsyour9628
I’m into all kinds of heavy music… black metal, grindcore, cybergrind… you name it, I’ve heard all of those, but that part still shocked me. It’s so unecxpected, I can’t imagine hearing that back then.
@falkirkfirmm
top notch example of freakbeat
@topman165
one of my personal meek favourites, this tune was rated number one top uk freakbeat track of all time some years ago in record collector mag & how right there are.
@raybradhausen
A scatter-shot of sound that hits all areas of the brain.
@kunjidee
I'm here because I saw the movie Telstar...and this was the closing song...and I loved it.
@gilessteve
Me too.
@ferocel
I knew the vocalist about ten years ago. Johnny Lamb (2nd from right). He co-owned a pub I frequented at that time off the Strand. He sang the 'A'-side as well. Nice bloke.