Among the hundreds of artists he's worked with include Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley, Haruomi Hosono, The Byrds, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, U2, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon, Frank Zappa, Harpers Bizarre, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Silverchair, and Skrillex.
In addition to producing, Parks has released seven studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Songs Cycled, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. His first official release was the 1966 single Number Nine, a modernized version of Beethoven's 9th backed with Do What You Wanta.
Parks has also established himself in film scores, and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of motion pictures and television shows.
During his childhood, Parks became extremely fond of old-style American music, most notably the sounds of Tin Pan Alley. This interest in Depression-era songwriting would correlate heavily with his artistic goals and interests during the 1960s and beyond. He was also deeply affected by musicians Spike Jones and Les Paul, which led him to develop an interest with studio experimentation in the form of pop music.
By the People
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brother has a long way to go
maybe baby should know his cotton mouth is too slow for the song of the forgotten South,
just don't hang us up here.
Step by step by please though proletarian am I.
By chance am you "wine git out de way o'de darkies.
You'd better hustle up a storm to sing this Caucasian lullaby.
Draw freehand over Iron Curtain.
Stalk up on the trim bamboo.
To footridge the bullrushes certain to know law, American express.
No Caucasian flair for flim-flam will do.
Step by please step by.
Weigh the small advance.
There is still a chance.
Let's assume that we form a company men.
No mention should the pass in revue of the show. Just understand that I prefer to be dead than red white or blue as I write sturdy crew.
As you view these few Russians whose true dawn came to view long ago.
So I think that you'd better strike up the band brother hand me another bowl of your soul.
The song of the forgotten South just don't hang us up here.
Here the unknown is at hand and not far from my heel a tarbaby feel for the Czar.
For those who are lonely well the Black sea is callin' Georgia's Stalin has fallen so you all come here.
We now are near to the end.
If you stay with the show say we all had to go to hasten to jar the few nations too far gone to step by.
The lyrics of Van Dyke Parks's song By the People, are a complex collection of words and phrases that seem to reflect on American society and the issues and struggles of the time. The opening line "Strike up the band brother hand me another bowl of your soul," is a call for action and unity, as if the brother is offering a bowl of his personal essence to fuel the fight for change. The reference to "the forgotten South" is a nod to the Civil Rights movement and the discrimination and oppression that black people had to endure. Brother's cotton mouth being too slow for the song implies that they need to be more assertive and vocal to make their voices heard. The last line "just don't hang us up here" is a plea for mercy from those who hold the power.
The second stanza seems to draw parallels between the struggles of black people in America and the oppression of non-white ethnicities in other parts of the world. The line "Step by step by please though proletarian am I" could also mean that despite being part of the working-class, the singer is still fighting for their rights. The reference to a "Caucasian lullaby" is a jab at the white man's ignorance of other cultures and their unwillingness to learn. The line "Weigh the small advance. There is still a chance" is a reminder that even small victories are worth celebrating.
The final stanza is a call for support and unity among nations, urging them to come together in the face of a common enemy. The reference to "Georgia's Stalin has fallen" implies that the Soviet Union has collapsed, and the singer is urging those who are suffering under authoritarian regimes to seek refuge. The last line "to hasten to jar the few nations too far gone to step by" is a plea for action, to encourage those who have been complacent to take the necessary steps to create change.
Line by Line Meaning
Strike up the band brother hand me another bowl of your soul.
Let's get this show on the road, and give me some inspiration while we're at it.
Brother has a long way to go maybe baby should know his cotton mouth is too slow for the song of the forgotten South, just don't hang us up here.
We have a lot of work to do, and we need to keep moving forward. Don't get too caught up in the past or we'll never move on.
Step by step by please though proletarian am I.
I'm just an ordinary person, trying to do my best.
By chance am you 'wine git out de way o'de darkies.
Are you trying to exclude certain people or groups from this project?
You'd better hustle up a storm to sing this Caucasian lullaby. Sleep oh my darling now sleep.
We need to put in a lot of hard work to make this project successful. But in the end, it will be worth it, and we can finally rest.
Draw freehand over Iron Curtain.
We need to break down barriers and reach across borders.
Stalk up on the trim bamboo.
We need to be prepared, and stock up on whatever resources we can find.
To footridge the bullrushes certain to know law, American express.
We need to learn the rules of the game, and use them to our advantage. We need to be smart and strategic.
No Caucasian flair for flim-flam will do. Step by please step by.
We can't rely on gimmicks or superficial tactics - we need to be focused and consistent in our approach.
Weigh the small advance. There is still a chance.
We may not have made a lot of progress yet, but it's still early days. We need to keep pushing forward.
Let's assume that we form a company men. No mention should the pass in revue of the show. Just understand that I prefer to be dead than red white or blue as I write sturdy crew.
Let's work together as a team, and keep a low profile. We don't want to attract too much attention. And let's remember that our values are more important than any national or political allegiance.
As you view these few Russians whose true dawn came to view long ago.
Let's take inspiration from those who have already fought their way through oppression and struggle, and emerged victorious.
So I think that you'd better strike up the band brother hand me another bowl of your soul. The song of the forgotten South just don't hang us up here.
Let's keep the energy and inspiration flowing, and not get bogged down by obstacles or setbacks. We need to keep moving forward.
Here the unknown is at hand and not far from my heel a tarbaby feel for the Czar.
We're in uncharted territory, and there are potential dangers lurking around every corner.
For those who are lonely well the Black sea is callin' Georgia's Stalin has fallen so you all come here.
There are others out there who are struggling and feeling isolated. Let's reach out to them and work together to build a better future.
We now are near to the end. If you stay with the show say we all had to go to hasten to jar the few nations too far gone to step by.
We're close to the finish line, and we need to stay committed and focused to get there. We need to act quickly and decisively to help those who are still struggling.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN DYKE PARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind