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.
Public Domain
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Biblebelts worn from here and after all were born in the know.
So rally round awhile Jim Crow for I thought I'd like to show they can recall the Alamo way down in old Mexico.
I left Academia amid sixty-two.
Was it sixty-one scholar was cooled from the U. Doubtless more on sore wing than prayer I up and just withdrew to the wander round there.
Van Dyke Parks's song "Public Domain" is a satirical commentary on American culture and society. The lyrics are filled with irony and sarcasm as they explore the intersection of capitalism, nostalgia, and racism. The first two lines, "Our lowly liquor lobby longs to back a road to old time songs. Biblebelts worn from here and after all were born in the know," suggest that corporations and conservative religious groups are exploiting the allure of traditional American songs to sell products and promote their agendas.
The next two lines, "So rally round awhile Jim Crow for I thought I'd like to show they can recall the Alamo way down in old Mexico," are a sarcastic call to reclaim the racist past of American history. The singer mockingly suggests that people should gather around the outdated and discriminatory practices of Jim Crow and celebrate the fact that they can remember a battle that took place in Mexico. The final two lines reveal that the singer left academia in the early 1960s and decided to travel and explore the world instead.
Overall, "Public Domain" is a clever critique of American society that uses humor, irony, and sarcasm to highlight the absurdities of capitalism, nostalgia, and racism.
Line by Line Meaning
Our lowly liquor lobby longs to back a road to old time songs.
The liquor industry is eager to financially support the preservation of traditional music.
Biblebelts worn from here and after all were born in the know.
Religious communities that clamp down on art and entertainment are common, and restrictions have always been in place.
So rally round awhile Jim Crow for I thought I'd like to show they can recall the Alamo way down in old Mexico.
Despite the historical and cultural differences, people can unite for a common cause and share a sense of patriotism and pride.
I left Academia amid sixty-two.
The artist left school in 1962.
Was it sixty-one scholar was cooled from the U.
Perhaps in 1961, the artist was dismissed from a university.
Doubtless more on sore wing than prayer I up and just withdrew to the wander round there.
Despite feeling wounded and disillusioned, the singer decided to embark on a journey of self-discovery and exploration.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN DYKE PARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind