The Jazz Butcher

Lyrics

Harlan
Well I've been bouncing off the walls
Cause that was all I had to work with at the time
I had nothing to say
I got a message from a friend
He keeps his number in the phone book
But I don't use it
I got nothing to say

We never ever spoke
But I listen what he tells me
Ooh I wonder what he'd tell me
I know I've got to think accurately
He doesn't suffer fools
Time's a-wasting
So now I've got no mouth but I'm still screaming

Chorus:

And Harlan
Harlan says we're not alone
But I'm still waiting
With all these rags
By my telephone

There's a mad old boy in a Batman baseball cap down at the intersection
Waiting till the cavalry arrives
Like every day had its own meaning
Everyone would have its colour
So did numbers...
What the hell, it's only our lives.

Chorus

Jefty is the boy next door
And Jefty is five
The same as he was in 1954

huh?
A boy and his dog
Alone against tomorrow
Alone against tomorrow
People could lose their grip
And deep below the Earth
In caves the size of Africa
Infinitely slowly
The pain is rarified and tainted to our special needs
Always
Cause I can't live with myself if living's without you

Chorus

Oh there must be millions like us
Millions
Outside

You know all about it...

And I'm standing here
While you know all about it
You know all about it

There's one more thing, girl:
It's so tough knowing where you are...

It's so tough knowing where you are
And I just don't seem to get out that much these days.
I want to hold you in my arms.

Found On

Buy These Records
Condition Blue
For all the pain and crap from which this record was made, the actual sessions were a gigantic and wonderful party. This was warmly received by The Outside World, less popular among those who counted themselves JBC afficionados. This IS the sound of me having fun, and getting me to do that in those dark days of mid-1991 was no small job.
[Condition Blue cover thumbnail]
creation_records, sky_records LP;CD
Unconditional
One of the better Creation-era compilations. Canadian release.
[Unconditional cover thumbnail]
Polygram
The Violent Years
Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[The Violent Years cover thumbnail]
Fire Records 4xCD

Pat Says

The Butcher Says..
Ellison, of course.
If you let me out on my own in that condition, what do you think is going to happen? Butcher and Twilight Zone collide on the streets of Hollywood, resulting in ongoing art-misery attack and some deeply aquamarine guitar from that nice Peter Astor. Source: Unconditional liner notes
"Jefy Is Five" is one of a number of Harlan Ellison story-titles that litter the lyrics to the song that bears his name. Like:

"Time's A-Wastin'"
"I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream"
"A Boy And His Dog"
"Alone Against Tomorrow"

It's what I call a T-Rex Letter. You know, where fans of a group write a letter about that group, quoting all their song titles? One of those. In an introduction to one of his collections, Mr. Ellison writes that he tells these stories to tell people that "You Are Not Alone"... because we're ALL IN THE SHIT TOGETHER! What a dude!

He does, incidentally, keep his number in the L.A. phone book. That line is true. So, I should warn you, is the one about his not suffering fools. He is an impatient man, and should not be approached for quotable quotes on the subject of the JBC by those who could do without being told to... uh... go someplace else. Source: Pat Letter: 1994-09-13 1994-09-13 (Tuesday, 13th of September 1994 - 29 years 257 days ago)

Live Stats

2 documented performances (click to explore)
1995 1 (JBC)
2003 1 (Pat Solo)

Media

30 second snippet