This song is by Garland Jeffreys. Great songwriter and performer - I wonder why he never made it big. I have followed his career for years and hope to see him sometime. This song talks about pure ignorance. Ignorance that compels small people to use racial slurs and it makes me sick. Last year, before the Presidential election, I was delivering mail and thought I would try to catch up with a former customer, on another route, who's wife had passed away. I drove my postal truck by his house and he was out front raking leaves. I stopped and asked how he was doing, expressing my condolences, just small talk, then he got all red in the face and asked me what I thought of the election. Before I could even answer the question he said, "There is no way America will ever elect a nigger president. They'll shoot that black bastard before he ever gets into the White House." Well, I got out of there asap. And what makes this even sadder, if that is possible at all, is that if you don't know I am Canadian, so why would a Canadian get so worked up and hateful over another country's election. Just goes to show you, racism is based on stupidity, lack of reason, and pure hatred from the depths of hell. This song is called "Don't Call Me Buckwheat". There are very few videos avaiable of Garland Jeffreys.
Garland Jeffreys is a master, still recording and touring (he'll reportedly issue a new album in 2010). All of his albums are fantastic, including many (Ghost Writer, One-Eyed Jack, American Boy and Girl, Rock and Roll Adult) which were never issued in CD-format in the U.S. His album "Don't Call Me Buckwheat" was recently reissued on CD in Europe and his debut and self-titled album from 1973 was finally released on CD in the U.S. several years ago.
ReplyDeleteThere are over 50 videos of his concert performances and official music videos on YouTube - more evidence that his songs are enduring and timeless.
Hail Hail Rock 'N' Roll!