This Man flies to Africa - 1979

Appeared on Slim Possibilities

 

(David Munyon/S.P. Standley)

 

This song is about as close as you can get to a Gospel Song in my book.

 

This man flies to Africa

got the shoes that match his belt

that match his head band

there's a photograph of family

in wrinklin' hand

got some funny looking coins and a Taiwan fan

 

This man flies to Africa

got a smoke that he can't smoke

because of passengers

an' he worries while the sober seconds

drowned his shirt

like flowers on the loose...

hot rain on hotter dirt

 

Bill's a little burnt these days

runnin' from the storms of May

hiding where he can, they say

spending all the cash he made

Bill's a little burnt these days

one too many trips delayed

lost his brains in '68

lost his joy at Kent State

 

This man flies to Africa

where Apartheid is a word

he don't quite understand

where he wants to see a world where all kinds

can share a loaf of bread and a good wine

 

This man flies to Africa

just like Tarzan to the rescue of his fellowman

coz they're hacking off the tusk

from the elephant

their spirits won't forget...

ivory and much regret

 

Bill's a little burnt these days

runnin' from the storms of May

hiding where he can, they say

spending all the cash he made

Bill's a little burnt these days

one too many trips delayed

lost his brains in '68

lost his joy at Kent State

 

This man flies to Africa

where missionaries sing sweet songs of Jesus

where natives drive Toyota dodging reposses

where money don't bring fun, only friendship

this man flies to Africa

where jokes among the lions

they don't bring the laughs

where zebras love to run

until they loose their breath

where we're just as much the fool

but cooler at it

 

David Munyon: vocal, guitar

Chris Jones: guitars

Frank Fiedler: acoustic bass

Beo Brockhausen: hurdy-gurdy