Deuce


Who is Cockeye?

(19 Feb 98: There is now an answer! Keep reading to the bottom of the page...)
Laura, publisher of Planet Magazine, gave me a stack of promos & stuff the other day & lucky me, I found a new favorite: a 45 called "Cockeye," by a shadowy band called Deadbolt. "Cockeye" might be the greatest song in the history of musical expression. Or, rather, "Cockeye" might be the title of the greatest song in the history of musical expression; no title appears on the record or the packaging. (The other side is a song--also unidentified--by a band apparently named after Merle Haggard's band, The Strangers.)

What is "Cockeye"?

"Cockeye" is a Ken Nordine-ish antiphonal response series set to a Munsters backbeat.

That is the only answer I have. Beyond that there are only more questions.

Is "Cockeye" an interior monologue?

Is "Cockeye" a dialog of a world-weary non-Egyptian with his soul?

Can YOU identify "Cockeye"?

The final minute of "Cockeye" is now on my answering machine, there to confuse anyone foolish enough to dial my number.*

But I must know: what am I to make of this song? I have, of course, imagined a scenario for it, and I know the standard dodge that the imagination of the listener is better than a set interpretation.

Nevertheless, I MUST know: WHO IS COCKEYE?!?!?


*11 August 97; it will probably be on my machine for a couple weeks or so, or until enough people bitch about the length of it. If people who don't have my number want to hear the sample, contact me & I'll upload it to this page.

6 September 1997:

The People Have Spoken!

Click here for a sample (about 300k, in .wav format) of the "Sancho" portion of "Cockeye"!


On 22 August, Seattle Deuce of Clubs operative Kelly went undercover to infiltrate a Deadbolt gig. Cardhouse has received from said Operative a bootleg tape of the show (along with a cool skull keychain) & this report:
Why didn't you warn me that "hip" people know not to arrive on time! I don't go to clubs enough to realize there's always warmup acts. My friend didn't want to go, but I dragged him, assuring we'd only stay for an hour or so...Music started at 10, & I thought you'd lost your $%&*@^# mind! Teenage thrasher band. Half-way thru an excruciating set I clued in to wrong band. The next group, all black leather & chains, stylistically fit the bill & a little tighter, but still incomprehensible screaming punks (I kept worrying about bonking their noggins, since constantly pogo-ing towards a low ceiling).

Finally, after the 3rd fight, blood everywhere, the cops showed up to close the club down (fight/overcapacity). 5 squad cars, medic, lots of flashing lights & disgruntled patrons. It was now 12:30 am, everyone herded outside, had to wait another 1/2 hr. (Bob was long gone out to car. They asked all the "hippies" to leave 1st. He was one of 2 people w/long hair. Everyone w/out tattoos next, so it was a double whammy).

I was pretty wiggly about now, so somebody bribed me to stay w/a key chain & promises of bootleg tapes. When Deadbolt finally showed up at 1:15, it WAS worth it. Pretty funny, loved the skillsaw, you regained my respect.

Kelly

Analysis of the bootleg tape reveals that Deadbolt enters and leaves to the ultracool sound of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass's "The Lonely Bull"!

Their show also featured a taped snippet of Eddie Arnold's "Cattle Call."

Deadbolt hipness quotient is GO!


And now:
The lyrics to (the assumed)
"Cockeye"


Who are you looking at?
Who . . .
Who are you?
What are you looking at?
Who . . .
You know me!
Who are you?
Who . . .
Who are you?
Yes
Who are you?
Ah, you & your sister
So lovely
Hey!
Lovely . . .
Who . . .
What you looking at?
Who are you?
Who . . .
Who are you?
Who is Cockeye?
Who is Cockeye?
No, no
Who is Cockeye?
Oh, no, no
I am Cockeye!
I am Cockeye!
I AM!
COCKEYE!

What you looking at?

You . . .
Who . . .
You two
Who are you?
You are twins?
Who . . .
Who are you?
Who is twins?
Who is who?

I may be Cockeye

Do you know of Cockeye?
I tell you this now:
You are not Cockeye!
Who is Cockeye?
I am Cockeye!
Me!
No . . .
Not you!
NOT you!
Tell you this now
And you better understand me
You and your friend, your brother

I AM COCKEYE!

I am Cockeye

Who are you?
Sancho is on the telephone for you
Sancho is on the telephone for you, Cockeye
Sancho
Sancho want to talk to Cockeye!
Sancho want to talk to Cockeye!
I AM COCKEYE!
I AM COCKEYE!
Can you . . .
Who are you lookin at?
. . . identify Cockeye?

Can you . . .

Who are you lookin at?
. . . identify Cockeye?
Who are you lookin at?
You & your sister
Who are you?
Who is Cockeye?
Who are you?
Who is Sancho?
'S on the telephone

I am Cockeye.


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