By Tony Attwood
CIA Man The Fugs
Preface:
This series is not a set of reviews of what Bob said about each song (you can, of course, buy a copy of Bob’s “Philosophy” book and see what he said) but rather my own reaction to each song – written particularly since in most cases I was not familiar with the song until I saw Bob’s book.
So I’m not trying to review Bob’s book, but rather just offer my thoughts on the songs and recordings he suggested.
I should add that the titles of songs reviewed in my series are noted at the end of this article in alphabetical order, not in the order found in the book. That makes it easier for me, even if no one else.
CIA Man by The Fugs was written by Tuli Kupferberg (1923-2010). One of Dylan’s comments on the song is that “If these lyrics don’t get your attention, then you must be comatose. It’s amazing how powerful The Fugs could be with just a few edgy instruments.”
Which is interesting indeed, given that for most people Dylan is known particularly for his use of lyrics. And yet here the lyrics are pared down to the bone – as shown further down the page.
The Fugs are one of those bands I have a problem with because their music doesn’t really appeal to me, and yet they are said by many commentators to have influenced so many of the musicians whose work I utterly adore. Apart from Bob, I’d cite Syd Barrett, Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Donald Eagen…
But they represent to me the Alan Ginsberg side of the equation of protest against the way the world is run by the rich and powerful, while Bob Dylan has been on the other side observing, commenting, …. And in this way the highly repetitious nature of the song can work – they are pulling the same trick over and over again and getting away with it without anyone doing much about it. Although after hearing the song once, I am not sure I want to listen again.
In one sense, the Fugs were somewhat like Dylan in that they would change their approach from time to time to the extent that people would say you would have no notion of what each new record would sound like. Maybe we could think of them as Dylan taken to extremes, in this regard.
But for me, if for no one else, there is a problem because just coming up with a novel way of doing things does not mean that what you have invented is particularly good, or important or memorable, or influential or artistic or anything else. It can just be different.
So should something that is simply “different” be valued just because it is different? I valued, and have always valued, Freewheelin’ not just because it was unlike any other album I had heard, but because it was a set of excellent performances of excellent songs. After all one side starts with “Blowin in the Wind” and the other with “Don’t think twice” which is not a bad starter on each side. And that’s before we consider what else is on the album.
Of course we can’t in any way compare the lyrics that Dylan produced either there or anywhere else with what we have on this track nominated by Bob…
Who can kill a general in his bed?Overthrow dictators if they're Red?Fucking-a man!(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)CIA Man! Who can find a counter-agent quick?Especially the ones, themselves, of it?Fucking-a man!(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)CIA Man! Who can be so overtly covert?Sometimes even covertly overt.Fucking-a man!(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)CIA Man!
The song continues in the same manner for quite a while until we get to the last verse which reads
Who's the agency well-known to God?The one that copped his staff and copped his rod?Fucking-a man! CIA Man!Fucking-a man! CIA Man!Fucking-a man! CIA Man!CIA Man! CIA Man!CIA Man! CIA Man!CIA Man!C I A
Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I am not so much getting old but am actually old. Maybe I was never as radical and left wing as I think I was in my youth, and in many ways still think I am, but my only reaction is well, yes, I know. So what? But if you want some more proof, here it is
Here are the other songs we’ve covered from this book….
- Cheaper to Keep Her
- Detroit City
- Don’t let me be misunderstood
- Dirty Life and Times
- Detroit City
- Dirty Life and Times
- Don’t let me be misunderstood
- I’ve always been crazy
- Keep my Skillet Good and Greasy
- My Generation and Desolation Row
- Old Violin by Johnny Paycheck
- Please don’t let me be misunderstood
- Pump it up
- Strangers in the Night
- Take Me from This Garden of Evil
- There stands the glass
- Waist Deep in the Big Muddy
- Where or When
- Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me