El Jefe Speaks

created by jacob8er

(thing) by jacob8er (5.8 mon) (print) ? I like it! Tue Dec 17 2002 at 13:30:37

By Clutch
Track 2 on TRANSNATIONAL SPEEDWAY LEAGUE: ANTHEMS, ANECDOTES, AND UNDENIABLE TRUTHS

Like a fly to doo doo
You need me like a bird needs wings
Or little bunny foo foo who needs to bop the field mice
So all the kids can sing

They call me El Jefe
El primo de los matadors
The master of the metaphor,
A chaw chewin' troubadour
The one you've come to love and adore,
And I've come to take you away

Take you away
Take you away
Take you away

Take you away Take you away Take you away

I'll make you go goo goo
Like a baby that sees candy right before its eyes
I'll kiss your little boo boo
Make it better than it's ever felt before

They call me El Jefe
El primo de los matadors
The master of the metaphor,
A chaw chewin' troubadour
The one you've come to love and adore,
And I've come to take you away

I'll take you away now
I'll take you away now

Can you do the two step fleshtone slide?
Well I'll teach you
Can you do the achy breaky eyeball dance?
Well I'll teach you

Can you do the two step fleshtone slide?
Well I'll teach you
Can you do the achy breaky eyeball dance?
Well I'll teach you

They call me El Jefe
The boss and the point man
And I've come to take you away
They call me El Jefe
The boss and the hit man
And I've come to take you away

While this at its base form is a "I'm a cool mother fucker" song, I've always thought it to be an original take on such an otherwise overdone theme. Everyone from Limp Bizkit to Michael Jackson has written "tough guy" songs. For the most part I find these songs hard to swallow. I mean, when Johnny Cash tells you he's bad; you believe it. When it comes from the king of pop, it seems less heartfelt.

There's a swagger to the music that helps to paint a portrait of a man, slick and yet greasy, desirable and yet filling you with feelings of unease. Nothing is taboo for our subject. He'll use anything from pronouncing his sexual prowess to taunting you with a child's nursery rhythm to get his hands on you. He'll spit on the ground, and then smile at you through chew stained teeth. He'll win your heart, or at least talk the panties off you.

One of the things that stand out to me is the nature of this song in relation to other songs that appear on the album. While a lot of the songs are gritty, loud, and yet comedically stirring, this song trumpets its satire in the first few notes of the band. Something in the music tells you that you shouldn't take this song too seriously. Neil Fallon is not a sexist pig, but he'll play one in a song to get you to laugh.

The music in this song is also simple, yet a great example of the tightness of the players. There are a few points throughout the song where the music wavers and trails off, then blasts back in. All three musicians hit their marks each time. I've seen this band play this song a few times in concert, and let me tell you there's no "studio magic" going on here. This is the result of practice, talent, and countless hours at practice patiently going over this song. If their impetus is perfection then I can truly that they should feel mighty satisfied.

Email requesting permission for fair use of Clutch's lyrics was sent
September 26, 2003 to
management@pro-rock.com
Permission to reprint this lyric was received from Clutch via email on September 26, 2003
http://www.pro-rock.com/.

CST approved.

printable version
chaos

I'll mark your obstinate face with my fingernails!	Clutch	John, The Angry Rednecks and The Professional Brick Thrower	Two men look from prison bars. One saw mud and one saw stars.
Transmetropolitan	ToasterLeavings week- 7 days of random obeisance to an idiot mortal non-god	Speak of Cao Cao and he arrives	8 Mile
boss	Boo Boo Kitty	Little Bunny Foo Foo	song
I have the body of John Wilkes Booth

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