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about

I wrote this song about a light in the sky. I recorded it with members of an acoustic group that I play with in Jackson called Animal Farm, along with some other amazing Jackson musicians, including Patrice Moncell, a renowned blues and gospel singer, on background vocals (she’s sung at Carnegie Hall, and was featured in the Robert Mugge documentary Last of the Mississippi Jukes).

It’s a rollicking, fun song, but there’s a deeper idea in the lyrics: the innate desire, in all of us, to reach out for something greater than the world around us and “jump off this planet.” It also happens to be the very favorite song of my 17-month-old boy (he starts dancing like James Brown every time he hears it). Recorded at the now-defunct Laboratory Studio in Jackson, and engineered by Matt Pleasant and Chris Michaels (who both play in the super-cool glam band Living Better Electrically as well as Sparklehorse).

lyrics

I saw a light the other night
It sure was big, it sure was bright
It knocked me out, it was outta sight
Sure hope it comes back again tonight
They said it was from outer space
From some far-off and freaky place
I'm tellin' you, now, face to face
It disappeared without a trace

And if I saw a spaceship, could I tell you so?
If you thought I'd gone bananas, would you let me know?
'Cause I'm stuck here on this planet and I've got no place to go

And now you say I've gone insane
Some bad ideas got in my brain
You say it was a bird or plane
But let me tell you something, Jane
There's more to life than meets the eye
Way off beyond the earth and sky
Should I have called the FBI?
Or would they think it was a lie?

And if I saw a spaceship, could I hitch a ride?
Would it take me all the way to the other side?
'Cause I can't get off this planet, and Lord knows that I've tried...
I've tried – I’ve tried to get to the other side

I think that I shall never see
A light so lovely or so free
I wonder, will it ever be
Sitting here right next to me?
It's an illusion, so you say
There’s no such thing anyway
But I saw it just as clear as day
And I don't think I want to stay

And if I climbed aboard a spaceship, would you let me go?
Could it be there's still a few things that you still don't know?
Cause I'm jumping off this planet, and I just wanted to say "so long"… so long... so long...
..and that's the end of this song

credits

from Umbrella Man, released May 8, 2007
Harmonica, vocal: Scott Albert Johnson
Electric Guitar: Sherman Lee Dillon
Electric Guitar: Wayne Smith
Cello: Nat Smith
Mandolin: Jamie Weems
Drums: Hagen Curl
Percussion: Jeremy Hurley
Harmony vocals on chorus:
Patrice Moncell

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Scott Albert Johnson Jackson, Mississippi

Scott Albert Johnson was bathed in the wide range of the American songbook, as well as the sounds of his 1970’s and 80’s childhood. That diversity is at the core of his new album, Going Somewhere. Johnson incorporates rock, jazz, blues, funk, country, and world music, mixed with thoughtful lyrics, strong vocals, and virtuosic harmonica playing, to create a unique, modern concoction of sound. ... more

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