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Umbrella Man

from Umbrella Man by Scott Albert Johnson

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about

I wrote the lyrics to this song in Amsterdam in June 2001, almost exactly three months before the attacks of September 11th. The line “I’m sending out false messages and I’m burning buildings down” thus had a frightening (if coincidental?) prescience. The “umbrella man” of the title refers to the figure in the Zapruder film of the JFK assassination, who opens his umbrella just a few moments before the firing of the fatal bullets. Some believe that this was a signal to the shooter(s) to open fire.

I intended this song to be about those people or events that cause the ground to shift under our feet.... "strange attractors" and wild cards. It’s about fanaticism and obsession and cunning and temptation and daring and courage and the times that try men’s souls. The Umbrella Man could be the ones who pulled Oswald’s strings, or Bin Laden, or George W. Bush… or any one of us, given the right or wrong circumstances.

This track was recorded at Terminal. Skeet Myers, a guitarist from McComb MS, had recorded a demo with this chord progression and let me use it for this song (and is thus a co-writer and co-producer of this track). His longtime friends, the Kohn brothers, played bass (Greg) and drums (Eric).

lyrics

I’m out to save a world that doesn’t feel like being saved
I’m on a metaphysical mission, headed for a heavenly grave
I’m such a strange attractor, and I don’t wanna tell no tale
But my mojo is a-workin’ far beyond this earthly veil

Can’t you see
It’s clear to me
That you don’t understand my philosophy
But you gotta trust my plan
I’m the umbrella man

I’d take you for a ride, then I’d hang you out to dry
I’d leave you feeling lucky, but I ain’t that kind of guy
I’m sending out false messages, and I’m burning buildings down
I’d make a deal with angels if the devil’s out of town

But it’s true
I’m feeling blue
Because I don’t seem to be getting through to you
The whole world’s my biggest fan
I’m the umbrella man

It’s really kind of funny how it ever came to this
But my trigger finger’s itching and I know that I just can’t miss
The motorcade’s approaching and the time is close at hand
For me to claim my destiny and make a hero’s stand

Pick up the phone
Let it be known
That the kid sure as hell didn’t act alone
And I’d do it all again
I’m the umbrella man

Let it be known

credits

from Umbrella Man, released May 8, 2007
Harmonica, vocals: Scott Albert Johnson
Guitars: Skeet Myers
Bass guitar: Greg Kohn
Drums: Eric Kohn

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all rights reserved

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about

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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