Exodus Blues
- Geoffrey Clarfield
- Apr 10
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 11
I have been reading and just finished a remarkable novel about the Jewish people that is not well known. It is called Moses Man of the Mountain and was written by the African American polymath Zora Neale Hurston, an anthropology student of Frans Boas, a German Jew who founded the discipline in early 20th century North America. It is a fabulous book well worth reading. Once you do so you will discover how sympathetic Zora was to the plight of the Jewish people as she recounts the story of Moses and the Exodus story in an African American vernacular. Zora brought the institutionalized persecution that she lived with and asked herself, "How would that have felt if I was an Israelite?"
And so, one evening I wrote a blues about the Exodus in Zora's style.
There are two sets of lyrics for Exodus Blues. The first set of lyrics below are from the recorded version of the song - and the second set of lyrics below that are the full lyrics, which go on in an extended format like a medieval ballad.
Exodus Blues - Recorded Version, by Geoffrey Clarfield
Everythin' is broken
Not everythin' fits
Everybody’s moving
From the snake to the pit
Everything is dying here
Everything loses life
Everyone is caught up
In some kind of strife
Well Jupiter and Venus
They won’t face the sun
Everyone’s lookin'
For a place they can run
Pharoah’s children
Are having a tough time
They have to give up drinkin'
They have to give up wine
Every prince is feastin'
Standin' in line
Everybody's dancin' in six and eight time
The Lords and the Ladies
Hold their slaves in a pen
Look at the surprise in their eyes
When the police walk in
Everybody’s lyin
About their own kind of truth
Everybody’s selling
From their customized booth
Nobody’s left sittin'
They’re standin' on their hands
Nobody’s left living
Cause they’re already dead
None of them are sleepin
In fine feather beds
Nobody is risin'
None of them have said
This can’t continue
It’s way over my head
My feet have stopped walkin'
Cause they’re heavy as lead
Well I saw you sittin'
In Imhotep’s bar
You said you’re a writer
But you wouldn't go far
He gave you a present
A Cartouche of rouge
He said that you’re an artist
Who's been on the move
Well I could not believe him
When he offered me a smoke
I pulled out my whiskey
Said his work was a joke
I said that I sympathize
With his point of view
I stared out at the Pyramids
I was admiring the view
Everybody’s cryin'
They say it’s the dust
Nobody is lyin'
Cause there ain't no trust
The temples have emptied
There are frogs in the rain
Everbody’s thinkin'
Won't be the same
Everybody's readin'
From some kind of book
Everyone is havin'
Their own second look
Some have stopped workin'
Some've gone on strike
They want to do something
They want to do something that they like
Moses said to Pharoah
Take off that wig
Pharoah pulled out whisky
And he offered him a swig
Slaves had all gone dancin'
They looked alright
An no one was working
Cause they were partyin' all night
Well, the temples were empty
Cities unbuilt
Everyone was carryin'
Their own kind of guilt
We asked for their gold
And their jewelry too
We took their pianos
Their harps and kazoos
We blew on their trumpets
We wished them all well
I left for the desert
With a Mardi Gras belle
Every tower lies broken
The decline was quick
Every slave is free now
After making his bricks
Everyone is weighin'
His value and worth
Some of them are leavin'
In a private train berth
Everyone is countin'
Everyone is sure
Everyone is feelin'
They are righteous and pure
Everyone is reelin'
After the event
Everyone is down
To his last ten cents
It’s time we should be leavin'
It’s time to go
Bare naked ladies
Have just finished their show
Well they have to make a livin
They have to make the rent
They asked before they left
If we could sleep in their tents
Cause everything is broken
Not everything fits
And everybody's movin
From the snake to the pit
Now everything is dying
Everything loses life
Everyone is caught up
In some kind of strife
Jupiter and Venus
They won’t face the sun
Cause everyone is lookin'
For a place they can run
Everything is broken
Everything fits
Everybody's movin'
From the snake to the pit
Everyone is dyin' here
Everyone loses life
And everyone is caught up
In some kind of strife
Exodus Blues - Full Lyrics, by Geoffrey Clarfield
Everythin' is broken
Not everythin' fits
Everybody’s moving
From the snake to the pit
Everything is dying here
Everything loses life
Everyone is caught up
In some kind of strife
Well Jupiter and Venus
They won’t face the sun
Everyone’s lookin'
For a place they can run
Pharoah’s children
Are having a tough time
They have to give up drinkin'
They have to give up wine
Every prince is feastin'
Standin' in line
Everybody's dancin' in six and eight time
The Lords and the Ladies
Hold their slaves in a pen
Look at the surprise in their eyes
When the police walk in
Everybody’s lyin
About their own kind of truth
Everybody’s selling
From their customized booth
Nobody’s left sittin'
They’re standin' on their hands
Nobody’s left living
Cause they’re already dead
None of them are sleepin
In fine feather beds
Nobody is risin'
None of them have said
This can’t continue
It’s way over my head
My feet have stopped walkin'
Cause they’re heavy as lead
Well I saw you sittin'
In Imhotep’s bar
You said you’re a writer
But you wouldn't go far
He gave you a present
A Cartouche of rouge
He said that you’re an artist
Who's been on the move
Well I could not believe him
When he offered me a smoke
I pulled out my whiskey
Said his work was a joke
I said that I sympathize
With his point of view
I stared out at the Pyramids
I was admiring the view
When I met you at the party
You offered me a drink
We both drank whiskey
Started to think
I said I’d do the cooking
As you opened the door
You said you hadn’t eaten
So I offered you more
Someone brought a steamer
From a faraway port
Where some like to sight see
Some like to cavort
Some like the Delta
Some pine for the Nile
When I sing the blues
You just sit there and smile
This isn’t the story
Moses will write in his book
When I stopped reading it
You asked for a look
It really wasn’t special
It’s just a novel that sells
You said it was as common
As a wishing well
Everybody's readin'
From some kind of book
Everyone is havin'
Their own second look
Some have stopped workin'
Some've gone on strike
They want to do something
They want to do something that they like
Everyone is aching
From some kind of disease
Doctors all be hoping
It will desist and cease
Children have been asking
What they’re all supposed to do
Wander in the desert
Or just sit and be cool?
Should they worship idols
Like the golden calf
Or should they solve equations
Concentrate on math
What is the future
Is it dark or is it light?
They ask if they should follow
That pillar of fire at night
Moses said to Pharoah
Take off that wig
Pharoah pulled out whisky
And he offered him a swig
Slaves had all gone dancin'
They looked alright
An no one was working
Cause they were partyin' all night
Well, the temples were empty
Cities unbuilt
Everyone was carryin'
Their own kind of guilt
We asked for their gold
And their jewelry too
We took their pianos
Their harps and kazoos
It’s time we should be leavin'
It’s time to go
Bare naked ladies
Have just finished their show
Well they have to make a livin
They have to make the rent
They asked before they left
If we could sleep in their tents
Everybody’s thinking of
Those fine feather beds
Everyone is musing
Bout new thoughts in their heads
Some folks start screaming
Others are awake
Some folks are dreaming
About new real estate
Everybody’s walking
They’re out for a stroll
Some like to rock
Others like to roll
Everyone is sharing
Everyone gets half
Everyone is talking about
That old sacred calf
They gave us their gold
And jewelry too
We took their pianos
Harps and kazoos
We blew on their trumpets
We wished them all well
I left for the desert
With a Mardi Gras belle
Everyone is running
Everyone is swift
Some folks are walking
With Egyptian walking sticks
Everyone be heading for that opposite shore
Everyone is trying to get their foot through the door
Everyone is countin'
Everyone is sure
Everyone is feelin'
They are righteous and pure
Everyone is reelin'
After the event
Everyone is down
To his last ten cents
Some died in water
Some died in hail
Some of em died
When they delivered the mail
Some joker recited
A hieroglyphic poem
Someone interrupted
“It’s your Mom on the phone”
Everybody’s calling in
Anything overdue
I owe you lots of money
You said that is true
Cause nothing keeps its value
When everything inflates
Everyone’s started betting
Against the current exchange rates
Every tower lies broken
The decline was quick
Every slave is free now
After making his bricks
Everyone is weighing
His own value and worth
Some of them are leaving
In a private train berth
Everyone is mourning
Everyone feels sad
Folks are mostly thinking bout
The good times they had
Some princes went to heaven
Pharoah’s down in hell
Some of us our grateful
And still wish him well
Everybody’s cryin'
They say it’s the dust
Nobody is lyin'
Cause there ain't no trust
The temples have emptied
There are frogs in the rain
Everbody’s thinkin'
Won't be the same
Everybody’s trying on
Their own kind of truth
Everyone is selling
From their personalized booth
Noone feels like sitting
Or standing on their head
Everyone is living
Cause they all used to be dead
Everyone got triggered
By their own self contempt
Everyone is grieving
Bout their latest offence
Everyone is pointing
Cause some know the way
Everyone tells the government
Just what they should be paid
Wasn’t it a pity
Was it not bereft
To be working for Pharoah
While paying off his debt
None of the hobos
Had anything left to do
They all got on a train
They went to Kalamazoo
When the people started walking
Some entered a trance
Some started designing
Their own style of dance
Everyone is thinking
About their own kind of love
They pray that it will come
On the wings of a dove
Cause everyone’s forgotten
Noah and his ark
It’s a story for children
That you tell in the dark
When they arrived at the mountain
The rain just dropped
And that’s where the idea of
Freedom got stopped
Nobody’s is flying
We have no wings
Nobody is whistling
They’d rather not sing
No one be trying
Anything new
Cause everyone was used
To being told what to do
They say this is liberty
It was quite a surprise
There is no recipe
For opening your eyes
There is no handbook
For this great surprise
I am still waiting for that day
That new sun rise
Everyone wants to play
A new electric guitar
Everyone feels smart
They believe they’ll go far
Everyone be choosing
From his own Zodiac
Everyone has a studio
That they run out back
Some moved to Woodstock
Some to Muscle Shoals
Some have big projects
That they pray will unfold
Others peddle demos
That they shop around
Others got a gig
On the wrong side of town
Moses has been working
Over time
They say he needs a holiday
He needs to wine and dine
He cannot build a nation
With just bricks and straw
He needs more resources
From which we all can draw
He needs solicitors and assistants
Who can lay down the law
He needs a golden altar
And a tent very tall
He needs a lot of judges
And some lawyers too
He needs well trained administrators
To tell them what to do
Any one who can
Smokes a Cuban cigar
Any one can plays on a vintage guitar
It may look like leisure
Or it may look like work
Cause when everyone’s a poet
Every man’s a clerk
Everyone is buying
With their few last few cents
Everyone’s investing
In their own common sense
Everyone got tired
Of miracles God provides
People want their bicycles
People want to ride
If you want to read this story
It is written in stone
It really is quite simple
We just wanted to go home
Every man is free now
To grow his own figs
And every woman’s free
To hear the music she digs
Many still choose lying
But some things have come true
Every love was false
Except my love for you
Some once hunted hippos
Some once hunted birds
Some are building kites now
To escape this earthly world
Everyone is upstanding
Everyone lives in hope
No one has to worry
Bout hanging by a rope
Nobody’s left stranded
Everyone who can
Has brought a clarinet
And joined the local brass band
Reuben’s started playing
His old sacred harp
Some one played the drums
Some sang in parts
One of those ballads
About a promised land
They sang that there was honey
Buried in the sand
Everyone feels youthful
Everyone feels fit
Everyone is finished
With that forty year trip
Everybody’s moving
No one’s in the pit
Everyone is thinking
Of that next cruise ship
Everyone sleeps well
Everybody dreams
Everyone’s directing
They’re very next scene
Everyone is collecting
Anything over due
I once owed lots of money
This is no longer true
Everybody’s sunny
Everyone smiles
Some of them are running
Four minute miles
Everyone is choosing their personal sport
Everyone coach is writing
A customized report
Everyone who can
Plays a saxophone
Everyone’s performing
No one stays at home
Wouldn’t it be something
If on judgement day
Someone held their trumpet
In an incorrect way
Everyone sleeps well now
Every one can dream
Everyone’s directing
Their own next scene
Everyone’s collecting
Anything overdue
They might be getting money
Their dreams may all come true
Everyone’s started buying
They’ve got money for rent
Everyone’s investing
In their own common sense
Some direct the traffic
Some just walk the path
Everyone is sure
This is the aftermath
Everyone feels youthful
Everyone’s now fit
Everyone is taking
That midnight dip
No one’s in a sand trap
No one’s in a rut
Something of them are aiming
For that winning put
Everyone likes to sleep
Under the stars
Every son is dreaming
Of his brand new car
Everyone is moving
Everyone wants to travel
And everyone wants to see
How the story unravels
It’s far too early
For that chariot of fire
We are still using donkeys
Who don’t get far
We had to build an army
From limited types
Teach them how to stab
Teach them how to strike
No one builds machines yet
No one any longer has to live in a tent
They don’t worship the moon
And they don’t worship the sun
They manage their farms
Which they’ve learnt how to run
A moral of this story
Is clear as its told
It comes from a parable
Three thousand years old
There are those who do nothing
There are those who do some
Some stayed in the fleshpots
We chose to run
A conclusion bout this story
Might be dark or might be clear
You cannot drive a car
Without a full set of gears
So do not start a journey
When you are living all alone
And do not cross the street
When you are talking on the phone