The Incredible String Band were a seminal psychedelic-folk band that would have a huge impact on the “freak folk” movement of the 00’s (and cited by Genesis Breyer P-Orridge as one of his favorite avant-folk acts). Their most crucial albums, such as Wee Tam, were an intoxicating blend of British/Celtic traditionalmusic, Middle Eastern and Indian classical influences among others, often played on exotic instruments including the gimbri, Irish harp, portative organ etc. You can read a biography at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_String_Band
Meanwhile their lyrics on these albums were full of terminology, phrases even magical formula that appear to have been lifted straight from works like Robert Graves’ The White Goddess, Frazier’s The Golden Bough as well as from Theosophical texts and perhaps even Crowley. I offer for your consideration “Job’s Tears” from Wee Tam.
Job’s Tears
We’re all still here, no one has gone away
Waiting, acting much too well and procrastinating
The cross of the earth, the four winds point them
Body to body sees to anoint them
The reed, they brought him sponge and vinegar
The fiery serpents spitting gold and cinnamon
The moon was bleeding and stars were shallow
And the sword that killed him was a sword of willow
Hello I must be going well I only came to say
I hear my mother calling and I must be on my way
Oh I remember it all from before
The winter and the midnight could not hold him
The fire could not burn him nor earth enfold him
Rise up Lazarus, sweet and salty
Brother soldiers, stop your gambling and talk to me
The thieves were stealers but reason condemned him
And the grave was empty where they had laid him
Hello I must be going well I only came to say
I hear my mother calling and I must be on my way
Oh I remember it all from before
Why heroes die at sunrise? Why the birds are arrows of the wise?
Why each perfumed flower? Why each moment has its hour?
It’s you, it’s all true
Stranger than that we’re alive, stranger than that, stranger than that
Stranger than that we’re alive
Whatever you think, it’s more than that, more than that
Happy man, happy man doing the best he can, doing the best he can
Happy man, happy man doing the best he can, doing the best he can
Oh happy man
Keep on walking where the angels showed
All will be one, all will be one
Traveling where the saints have trod
Over to the old golden land
The golden angel wrote my name
Over in the old golden land
I won’t need to kiss you when we’re there
All will be one, all will be one
I won’t need to miss you when we’re there
Over in the old golden land
The golden angel wrote my name
Over in the old golden land
We’ll understand it better in the sweet bye and bye
All will be one, all will be one
You won’t need to worry and you won’t have to cry
Over in the old golden land
The golden angel wrote my name
Over in the old golden land
Songwriters
WILLIAMSON, ROBIN
Published by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Read more: Incredible String Band – Job’s Tears Lyrics | MetroLyrics
According to producer Joe Boyd’s “White Bicycles” memoir (he produced their first 5-6 albums), whilst touring America they were introduced to Scientology and Robin Williamson became a member of the Church — often crossing paths with a young Beck (Hanssen) in Los Angeles. Their most influential work pre-dates their association with said organization.
