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Kelly Joe Phelps — Beggar's Oil
Album: Sky Like a Broken Clock
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 344









Released: 2001
Length: 3:21
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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A mustard seed is (has been said)
All that men will need
A filthy boy in a bowery lane
Under the times in a drowning rain
Stealing bits of sleep again
Has heard this comon creed

Grows into the tallest tree
To cool down the sinner's heat
I know this man, he's much like I
A doubter's cusp, a braggart's pyre
Sweltering in brandy-mire
And selling bitter meat

Exemplary of faith I guess
Starts with naught but soil
Upon the shoes of wayward men
Ministers will not befriend
Smite the temple yet again
Spill their precious oil

I've thrown my seed out the window
Down in the dirt below
I'll water it with my distrust
My blatant well-worn rough-hewn crust
I'll mojo it with voodoo dust
And pray that it will grow
Comments (48)add comment
Love this album. Gold Tooth is one of my "Desert Island Discs"
Posted 9 years ago by bobnose    [ Reply ]
This made me think of Doc Watson......and MerleFest going on as I type this....a few miles away in North Wilkesboro, NC
Posted 9 years ago by mlarimore    [ Reply ]
I hear this and wonder why more Daniel Lanois isn't in the RP playlist...
Posted 10 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]

This finger-picking is special...  "Beggar's Oil" has a ring to it...  love this...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
has an old Daniel Lanois sound/feel...

nice.
Posted 11 years ago by jersey_birdman    [ Reply ]
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Yet another facet of the always eclectic Portland music scene. We were dating the same woman at one time, unknown to either of us. Men get the rap for doggish ways, but women are past masters at the craft.

 
I dated a chick who did that to me once, but it was her ex girlfriend that she was also seeing.  Talk about mixed feelings...

Posted 12 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
Love that picking. Very nice.
Posted 12 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Seen him play twice, but unless I knew the words, his diction (or lack of it) made the lyrics unintelligeable. His recorded output is therefore better for me.
Posted 13 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Yet another facet of the always eclectic Portland music scene. We were dating the same woman at one time, unknown to either of us. Men get the rap for doggish ways, but women are past masters at the craft.

Posted 13 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
wow I haven't heard KJP in a very long time. Love this album!!!!!
Posted 13 years ago by linz_bobinz    [ Reply ]
Whoa -  Thanks for introducing me to this guy.  Will go see him in NYC  at Joe's Pub in November.  Anybody for joining me.  I have to see this guy LIVE.
Posted 14 years ago by ZLEX    [ Reply ]
have been listening to RP for a very long time and, like other listeners posting, this is the first time I've heard you play Kelly Joe.  Thank you!  He's one of the best contemporary improvisational musicians out there today.
Posted 14 years ago by solamenteuna    [ Reply ]
Growing on me...Upped my rating.
Posted 14 years ago by derekd    [ Reply ]
Need mo Kelly Joe, friend turned me on to him few years back and love his stuff
Posted 15 years ago by stkman    [ Reply ]
I like this. Hope he makes a return visit to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass next year — will watch for 'em.
Posted 15 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
Makes that guitar sing!
Posted 15 years ago by xc_para_puravida    [ Reply ]
rvontha wrote:
This is the first time I've heard Bill play Kelly Joe Phelps and I am grinning with joy. He is AMAZING! Get all the music you can lay your hands on by this guy.
Posted 15 years ago by rachlan    [ Reply ]
This is the first time I've heard Bill play Kelly Joe Phelps and I am grinning with joy. He is AMAZING! Get all the music you can lay your hands on by this guy.
Posted 15 years ago by rvontha    [ Reply ]
Never heard of him. Dig him. Very nice.
Posted 16 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Yay!
Posted 16 years ago by rachlan    [ Reply ]
Saw him play live in a church in downtown Calgary a few years back... I have to say it was not the best venue other than the acoustics. He's pretty introverted when he plays and you can't get a good feel for his craft sitting a dozen pews back.
Posted 16 years ago by stickers11    [ Reply ]
canadianbug wrote:
so nice to hear kelly joe phelps here!!!! saw him live again recently. consistently wonderful.
I've seen him a bunch of times too. I really like him. RP needs more Kelly Joe Phelps!
Posted 16 years ago by rachlan    [ Reply ]
so nice to hear kelly joe phelps here!!!! saw him live again recently. consistently wonderful.
Posted 16 years ago by canadianbug    [ Reply ]
...Oregon rocks...
Posted 17 years ago by eman    [ Reply ]
This is really nice.
Posted 17 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
"I've thrown my seed out the window Down in the dirt below I'll water it with my distrust My blatant well-worn rough-hewn crust I'll mojo it with voodoo dust And pray that it will grow" I just love gardening metaphors. And I love "mojo" as a verb.
Posted 17 years ago by ramette    [ Reply ]
Yep. I like it. Anyone heard the whole album?
Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Sweet. This should help convert my wife from FolkAlley to RP. ;-)
Posted 17 years ago by omniphiliac    [ Reply ]
Caught this guy last year at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in SF. He's a pretty remarkable guitar player and a good singer, songwriter and performer as well.
Posted 17 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
Get to see him here in PDX in 2 days...oh yeah...
Posted 17 years ago by Norge1    [ Reply ]
Try to fit "Oh Suzannah!" into THIS tune, and everybody will look at you like you are crazy. Ha. Uh, ok. nevermind.
Posted 17 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
El_Penguino wrote:
Reminds me of old Bruce Cockburn.
i think so too. i really like this. bruce cockburn always reminds me of driving down long dusty roads in Kansas at sunset. so does this.
Posted 17 years ago by rococodeco    [ Reply ]
met him last weekend - really nice guy!! great show. new album coming out next month.
Posted 17 years ago by canadianbug    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of old Bruce Cockburn.
Posted 18 years ago by El_Penguino    [ Reply ]
... Beggar's Belief! ... This is so cool! ... ...
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
lovely tune!
Posted 18 years ago by iMacomania    [ Reply ]
Keepin the pickin slide guitar alive. Reminds me of Mississippi John Hurt, among others. Great stuff.
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
Jeffrey wrote:
I couldn't agree more. Picked up an instructional CD he put together from Homespun Tapes--fascinating to watch and listen as he explains his slide techniques. When it came to putting them into practice, well. . .
I don't think I could do it with another life and a damn genie.
Posted 18 years ago by Dragonfly_Launch    [ Reply ]
Dragonfly_Launch wrote:
Unexplainable that there is only one KJP on the RP list and it is chock with Manx. Voices very similar but KJ has the higher skills. Hmm.
I couldn't agree more. Picked up an instructional CD he put together from Homespun Tapes--fascinating to watch and listen as he explains his slide techniques. When it came to putting them into practice, well. . .
Posted 18 years ago by Jeffrey    [ Reply ]
*BIZARRE* Someone just mentioned KJP for reference to another tune about 10 ago....
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Just been to upload "The House Carpenter", which is an awesome song, and found that it had been previously rejected... :-( That was going to be my first upload.. oh well... can't think of many other tracks quite as worthy. More Kelly Joe Phelps on RP, he sure deserves it!
Posted 19 years ago by adib    [ Reply ]
wxman wrote:
What exactly is this genre? It definitely sounds like bluegrass, but also a little folky.
It is slide guitar blues with some folk song overlay. Striking music. Do yourself a favor and pick up a whole album.
Posted 19 years ago by Dragonfly_Launch    [ Reply ]
AI-in-Japan wrote:
KJP first three releases were solid Delta blues busters. I was completely hooked. Love this kind of music.
What exactly is this genre? It definitely sounds like bluegrass, but also a little folky.
Posted 19 years ago by wxman    [ Reply ]
Unexplainable that there is only one KJP on the RP list and it is chock with Manx. Voices very similar but KJ has the higher skills. Hmm.
Posted 19 years ago by Dragonfly_Launch    [ Reply ]
Missed it this time through the rotation but looking forward to the next time around. He's an excellent artist.
Posted 19 years ago by phineas    [ Reply ]
KJP first three releases were solid Delta blues busters. I was completely hooked. Love this kind of music.
Posted 19 years ago by AI-in-Japan    [ Reply ]
Thanks! I requested this song a couple of hours ago and now it's playing. Can't get enough of Kelly J. Phelps. Keep them coming!
Posted 20 years ago by Cyclope    [ Reply ]