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Poi Dog Pondering — Bury Me Deep
Album: Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like the Sea
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1514









Released: 1990
Length: 4:51
Plays (last 30 days): 1
A lifetime of accomplishments of which the dirt knows none,
only in death can one truly return
Return the carrots, the apples and potatoes,
The chickens, the cows, the fish and tomatoes.
In one glorious swoop, let the deed be done
and bury me deep so that I can be one...

And all around my muscle and all around my bone,
don't incinerate me or seal me from
the dirt which bore me, the bed that which from
the rain falls upon and the fruit comes from
For the dirt is a blanket, no fiery tomb,
No punishment, reward, or pearly white room
And you who say that in death we will pay,
The dead they can't hear a word that you say
Your words are not kind, sober or giving,
they only put fear in the hearts of the living
So put away your tongues and roll up your sleeves,
and pick up your shovel and bury me deep.
Comments (204)add comment
I got this album having first heard this on the radio in Australia when travelling as a teenager and I loved it. Still have it (locked up in a store somewhere - 30 years later am still travelling. So nice to hear this track again, after so many years. RP - you guys really are the best.
 RabbitEars wrote:

I miss PDP. They were a fantastic band to see live. Always an adventure.... Highly recommend their album Pomegranate. 



Still active. Many albums since Pomegranate. Do the google.
Pause the Tragic Ending into Bury Me Deep, nice way to start this half hour.  Gonna pause my day to take my pup and sit for a while where we had to leave a marker for her sister a couple of years ago.  

1 Jul 2023
Nice tribute .
haven't heard poi dog pondering in over a decade. wow.
So great to hear Poi Dog Pondering.!These days, one can see and hear Frank performing with Thievery Corporation. 
Started off by giving a 7, then read the lyrics and bumped to 9
 gottclay wrote:


Agreed - I also would like John Prine's "Please Don't Bury Me" and "When I Get to Heaven" played at my funeral.


I'm going for the rather obvious "When I'm Dead and Gone" by McGuiness Flint ;)
Leading edge of the green burial movement?

“Bury me deep“ …  Not too deep, though. Most soil microbes are in the upper 2 feet or so of the soil. If you want to be recycled, that’s where they should put you.
 frolic4rp wrote:

Yes, I hope this song is played at my funeral. We need songs like this. It makes me wonder about life, and decay, and death, while still keeping a smile on my face.



Agreed - I also would like John Prine's "Please Don't Bury Me" and "When I Get to Heaven" played at my funeral.
The lead off for my funeral playlist is "Keep Me In Your Heart" by Warren Zevon, but I agree with Bill that this should be on the list as well.
Great tune! I never heard of them before. Thanx RP!
And bung a big ol' tree on top of me as well. That way, I'll have done some good and made the World a better place
From a Jodie Foster movie 'Foxes':


Back in the heavy stoned days, when we used to stay up and talk a lot, Annie and me, we were talking about dying, how it feels and all. I said I'd never get buried. I couldn't stand them shoveling dirt in my face. Like, I know I'd be dead, but I still might have this strong compulsion to breathe, okay? But Annie, she said she wanted to be buried right in the ground under a pear tree. Really. Not in a box or anything. She said she wanted the roots going right through her, and each year, we'd come along, take a pear, and go "Hey, Annie's tasting good this year, huh?"

If you like fretless bass, you'll love this song.  Count me as a yes for both.

Maybe someday my skill level at bass guitar will get to the point of attempting to play a fretless beyond a few minutes in a guitar store...

Until then, I can appreciate music like this.
Love Poi Dog! Live in College Station TX. They used to have a mini music festival North by North Gate... at North Gate... seen them a few times.. Love their music!
Forgot how much I adore this album. Used to blast it endlessly in college. Plus, that name.....Poi Dog Pondering. Makes me ponder. 
 rdunham wrote:
Love this band. Makes me smile and dance. Frank continues to play with Thievery Corporation.
 

yeah, these guys are special. 
more Please!
Love this band. Makes me smile and dance. Frank continues to play with Thievery Corporation.
Pseudo-deep and clumsy lyrics make for an annoying combination that is summarized by, “well, at least it isn’t Rusted Root.” PSD
 (anonymous) wrote:
I am SOOOOO glad to hear some Poi here. They are definately one of my favorite bands. We here in Chicago feel very lucky to have been the adoptive city of this amazing band out of Austin via Hawaii (or is it the other way around?). Their songs are rich with sentiment and feeling. The band has gone through many different incarnations but the music is always great. Very ecclectic. I dare you to sit still. Thanks much, Bill. Please send some more PDP our way!
 
Hawaii > Austin > Chicago
Nice segway from your comment about Mark from Talk Talk.
 NCEyeballKid wrote:
I really think the first album "Poi Dog Pondering" had much livelier and enjoyable tunes than this. 

But count me as a fan! 
 
Well they were simpler. PDP got more complex with each subsequent album. Good on them.
 RabbitEars wrote:
I miss PDP. They were a fantastic band to see live. Always an adventure.... Highly recommend their album Pomegranate. 
 
They've done a LOT since Pomegranate. Go to their website.
I miss PDP. They were a fantastic band to see live. Always an adventure.... Highly recommend their album Pomegranate. 
Universe is strange

But, so am I
Poi Dog on RP? OK, take my money. Another year's support coming up. 
Another band new to my ears ! Very nice....
Saw Thievery Corporation a couple of weeks ago, who were excellent!  Frank surprisingly was there on percussion and vocals (in Chicago, so....)
Yes, I hope this song is played at my funeral. We need songs like this. It makes me wonder about life, and decay, and death, while still keeping a smile on my face.
just good music from a time that needed it. thanks bill. great to hear this again.
 dyharenas wrote:
Struggling to find something redeemable here

  That's sad.

 BerkeleyAlice wrote:
Sounds quite like the Waterboys. I like it!

 
There's a reason why...
Sounds quite like the Waterboys. I like it!
 dyharenas wrote:
Struggling to find something redeemable here

 
yeah...honestly I was going to make some silly smartass remark about a shopping list or eating organic...and well I find I'm struggling to say something funny while hearing this song.

Long Live RP still!


 Skydog wrote:

I haven't been to a funer in a long time, their always fun

 
They're not just fun, they're funer!
Struggling to find something redeemable here
{#Bananajam}Resonates.
 frolic4rp wrote:
This can be sung at my funer

 
I haven't been to a funer in a long time, their always fun
 jhorton wrote:
Segue from this to, " The Waterboys," version of, " Sweet Thing."

{#Bananajam} 

 
I hear this too LOL
Paging Terri Hemmert...
I really think the first album "Poi Dog Pondering" had much livelier and enjoyable tunes than this. 

But count me as a fan! 
This can be sung at my funer
"Catacomb" would be a good song to play too. 
 DanO-1 wrote:
I need more Poi in my life.

 

Roighto mate.  And would yer be wantin' apple poi or cherry poi?


 jhorton wrote:
Segue from this to, " The Waterboys," version of, " Sweet Thing."

{#Bananajam} 

  Excellent suggestion....would be seamless 

Probably would be better live but then, maybe not.
One of my favorite salong albums and songs
Segue from this to, " The Waterboys," version of, " Sweet Thing."

{#Bananajam} 
"burry me deep" :)
loves me some poi. this was a super fun band to see back in the day. in fact, i got turned on to them because they opened for someone and i thought they were fab. still listen to them a lot. 

 

 
There seems to be a theme here, Bill, in your playlist but it's buried in my psyche.
Honestly, these guys had a great sound and vibe, I think they were just a vocalist away from being HUGE!
YAY!! I love this band.  I feel twenty years younger.

They got it right!

 

BURY ME DEEP!


This is playing and WAS (NOT WAS) was rejected!

WOOOOW, RP!!!!


Think they listened to Van Morrison's Sweet Thing a few times???
SUPER-SUPER SUCKO
Takes me back to my Chicago days. {#Boohoo}
Sorry. Not digging this.
I gotta' say, I really enjoy this despite the fact that the singing is so poor. The band has a nice tight Waterboys kind of groove going.
I have enjoyed this album immensely since it came out, its very special to me. Thanks for playing
I need more Poi in my life.
Sure wish you would play some newer PDP, they are an awesome band and Frank Orell is amazing!
*yawns*
Nice segue from "Please don't bury me" but shame about the excruciating (to these ears) song. I wonder what's coming next in the 'interment' sequence?
Thanks Bill. More Poi please.
 yclept wrote:
bloody awful..too many words crammed in
Is it that difficult to get the phrasing right?   
 
"Too Many Words Crammed In" - now there's a good band name and/or album title.  His phrasing sounds fine, though if there were too many words then that would likely make it "difficult to get the phrasing right".
I've already buried this song deep in my "sucko barfo" file.
Love this, especially right after John Prine's 'Please Don't Bury Me'. Two sides of the same coin...
I kinda' dig the overall sound here, kind of a, " Waterboys," thing going on, but with a very different sounding vocalist.
Wow - surprised at the low score of this one...
Very poignant tribute Bill....thanks for causing me to reflect...
Sure wish Bill would play some newer stuff.

We are going to see them at Durty Nelly's in Palatine on Saturday 
 james_of_tucson wrote:

I did not know that.  When I knew them, they were an Austin upstart.

 
We used to go see them at Fitzgerald's in Houston. Stage full of musicians, floor full of people. Good times.

Both the CDs I have of them are keepers.  {#Tongue-out}
 rdo wrote:

Poi Dog is a Chicago institution.  They never really broke out as a national band though. 



 
I did not know that.  When I knew them, they were an Austin upstart.

Poi Dog is a Chicago institution.  They never really broke out as a national band though. 



Yes, some Poi! Love this band!!! More pretty please.
Haven't heard PDP in a long time, really enjoyed this, thanks!
Nice band name, shame about the sound. Yer man's tuneless voice gave me a headache in 10 seconds flat. Mute and back in 5.
Bury it deeper please.
Fun facts corner!

Poi! mmmm....


Tastes like it looks.

Poi Dog, from wikipedia:  
"The Hawaiian Poi Dog or ʻīlio (ʻīlio mākuʻe for brown individuals) is an extinct breed of pariah dog from Hawaiʻi which was used by Native Hawaiians as a spiritual protector of children and as a source of food."

That is all.
 

Fun to hear "Bury Me Deep" by Poi Dog after so many years. First ran across this almost 20 years ago on the Theodore Sampler. Great reach in to the archives.
What do I know?  I like this song and enjoyed hearing Poi Dog again. 
thrilled to hear this song again...
bloody awful..too many words crammed in
Is it that difficult to get the phrasing right?   
 mattc296 wrote:
Prainful; would sound great on Gray's Anatomy.
 
LOL. Ouch!  That's a stinger

 The_Enemy wrote:

2 —> 1

 
9 —> 10

uggggh this song sucks bigtime{#Puke}{#Frustrated}
1  —->  -1
{#No}

and to think...I BOUGHT this CD.  Sigh.

These guys were great when I used to throw coins into their guitar case on the UC Berkeley campus in '88-89, bristling with eccentric energy. Then they got a record deal and totally, utterly lost the magic. Or maybe they still have it, but it certainly doesn't translate well in the recording studio.
Quick note for all those that are running this down  You need to hear the whole cd (well, except for the last cut anyway).  Then you'll appreciate this too!
Wow.    This is bad.

2 —> 1


Dristan will clear that clogged nose right up......
Man this sounds Irish to me.{#Boohoo}  I thought Frank Orrall was from Hawaii?  {#Eh}
{#Boohoo}   {#Yell}
Wow, ANOTHER band I used to dance to when I went to school in Hawaii.  Of course, back then they were playing slap-dash reggae.  I liked them a lot better after the move to Austin and to my home town, Chi-town.

So, Taj, Poi Dog — can the Pagan Babies be far behind?  {#Sunny}
do what they ask for!

BURRY THEM DEEP!!!

DEEPEST!!!!!
go away cowboy!
NIGHTMARISH!

pffffffff....!!!!
Quite the worst thing I've heard all day!
wally42 wrote:
I love this entire CD! How about "Spending the Day in the Shirt That You Wore"?
Outstanding. I love this band. Saw them live a few times. What a show.
handyrae wrote:
Question: What is a poi dog and what is it pondering?
Poi Dog is slang for a Hawaiian citizen of mixed race. Not sure what he/she is pondering. Maybe pondering how this song has not stood the test of time very well. I think this is a fantastic live performance gone bad in the translation to recording.
Crawlmeister wrote:
Why do I find this plain annoying?
Um. Maybe because it is. I find this guy's voice reedy, the song a bit too country-music-ish, and I am completely bored by it.
Tech question: is it possible to "un-upload" a file? I'm not the one who uploaded this song but I don't know if that matters. I've tried: # mkfs.radioparadise /playlist/pdp_burymedeep But I get back: "ERROR 516 - Song is clinging like mold in your basement" Thanks for your help.
Why do I find this plain annoying?
Sounds like the chili has gone bad but has not quite made it through the system . . .
Yeah... Bury you deep....
handyrae wrote:
Question: What is a poi dog and what is it pondering?
A Poi Dog is an extinct breed of dog from Hawaii. It originated in Polynesia and came over with the original settlers. They were small, fat dogs that usually were eaten by the members of the tribe as they were a delicacy. So a Poi Dog Pondering may have been a dog aware of his or her own fate and what to do til that fateful day. Cool name for a band (who got their start in Hawaii in 1986). Nothing like genus loci for a band's name.
handyrae wrote:
Question: What is a poi dog and what is it pondering?
If it's a dog, there is only one thing it's sniffing & pondering... Another dog's backside... Which reminds me, I'm not fond of this song ....
Question: What is a poi dog and what is it pondering?
lild wrote:
Sounds like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite singing....
LOL..this is really awful.
heuuu.... Sucko Barfo....
Prainful; would sound great on Gray's Anatomy.
I love this entire CD! How about "Spending the Day in the Shirt That You Wore"?
SmackDaddy wrote:
Three of the best shows I've EVER seen were the three times I've seen PDP. While their new stuff is quite different, if you take the time to listen to it their soul is still intact and it's quite good.
He's only seen four total and the other was Bert Bacharach.