Country Joe & the Fish

[Collector's Items]Order

Collector's Items: The First Three EPs

[1st Rag Baby EP] Recorded 09 65, released as Rag Baby Talking Issue No. 1
[Peter Krug songs not included]

  1. Who Am I ? (5:40) *
  2. Dirty Claus Rag (2:00) *
  3. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag (2:00) [Take 1] *
  4. Superbird (3:33)
  5. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag (3:22) [Take 4]
  6. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag (2:40) [Take 5] *
* Previously unreleased

[2nd Rag Baby EP]

Recorded 06 06 66, released as Country Joe & the Fish
  1. Thing Called Love (2:33)
  2. Bass Strings (3:57)
  3. Section 43 (6:43)

[3rd Rag Baby EP]

  Cover design by Jane Fonda

Recorded 05 71, released as Resist! sings Country Joe
  1. Kiss My Ass (3:00)
  2. Tricky Dicky (3:54)
  3. Free Some Day (5:29)

Who am I ?

OK. One, two, three, four.

Who am I
To stand and wonder, to wait
While the wheels of fate
Slowly grind my life away.
Who am I ?

There were some things that I loved one time,
But the dreams are gone that I thought were mine,
And the hidden tears that once could fall
Now burn inside at the thought of all
The years of waste, the years of cryin'
The passions of a heart so blind;
To think that, but even still
As I stand exposed, the feelings are felt
And I cry into the echo of my loneliness.

Who am I
To stand and wonder, to wait
While the wheels of fate
Slowly grind my life away.
Who am I ?

What a nothing I've made of life
The empty words, the coward's plight
To be pushed and passed from hand to hand
Never daring to speak, never daring to stand
And the emptiness of my family's eyes
Reminds me over and over of lies
And promises and deeds undone
And now again I want to run
But now there is nowhere to run to.

Who am I
To stand and wonder, to wait
While the wheels of fate
Slowly grind my life away.
Who am I ?

And now my friend we meet again and
We shall see which one will bend
Under the strain of death's golden eyes
Which one of us shall win the prize
To live and which one will die
'Tis I, my friend, yes 'tis I
Shall kill to live again and again
To clutch the throat of sweet revenge
For life is here only for the taking.

Who am I
To stand and wonder, to wait
While the wheels of fate
Slowly grind my life away.
Who am I ? Who am I ?

Dirty Claus Rag

OK, 'Dirty Claus Rag', take 27!

The night 'fore Christmas we put up a tree,
You know it sure was a beautiful sight to see
The kids standin' round with a smile on their face
Were hangin' their stockings over the fireplace
And off to bed you know we all did race
Just a-waitin' for ol' Santa Claus.

Santa Claus, you dirty dog,
You know you done us wrong.
Woke up this morning, took a look around,
The Christmas tree was gone.

Well, come on, folks won't you listen to me,
I'm gonna tell ya the story about my Christmas tree
This kind of thing it won't happen no more
I'm gonna nail down the tree to the living-room floor
Wait for ol' Santa behind the door
And when he comes I'm gonna say

Santa Claus, you dirty dog,
You know you done us wrong.
Woke up this morning, took a look around,
The Christmas tree was gone.

Well, come on, folks won't you listen to me,
I'm gonna tell ya the story about my Christmas tree
This kind of thing it won't happen no more
I'm gonna nail down the tree to the living-room floor
Wait for ol' Santa behind the door
And when he comes I'm gonna say

Santa Claus, you dirty dog,
You know you done us wrong.
Woke up this morning, took a look around,
The Christmas tree was gone.

I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag
 [Take 1 - 09 65]

Oh this is, this is just a try out. It's not ...
'Fixin'-To-Die-Rag', 'Fixin'-To-Die-Rag', Take 1.
One, two, three, four.

Well, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
Yeah, he's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
Gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Yeah, come on Wall Street, don't be slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of its trade,
Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Now you can go out and get those reds
'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, and don't hesitate
To send your sons off before it's too late.
You can be the first ones in your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Superbird

Well, look up yonder in the sky what is that I pray ?
Yeah, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a man insane,
It's my president, whew, L.B.J.
I said he's flyin' high way up in the sky just like Superman,
But I got a little piece of kryptonite,
I'm gonna, whew, bring him back to land.

I said come out Lyndon with your hands held high,
Drop your guns, baby, reach for the sky.
I got you surrounded and you ain't got a chance,
Send you back to Texas, make you work on your ranch,
Yeah, yeah.

Well, he can call Super Woman and his Super Dogs,
But it won't do him no good,
Yeah, I found out why from a Russian spy
He ain't nothin' but a comic book.

We're gonna pull him off the stands and clean up the land,
We're gonna start us a brand new day.
And what is more I got the Fantastic Four
And Spiderman to help him on his way.

I said come out Lyndon with your hands held high,
Drop your guns, baby, reach for the sky.
I got you surrounded and you ain't got a chance,
Gonna send you back to Texas, make you work on your ranch,
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, we're gonna make him an agricultural worker ...
Part of his own poverty program.

I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag
[Take 4 - 09 65 Alternate edited version]

'Fixin'-To-Die-Rag', Take four.
Two, three, four.

Well, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
Yeah, he's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well, there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Yeah, come on Wall Street, don't be slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go.
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of its trade,
But just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well, there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Now you can go out and get those reds
'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well, there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, and don't hesitate
To send your sons off before it's too late.
And you can be the first ones in your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag
[Take 5 - 09 65 edited version]

Well, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Come on Wall Street, don't be slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of its trade,
But just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Now you can go out and get those reds
'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, and don't hesitate
To send your sons off before it's too late.
And you can be the first ones in your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Recorded at Chris Strachwitz' House, Berkeley, September 1965
Producer: Ed Denson
Engineer: Chris Strachwitz

Joe McDonald: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Barry Melton: vocals, electric guitar
Carl Shrager: washboard, kazoo
Bill Steele: washtub bass
Mike Beardsleee: vocal

[_____________________]

Thing Called Love

Well, now deep in my heart baby I know that you care,
Deep in my heart, babe, the feelin' is there,
'Cause I got somethin' money can't buy,
I got somethin' that you oughta try,
I got love, love, I said love, love,
I got love, baby.

Well, I can tell by your smile what you wanna do,
I can see in your eyes you got the feeling, too.
So come on, baby, it's time to move,
'Cause I've got somethin' that's a stone groove,
I got love, love, oh love, sweet love,
I got love, baby.

Well, now deep in my heart baby I know that you care,
Deep in my heart, baby, the feelin' is there,
'Cause I got somethin' money can't buy,
I got somethin' that you oughta try,
I got love, love, I said love,
Sweet love, love, yeah!

Bass Strings

I said, hey partner, now won't you pass that reefer round,
You know my world is spinnin', yeah, I just have to slow it down.
I said, hmm, yeah you know that I sure got to slow it down,
Got so high this time that you know I'm never comin' down.

Well, I'll go out to the seashore, baby, let the waves wash my mind,
You know I'll open up my head now to see what I can find,
I said hmm, yeah you know I'm gonna see what I can find,
Just one more trip now, you know I'll stay high all the time.

Yes, I'll go out to the desert just to try and find my past.
You know I got heavens all around me,
They're just beyond my grasp.
I said hmm, yeah you know they are just beyond my grasp.
I'll let the sand and the stars and the wind carry me back.

Section 43

Instrumental

Recorded at Sierra Sound Laboratories, Berkeley, June 06, 1966
Producer: Ed Denson
Engineer: Robert di Souza

Joe McDonald: vocals, electric guitar, harmonica
Barry Melton: vocals, electric guitar
David Cohen: electric guitar, Farfisa organ
Bruce Barthol: bass, harmonica
John Francis Gunning: drums
Paul Armstrong: tambourine, maracas

[_____________________]

Kiss My Ass

I got out of school and I was feeling kinda down,
I thought I'd join the Army just to take a look around.
I went on down to the recruiter man
And that's when all my troubles began.

Well, I've been up, down and around
This country more than a couple of times,
But I never knew until I got into the Army
That thinking for yourself was a crime.

Get over here, stand over there,
Let's see your identification.
Shut your mouth, son, get back in line,
We're sending you to South East Asia.

Well, they gave me some shoes that hurt my feet
They gave me some food not fit to eat,
They told me that I wasn't fighting alone,
They sent me to Saigon and they stayed home.

Well, I've been up, down and around
This country more than a couple of times,
But I never knew until I got into the Army
That thinking for yourself was a crime.

Get over here, stand over there,
Let's see your identification.
Shut your mouth, son, get back in line,
We're sending you to South East Asia.
All right.

One, two, three, four,
We don't want your fuckin' war,
A, B, C, D,
Get someone else, hey don't get me,
Left, right, left, right,
You know the whole damn thing puts me uptight.

I done my duty and I fought my fight
And I thought I knew I was doing right,
But that's all over, I'm free at last,
An' if they want any more, they can kiss my ass.

'Cause I've been up and down and around
This country more than a couple of times,
But I never knew until I got into the Army
That thinking for yourself was a crime.

Get over here, stand over there,
Let's see your identification.
Shut your mouth, son, get back in line,
We're sending you to South East Asia — like hell.

Tricky Dicky

Alright, 1, 2; 1, 2, 3.

Late last night I was watchin' the tube
When I saw the most incredible thing
They built a new mechanical man
Looked just like a human being.
I started to become terrified,
Good God it was makin' me sick
And then I began to realize
It was no one but Tricky Dick.

Yes, it was Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
He walks and he talks, he smiles, he frowns,
He does what a human can,
It was Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda,
The genuine plastic man.

There is no can't in American
Or so we once could say
But now our boys won't fight no more
To bring us victory.
Where are the mountain majesties
Above the fruited plains ?
Who will come to lead us
In our hour of pain ?

Why it's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
It's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
He walks and he talks, he smiles, he frowns,
He does what a human can,
He's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda,
The genuine plastic man, hey!

Oh my God, it's terrible
Here in the U.S.A.
The water's polluted, the economy's crashing
And can someone save the day ?
The war keeps going on and on
And the kids won't respect the cops,
It's even said that God is dead,
When will it ever stop ?

Hey, it's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
He walks, he talks, he smiles, he frowns,
He does what a human can,
He's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda,
The genuine plastic man.

And across the garbaged highways
From the oil-drenched plains
Now we'll see a victory,
America shall rise again.
Past the word that the buffalo heard
To the home of the free and the brave,
He's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.

Well, it's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda
Hip hip hip hurrah.
He walks, he talks, he smiles, he frowns,
He does what a human can,
He's Tricky Dicky from Yorba Linda,
The genuine plastic man, oh yeah,
He's the genuine plastic man, oh yeah,
He's the genuine plastic man.

Free Some Day

Oh brothers and sisters come on and join the army
We've got to help each other throw away our chains.
Come on and make revolution — join the people's army
If we stand together we'll all be free some day.

We'll be free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

We'll be free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

I can see the sun a-risin' on a brand new morning
I can hear voices singin' in a victory song, yeah!
I can see the people's army marchin' on to glory
If we stand together you know it won't be long

We'll be free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

Free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

Free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

Free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

Oh, brothers and sisters, come on and join the army
We've got to help each other throw away our chains.
Come on and make revolution — join the people's army,
If we stand together we'll all be free some day.
Hey, talkin' 'bout

Free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

We'll be free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

I can see the sun a-risin' on a brand new morning
I can hear voices singin' a victory song, yeah!
I can see the people's army, oh, marchin' on to glory,
If we stand together you know it won't be long.

And we'll be free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

Free some day
Free the sisters
Free some day
Free the brothers
Free some day
Free the children
We'll all be free some day.

Recorded at Jack Leahy's Funky Features Recording Studio, San Francisco, April 1971
Producer: Jack Leahy

Free the Army Show:
Joe McDonald: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Anna Rizzo: vocals
John Rewind: electric guitar
Richard Sussman: piano
Nacho Dewey: harmonica
Vic Smith: bass
Greg Dewey: drums

______________________

All tracks on CD "Collectors Items The first Three EPs"
[One Way Records OW 30990 released January 12, 1994]

All songs copyright © 1965 renewed 1993 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI, except :
"Thing Called Love", "Bass Strings" & "Section 43," copyright © 1967 renewed 1995 by Joyful Wisdom Music, BMI
"Kiss My Ass", "Tricky Dicky" & "Free Some Day" copyright © 1971 renewed 1993 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI

This page made possible through the kind assistance of Serge Mironneau.

______________________

Back to first page