Bastard Son from Bastard Son by Wily Bo Walker & Phil Thomas

“I‘ll sleep when I’m dead
That’s what my Pa used to say…”

'Bastard Son' is a VoodooVille tale and another drunken, swamp’n’stomp, Southern Gothic fable. This one from the pen of Phil Thomas

Performed here with Wily Bo Walker and friends, ‘Bastard Son’ is a stand alone story which also sets the scene and highlights the background of the lead character in Wily Bo’s forthcoming production of ‘The Rattlin Bone Theatre Show’

Some fine guests have joined Wily and Phil on this recording: Ned Clamp on harmonica and E D Brayshaw, Don Gordon & Rattlin Bone’s very own Li’l Neill on claps, shouts and backing vocals

Wily Bo has given the song his trademark cinematic production

Phil Thomas is an ethnomusicologist. Formerly a director of an arts festival, he now researches and writes about topics in the world of music
He also writes & performs his own songs with instruments crafted from objects such as cigar boxes, broom handles & recycled objects (https://www.clippings.me/philip-thomas)

Also available as a bonus download with this release is Phil's book on the Diddley Bow 'It's Been a Long Hard Road' available as a PDF or epub

Tracklist

1.	Bastard Son	4:30

Lyrics

THERE WAS GONNA BE A SHOTGUN WEDDING
BUT HE DIDN’T COME
THE ONLY THING THAT PAPA KNEW
WAS WHICH WAY TO RUN
AIN’T NO FIGHT HE EVER WON
AND ALL HE LEFT
WAS A BASTARD SON
OF A BASTARD SON

MAMA TRIED TO DO WHAT SHE CAN
TRY TO MAKE WILY BO IN TO SOME KIND OF MAN
FOR ALL THE GOOD SHE EVER DONE
I’M LIVING THE LIFE
OF A BASTARD SON
OF A BASTARD SON

WELL I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING
[I’M GONNA MAKE IT]
I’M GONNA GET WHAT I NEED
[I’M GONNA TAKE IT]
AIN’T NOBODY GONNA STAND IN MY WAY
[HEY]
I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING
[I’M GONNA GET IT]
NOTHING GONNA STOP ME
[AIN’T GONNA LET IT]
I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD
THAT’S WHAT MY PA USED TO SAY

ALL MY LIFE
I’VE BEEN A HIGHWAY CHILD
BURNING RUBBER
COVERING MILES
SPENT MY TIME
HIDING FROM A MAN WITH A GUN
LIVING MY LIFE
AS A BASTARD SON
OF A BASTARD SON

© 2019 Phil Thomas. All Rights Reserved

Credits

from Bastard Son, released April 30, 2021
Wily Bo Walker - Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bass, Percussion,
Whistling, Sound FX, Stomps, Claps, Shouts & The VoodooVille Choir

Phil Thomas - Acoustic Guitar, Diddley Bow, Tambourine, Cowbell, Cajon Shouts & Backing Vocals

Ned Clamp - Harp
Don Gordon - Shouts & Backing Vocals
E D Brayshaw - Shouts & Claps
Neill Bristow - Shouts & Claps

Produced by Wily Bo Walker

Mastered at 24 Bit 44.1khz by Denis Blackham, Skye Mastering

License