Sound clip available
"Live Libel" version Original version:
Uncle Seabird was an action man Uncle Seabird was an action man
He knew the scene before the scene began He made the scene before the scene began
The first cat to drop acid in the Haight The first cat to drop acid in the Haight
He understood the lyrics of The Weight He understood the lyrics of The Weight
When Fillmore West was still a carousel When Fillmore West was still a carousel
And the chick to know was Luria Cantrell And the chick to know was Luria Cantrell
Uncle Seabird tried hard to be nice The man to meet already was long gone
When Berry Gordy asked him for advice Leaving Kesey and his ilk to struggle on
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd
When Uncle Seabird wrote for Rolling Stone A feature of those gentle early days
A generation felt much less alone That time and circumstance cannot erase
His footloose odyssey went so far back Was Uncle Seabird trying to be nice
He recalled not having heard of Kerouac When Berry Gordy asked him for advice
He represented youth in all its force "There's a new group down a hole you oughta
For evolution has to take its course hear"
When the children queued to hear the Grateful Said the telephone in Brian Epstein's ear
Dead "But let's not haggle now about my fee
His wheelchair glittered somewhere up ahead Tom Parker handles these affairs for me"
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd
When a snot-nosed little kid called Zimmerman When Uncle Seabird wrote for Rolling Stone
Was seeking a new surname that would scan A generation felt much less alone
Uncle Seabird filled his lungs with hash His footloose odyssey went so far back
And "Weberman" he muttered in a flash He recalled not having heard of Kerouac
"There's a new group down a hole you ought to He represented youth in all its force
hear" For evolution has to take its course
Said the telephone in Brian Epstein's ear When the children streamed to hear the
"But let's not haggle now about my fee Grateful Dead
Tom Parker handles these affairs for me" His wheelchair glittered somewhere up ahead
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd
The last and greatest festival of all Uncle Seabird was the guru of the young
Was Uncle Seabird's acid test and ball He spoke their tight and unresisting tongue
They say one row of people passed a joint By steady work he pruned the language down
From Yasgur's Farm clear to Zabriskie Point To an article, an adverb and a noun
Crosby Stills and Clapton, Young and Nash When a snot-nosed little kid called Zimmerman
Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash Was seeking a new surname that would scan
They all backed Yoko Ono while she ... sang Uncle Seabird filled his lungs with hash
And Elvis Presley read from R D Laing And "Weberman" he muttered in a flash
When Uncle Seabird wheeled onto the stage Uncle Seabird had the word
He was crowding eighty-seven years of age Uncle Seabird had the word
"We are stardust, we are ... (croak)" he cried Uncle Seabird led the herd
And the children yelled his name out as he died He led the herd
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word The last and greatest festival of all
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word Was Uncle Seabird's acid test and ball
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd They say one row of people passed a joint
Uncle Seabird From Yasgur's farm clear to Zabriskie Point
Crosby, Stills and Clapton, Young and Nash
Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash
They all backed Yoko Ono while she sang
And Elvis Presley read from R D Laing
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird had the word
Uncle Seabird, Uncle Seabird led the herd
When Uncle Seabird wheeled onto the stage
He was crowding eighty-seven years of age
"We are stardust, we are (croak)" he cried
And the children yelled his name out as he
died
Uncle Seabird
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