I wrote the lyrics to this song in Amsterdam in June 2001, almost exactly three months before the attacks of September 11th. The line “I’m sending out false messages and I’m burning buildings down” thus had a frightening (if coincidental?) prescience. The “umbrella man” of the title refers to the figure in the Zapruder film of the JFK assassination, who opens his umbrella just a few moments before the firing of the fatal bullets. Some believe that this was a signal to the shooter(s) to open fire.
I intended this song to be about those people or events that cause the ground to shift under our feet.... "strange attractors" and wild cards. It’s about fanaticism and obsession and cunning and temptation and daring and courage and the times that try men’s souls. The Umbrella Man could be the ones who pulled Oswald’s strings, or Bin Laden, or George W. Bush… or any one of us, given the right or wrong circumstances.
This track was recorded at Terminal. Skeet Myers, a guitarist from McComb MS, had recorded a demo with this chord progression and let me use it for this song (and is thus a co-writer and co-producer of this track). His longtime friends, the Kohn brothers, played bass (Greg) and drums (Eric).
I’m out to save a world that doesn’t feel like being saved I’m on a metaphysical mission, headed for a heavenly grave I’m such a strange attractor, and I don’t wanna tell no tale But my mojo is a-workin’ far beyond this earthly veil
Can’t you see It’s clear to me That you don’t understand my philosophy But you gotta trust my plan I’m the umbrella man
I’d take you for a ride, then I’d hang you out to dry I’d leave you feeling lucky, but I ain’t that kind of guy I’m sending out false messages, and I’m burning buildings down I’d make a deal with angels if the devil’s out of town
But it’s true I’m feeling blue Because I don’t seem to be getting through to you The whole world’s my biggest fan I’m the umbrella man
It’s really kind of funny how it ever came to this But my trigger finger’s itching and I know that I just can’t miss The motorcade’s approaching and the time is close at hand For me to claim my destiny and make a hero’s stand
Pick up the phone Let it be known That the kid sure as hell didn’t act alone And I’d do it all again I’m the umbrella man
I can't hear the word umbrella without thinking about the word galloshes. I can't think of the word galloshes, without thinking about the words macadamia and gazebo. It's a problem I have. Nice song though. :)
