Lyrics
I dreamed I saw Saint Lucifer, alive as you and me
He offered me a 2×4, sweetened naturally
He handed out some anagrams then left without a word
A deep sharp silence followed him
The loudest ever heard.
Now, I don’t care for Lucifer. You know that to be true
But I don’t care for anyone ’cept me and sometimes you
I wish that I had never met that wretched holy man
‘Cause now I’m stuck here in between
The good and righteous plan.
Oh, Saint Lucifer! Time for you to go
Oh, St. Lucifer! We’re canceling your show
Oh, St. Lucifer! You done it this time, man
Oh, St. Lucifer!
Don’t come ’round again!
I dreamed I saw Saint Lucifer along the shoreline drive
I offered him a 2×4. He didn’t look alive
I handed out some alibis then left without a word
A deep loud silence followed me
The saddest ever heard
Oh, Saint Lucifer! It’s time for you to go
Oh, St. Lucifer! Let’s wrap up the show
Oh, St. Lucifer! It’s bigger than you, man
Oh, St. Lucifer!
Never come again!
Oh, Saint Lucifer! Time for you to go
Oh, St. Lucifer! Finish up your show
Oh, St. Lucifer! It’s not about you, man
Oh, St. Lucifer…
We all doin’ what we can…
Don’t come ’round again
© 2022 At Swim-Two-Birds Music. (BMI)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Credits
Songwriter
Words and music by Christian Crumlish (BMI).
Personnel
- Christian Crumlish – ukulele, vocals
- Robert Wade – guitar, bass, vocals
- Dan Brodnitz – piano, vocals
- David Gans – vocals
- Joshua Raoul Brody – pipe organ, harpsichord
- j.d. hanes – drums
Recording dates
| Date | Session details |
|---|---|
| March 25, 2023 | Crumlish on vocals and electric ukulele. Brodnitz on piano. Goody on bass. |
| April 28, 2023 | j.d. hanes added drums |
| April 29, 2023 | Crumlish recut his uke rhythm part. Gans, Brodnitz, and Wade added background vocals. |
| June 23, 2023 | Added bass and guitar overdubs by Wade (recorded elsewhere). Sculpted guitar and other parts. Brought piano up in the mix. Muted electric guitar in the early verses. |
| June 21, 2024 | Tweaked some bass notes. Decided not to recut vocal. |
| July 30, 2024 | Added pipe organ and harpsichord overdubs by Joshua Raoul Brody (recorded elsewhere). |
| November 13, 2024 | Final mix. |
Song Notes
First I had a lick, a simple G to F to C7 back to G with a touch of swing and maybe the slightest hint of the hook from Casey Jones, played through on the acoustic uke. It grabbed a handful of Joe Hill, Robert Hunter, and Bob Dylan and the first line dropped in: “I dreamed I saw Saint Lucifer, alive as you and me.” At that point it was feeling a bit like a folk song, and when we took it to the studio initially it was still pretty raw and angular, with the fundamental rhythm coming from Dan’s piano part. It was also Dan who came up with the hooting over the lick, and it was those “hoo-hoos” that inspired Robert to add the gnarly guitar that now drives the song.
Once we had a rough mix to listen through, it was David, I think, who suggested we get some pipe organ added to the song and when Joshua delivered both that part and a harpsichord over the final chorus we were on the next level. This one song may have come the furthest from solo start to rock ‘n’ roll finish.