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Subaltern Boutique

from NATIVE by John Ellis

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lyrics

when i got back from the war
i wasn’t sure who the enemy was
when i got back from the war
i wasn’t sure who the enemy was
every president prays
every thief makes the sign of the cross

i’ve got an exit strategy
for when the apocalypse comes
i’ve got an exit strategy
for when the apocalypse comes
i’ve designed it to withstand
the light of a thousand suns

today the clouds gathered up the horizon
waited for the command
today the clouds gathered up the horizon
waited for the command
since the weather changed hands
it’s unlikely things’ll go as planned

thirty-seven roses at the foot
of the lighthouse and i waited all night
thirty-seven roses at the foot
of the lighthouse and i waited all night
i have to admit
she’s putting up a hell of a fight

sometimes i hear my guitar
telling secrets meant for someone else
sometimes i hear my guitar
telling secrets meant for someone else
sometimes you’ve got to watch the ones
you love do things you’ve never done yourself

i feel a little more bewildered
at the end of every day
i feel a little more bewildered
at the end of every day
i’ve got a mantra
i just wish i had a license to pray

i’m at right angles to the sun
in the cradle of humankind
i’m at right angles to the sun
in the cradle of humankind
my voice has a colour
but thank God the whole world is going blind

i’m neither one nor the other
mama, i’m non-binary
i’m neither one nor the other
mama, i’m non-binary
i get all my clothes
from the Subaltern Boutique

© John Ellis 2022

credits

from NATIVE, released April 27, 2022
Produced by John Ellis
Executive Producer: Duncan Brown
Recorded, engineered and mixed by Brent Quinton
Assisted by Dale Wardell
Mastered by Rogan Kelsey

Recorded at The Audio Suite, Westville, KwaZulu-Natal Feb-April 2021
Additional recording at the Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria March 2021 by Fuzz Senekal and at the United Rhythms Studio, Durban May 2021 by David Jenkins
Some extra recording happened in Durban North and Pietermaritzburg May 2021

String arrangement and orchestration for “Dogs”: Bryan Schimmel

Artwork: Aimee Lindeque
Art Direction: Antony Ellis

Words and Music: John Ellis
“Down Paradise”: John Ellis, Patric van Blerk, Fransua Roos
Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by CNC Music
All songs © John Ellis 2021

These musicians played these instruments:
David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins (umhuphe, concertina, maskandi guitar) Maqhinga Radebe (maskandi guitar) Njabulo Shabalala (percussion) Victor Sithole (umqangala, udloko, umzaneno) Burton Naidoo (piano) David Klassen (drums) Rixi Roman (upright bass) Regardt de Bruin (konsertina) Shanjeet Teeluck (sitar) Vishen Kamraj (tabla) Barry van Zyl (additional percussion) Andy Turrell (snare drum and coffee) Ralitza Macheva (violin) Petya Koleva (violin) Kolio Koleva (cello) Ralitsa Pechoux (cello) John Ellis (guitar, singing, additional percussion)

“Native” was made possible by the AW Mellon Foundation through the “Rethinking South African Literature(s)” project at the University of the Western Cape.

Siyabonga:
All the wonderful musicians. Brent Quinton. Dale Wardell. Fuzz Senekal. Bryan Schimmel. Aimee Lindeque. Antony Ellis. Rogan Kelsey. Jill Flusk.
Siyabonga kakhulu:
David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins. Susan du Toit. Duncan Brown, without whom this album would not exist.

For Liam, Bethany and Sadie: natives, too.

A Luta Continua.

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John Ellis Durban, South Africa

A singer-songwriter from Durban, South Africa, John has played his music all over the world. His fifth full-length solo album "Native"will be released on April 27 2022.

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