The 2nd single off the album and the definite crowd favorite from this collection. It has been played on every one of my tours since then and is usually on the set. It is my personal favorite from the album having all the elements that I wanted to capture. It has energy and a tropical feel to it. It started off as an attempt to write a political piece but that was soon scratched in favor of a piece about a despot island bully and his indiscretions outside of marriage. All this while trying to keep it from his wife who is the one who really wears the pants at home hence, he can't come home without his ring or he'll be in real trouble. This made for much more interesting songwriting than politics I thought. It is always a fun song to do live and if you go out to catch one of our shows you will probably hear it that night. Only one verse of the political version survived although it never made it on to the record. I have included it in the lyrics because it is always sang when done live. Hope you enjoy the song as much as I have all these years.
lyrics
Down in some banana republic, lives a man who rules as king
His mother English, father Aborigine,
He's an Australian viking
He's as big as an ox, as strong as a tank,
And crazy about his rice and beans
Made by his wife the lovely Lolita
Born in Havana, raised in Beijing
He's the Bearded Wonder from down under
Heading up the coast to buy a golden ring
He left the band Lolita gave him, he can't come home without his ring
Oh oh whoah oh oh whaoah
Now he's not afraid of any man, he runs his country like a king
But, it's a different story at home with his crazy Cuban Queen
He's the Bearded Wonder from down under
Heading up the coast to buy a golden ring
He left the band Lolita gave him, he can't come home without his ring
Oh oh whoah oh oh whaoah
Now he's been known to take it off but he,
Never gives a good reason
He once came home without his ring,
The country almost lost its king
He's the Bearded Wonder from down under
Heading up the coast to buy a golden ring
He left the band Lolita gave him, he can't come home without his ring
Oh oh whoah oh oh whaoah
And there's a picture of Fidel right on the wall and
Another of the Che' right down the hall
Living with Lolita was the best solution
So you can follow your dream and f*ck the revolution
He's the Bearded Wonder from down under
Heading up the coast to buy a golden ring
He left the band Lolita gave him, he can't come home without his ring
Oh oh whoah oh oh whaoah
credits
from Canute! Alive From East Drive...,
released July 25, 2014
Words and music by Rick Canut.
Rick Canut: Vocals, Piano, Synths, and Percussion.
James Wisner: Guitars and Bass
Pila Tunac: Drums
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