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Books of Moses

A Biblical blues with rain and a chisel in the mix.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence, from Oar (1969)

Written by
Alexander Spence
Released
1969
Length
2:42
Album
Oar

No Depression described the song's biblical musings as delivered through clenched teeth over spooky Delta blues guitar, with off-kilter percussion that sounds like nails being pounded into a pie pan. Louder heard a rainstorm in the background and someone chipping away at a stone tablet. Uncut pointed to the serpents and angels in the lyrics.

Tom Waits covered it on More Oar. In the Record Club session Jamie Lidell and the drummer James Gadson turned it into a funk jam.

Covers and versions

More songs by Alexander 'Skip' Spence

Little Hands, Cripple Creek, Weighted Down (The Prison Song), War in Peace, Omaha

Sources

  1. Alexander 'Skip' Spence: Oar, No Depression (1999)
  2. Skip Spence, Moby Grape and Oar, Louder
  3. The Magic of Skip Spence: He was like a neon sign, Uncut (2020-06)
  4. Record Club: Oar, Pitchfork (2010-03-05)