Long before CDs and mp3s; in an analog age of vacuum tube amps and turntable needles the size if ten penny spikes, Peter Narvaez and I made music in a rockabilly band called Pete and Jimmy and the Ryhthm Knights. Over the years I’ve wandered in and out of the music scene, but Peter stayed well in and married his love of blues to his second career teaching folklore at Memorial University in St. Johns, Newfoundland. He also became a brilliant finger-style blues guitarist and harp player, and is a fine song-writer.
Immediately following is a song by Peter, the sentiment of which anyone who’s spent spring in the fields and woods of the eastern U.S. will appreciate.
Enjoy both the lyrics and videos of Black Fly Moan and Hoodoo Doctor performed by Peter last month on.Out of the Fog, a St. Johns cable show.
Black Fly Moan
Peter NarvaezWell, down east when you’re plantin’ in the spring
Yeah down east when you’re plantin’ in the spring
Down east when you’re plantin’ your spuds in the spring
Well them black flies start their prancin’ on the wing.They’re gonna swarm like a storm right into your ear
Yeah they’re gonna swarm like a storm into your ear
Yeah they’ll swarm like a storm right into your ear
Tell you stories that you never want to hear(You got the black fly moan)
And always have your citronella there
I said always have your citronella there
Always have your citronella there
Keep them flies from tanglin’ in your hair
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