L. S. Underground

The Grape Prophet
  • Liner Notes The album's back-story
  • Ellis in the Orchard
  • Travels instrumental
  • The Fold
  • Wino of the Red is Stained
  • The Grape Prophet Speaks
  • English Interpreter of English
  • Ellis Converses with the Prophets
  • A Group of Prophets Predict the Pickers' Future Without Them
  • She Said
  • Back to the Orchard instrumental
    Liner Notes

    This is the story of Ellis, an orange picker from the groves of Southern California. Ellis worked for Colonel Peckesen, the orchard boss, and was instructed to oversee all of the hired hands for the Colonel. One day, early in the morning, as Ellis was picking oranges before the hired hands were to awake, the Colonel climbed up the ladder Ellis was picking from and handed him a letter. The letter stated: "We the pickers have heard the call of the Grape Prophet and have chosen to leave the orchards and work on the grapevines up north." After much coaxing by Colonel Peckesen, Ellis decides to travel to the grapevines to find out more of this Grape Prophet in hopes of returning with the hired hands before the orange crop spoils.
    "Ellis in the Orchard"

    Ellis in the orchard, pickin' baskets of oranges
    Where are all the hired hands?
    They've gone to follow some prophet man

    As far as I can understand
    they left to follow some prophet man

    Peckesen, poor Colonel Peckesen

    Ellis up a ladder, lookin' down at a letter
    Says, "we are the pickers,
    we've gone to work in the vineyards.
    The Grape Prophet called, and we heard our names,
    tell Colonel Peckesen that he's not to blame."

    Peckesen, poor Colonel Peckesen

    Ellis in the orchard, pickin' baskets of oranges
    Where are all the basket lines?
    They've gone to work in the grapevine

    The Colonel falls down on his face
    All his orange juice is gonna waste

    Peckesen, poor Colonel Peckesen
    "The Fold"

    She left me in a basket of rotten, round, bitter balls
    and Peckesen is beggin' to find her
    diggin' in to find the answer

    She's a ditchin'
    I think I see her now
    She's runnin' to clip me
    I think I see her now

    She's just singin' and starin'
    wanderin' around some vines and dirt
    She's lookin' me in the eyes
    but she doesn't seem to see me
    I can't seem to see her

    She's spinnin'
    Come into the fold

    Your future is ours
    and your mind in time
    Spin the callous wheel
    don't let the coil spoil
    "Wino of the Red is Stained"

    Hello Ellis, welcome to the rows of red and green
    Open up your mind and leave all reason far behind

    Empower

    Your aura shines just like a fire that is soon to dim
    Here comes your prophet now
    Just take a drink, we'll show you how

    Empower

    One glass and you will learn
    the future stories soon to come
    and when you get to three
    you'll find the paths that set you free

    Empower

    The wino of the red is stained
    "The Grape Prophet Speaks"

    The Grape Prophet:
    All the blues and lavender blossoms
    will be suckled unto their heirs
    and find lifted shelter
    and no abominations
    within the filtered soil
    of the trodden grove

    Interpreter:
    What he's saying is that we here in this body
    will be lifted up and be set apart
    from all other bodies of followers.

    The Crowd:
    He's a sensation

    The Grape Prophet:
    I was there and he was here
    we sat together and we supped
    one with another
    breaking bread as he opened gold tablets
    and he told me secrets that I can't tell.

    Interpreter:
    Basically what he's saying
    is he had an encounter
    he had lunch with... Jesus

    The Crowd:
    He's a sensation
    "English Interpreter of English"

    I am the English Interpreter of English
    When the Grape Prophet speaks
    I tell you what he says

    He speaks in riddles
    so it's hard to understand him
    He speaks in poetry that only I can bend

    He speaks in parables
    'cause Christ is so much like him
    And when the Grape Prophet speaks
    I tell you what he says
    "Ellis Converses with the Prophets"

    Get your rocks, get them far, far gone
    Mix it up with the Prince's plea
    Make it only understandable by the ones
    who are lifted high, so high, so high
    chosen with strength for the sights unseen

    Make it bigger, make it so so big
    don't forget the Jesus thing

    Step in the fire, jump in the cream
    I'm reading an aura from the risen core
    of the syphilis scene

    Kansas city, here I come
    open wide your door for me
    I'm just a picker from the orange grove
    Let me find this blessed wine

    It's a shame you're not hungry
    and tired of my life that is in your mouth
    Just kiddin', just foolin'
    couldn't follow you to itchy ear binds
    "A Group of Prophets Predict the Pickers' Future Without Them"
    (special thanks to the Peppers for inspiration)

    Big hooker on Sunset Boulevard
    Nice porno queen in a leotard
    Come on, you know it's the real life
    Sit back, sit forward it's so nice

    I'm a king from Kansas City
    I love holy women that are pretty
    You could have been on a video
    You could have been in my strip show

    What you would have been if you did not come
    "She Said"

    "Take my body, it's ready to be crushed
    Slip me in between your toes
    Take my mind it's ready to be drunk
    Slide me in under your tongue."

    she said, she said, she said
    she said, she said, she said

    I don't know why you only listen to the lie
    I don't know why doin' the sooth to suicide

    "Take my legs, they're ready to lay down
    Twistin' in the rooted soil
    Take my arms, I'm ready to be born
    Go on with things, I'm a seed"

    she said, she said, she said
    she said, she said, she said

    I don't know why you only listen to the lie
    I don't know why doin' the sooth to suicide
    I don't know why you only listen to the lie
    All lyrics (P) and (C) 1992 Ttonk Publishing. Reprinted without permission.