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Brian Eno — Dead Finks Don't Talk
Album: Here Come the Warm Jets
Avg rating:
5.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 252









Released: 1974
Length: 4:20
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Oh, cheeky cheeky
Oh, naughty sneeky
You're so perceptive and I wonder how you knew

But these finks don't walk too well
A bad sense of direction
And so they stumble round in threes
Such a strange collection

Oh, you headless chicken
Can those poor teeth take so much kicking?
You're always so charming
As you peck your way up there

And these finks don't dress too well (Oh, no! Oh, no!)
No discrimination (Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!)
To be a zombie all the time (Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!)
Requires such dedication (Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!)

Oh please, sir will you let it go by?
Cos I failed both tests with my legs both tied
In my place the stuff is all there
I've been ever so sad for a very long time
My my, they wanted the works, can you this and that?
I never got a letter back
More for me, bless my soul
More for me, bless my soul
More for me, bless my soul
More for me, bless my soul
More for me, bless my soul

Oh, perfect masters
They thrive on disasters
They all look so harmless
Till they find there way up there

But dead finks don't talk too well (Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!)
They've got a shaky sense of diction (Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!)
It's not so much a living hell (Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!)
It's just a dying fiction. (Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!)
Comments (86)add comment
THANK YOU RP

What a blast from the past 
Posted 3 weeks ago by meanderer    [ Reply ]
 smartn1 wrote:

I'll let my rating speak for me. 



If that's a 10 you're in good company :)
Posted 3 weeks ago by TWIMC    [ Reply ]
Interesting.
Which is not always a synonym for likeable…
Posted 3 weeks ago by DrLex    [ Reply ]
I'll let my rating speak for me. 
Posted 3 weeks ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
Would always rather hear Baby's On Fire but anything off of this crazy record is okay with me.
Posted 3 weeks ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Wow, that is...something.  I'm not sure what to think.  But I love that a song like this is played at all.  Thanks for "dusting out the closet", William!
Posted 3 weeks ago by Jayesea    [ Reply ]
I'm not sure what the hell I just heard and I'm also not sure whether I liked it or not
Posted 1 year ago by Sofa_King    [ Reply ]
And then there is Blank Frank.
Posted 2 years ago by acferrad    [ Reply ]
I can't believe it,  I heard Dead Finks on RP  well done <3
Posted 3 years ago by acferrad    [ Reply ]
I am surprised that this is the only traditional song format Eno tune on this station.  Eno should have written more traditional rock and roll songs, great songwriter!
Posted 4 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
The negativity surrounding this tune surprises. Always thought it to be innovative and original, and not exactly derivative as much as inspired by the fact that a band called 'The Beatles' woke up a lot of possibilities in music?

Always best perhaps in the album context of the closing 3 songs:

3."Dead Finks Don't Talk"  Paul Thompson, Busta Jones, Nick Judd, Eno4:194."Some of Them Are Old"   5:115."Here Come the Warm Jets"   4:04
 A fine medley.
Posted 8 years ago by zedstation    [ Reply ]
{#Beat}{#Fire}{#Frustrated} I am sure he was drunk when he wrote this...
Posted 9 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
Love the style, but the guitars are like dental drills inside my head.

"I like to play it. But I can't take the racket."
Posted 14 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
I know Brian Eno is some sort of musical genius, but this song is just annoying.
Posted 14 years ago by jules44    [ Reply ]
This is Brian Eno?!  Seriously?  He's normally so good!
Posted 14 years ago by nerakdon    [ Reply ]
 progrockette wrote:
I think you can't overlook the fact that this song made in 1974, and was WAY ahead of its time.
 
{#High-five} And now for something completely different!

Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Kudos to Bill for playing old obscure Eno tracks that no one likes (well, except me and a few other weirdos).  ; )
 
::raises hand::

Although admittedly I hadn't heard it until here. 
Posted 14 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
 tomis wrote:
Sounds like the sort of thing one comes up with when messing about in Apple GarageBand on a lazy Sunday... Not good, not bad, it just is.
 
I think you can't overlook the fact that this song made in 1974, and was WAY ahead of its time.

Posted 14 years ago by progrockette    [ Reply ]
This has got to be one of the worst songs I have ever heard... with that said, I can appreciate that some people have positive connotations to it from back in the day... please no more!
Posted 14 years ago by soulcollision    [ Reply ]
 dmax wrote:
Oh you headless chicken
Can those poor teeth take so much kicking.

To be a zombie all the time
Requires such dedication.

THANKS BILL
 
{#Cheers}

Posted 14 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH YEEEESSSSSS!!!! One of the greatest kiss-off songs ever written! (Oh no!){#Razz}
Posted 14 years ago by dannyboy57    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Kudos to Bill for playing old obscure Eno tracks that no one likes (well, except me and a few other weirdos).  ; )
 

Package me up in that wierdo box as well  Mr. Beach ... .this is pure genius from a time and date when I stared for hours at the LP trying to figure this out. And freakin' out to the music .... and well .. you get the picture ..

Posted 14 years ago by UncleChig    [ Reply ]
Kudos to Bill for playing old obscure Eno tracks that no one likes (well, except me and a few other weirdos).  ; )
Posted 15 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I guess it's not for everybody, given the ratings, but this is one of my favorite tracks from one of my favorite albums.

Posted 15 years ago by ProgFusion    [ Reply ]
Sounds like the sort of thing one comes up with when messing about in Apple GarageBand on a lazy Sunday... Not good, not bad, it just is.
Posted 15 years ago by tomis    [ Reply ]
Hey, stand proudly for your weirdnesses. At some level of examination, it's about all we have that separates us from the low beasts. (That and, as a funny person noted, "The ability to accessorize.")

 Proclivities wrote:
This album was one of a few that helped get me through my high school years.  Still sounds great to me today.
 Sorry if it sounds too "weird" for some of you.
 


Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
This album was one of a few that helped get me through my high school years.  Still sounds great to me today.
 Sorry if it sounds too "weird" for some of you.
Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 aelfheld wrote:
I think the reason "style elements he was using in the early '70s" pop up in this is because it was released in '74.
 
When you think about it, 35 years old is pretty amazing. Most folks wouldn't be able to put a date to most of Eno's work.  Even the Beatles'  music, as well as the Stones, etc. is generationally obvious.

Posted 15 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
Funny, I love 'em both.
 sdn wrote:
Oh, this is weirdly funny.  Cool.

(MUCH better than that Tragically Hip song a few minutes ago, which everyone else seemed to love.  Maybe it's me.) 
 


Posted 15 years ago by camden_hampden    [ Reply ]
I think the reason "style elements he was using in the early '70s" pop up in this is because it was released in '74.

Posted 15 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
I so hated this two months ago. Today, it made me laugh and wanna dance. Wait and see what June brings, I suppose.
Posted 15 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
Every time I try to like it, it takes things to an even weirder level, as if Brian Eno is in my head yanking my chain.  GET OUT OF MY MIND!!!
Posted 15 years ago by FlamingLotus    [ Reply ]
"More for me, oh bless my soul."

Truly bizarre, but I'm with Bob on this one. Somehow it works. It may require that one be a survivor of the 70s to feel that way, (if anyone can be said to have "survived" that bizarre decade) but pretty cool.
Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
I likes it, I does! 

You haven't heard weird until you've heard Farmer Gabriel* by Moebius, Plank & Mayo (which was sorried immediately when I uploaded it to the LRC).  More chicken references, too.
*Here's a snippet
Posted 15 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]
I think this definitely elevated my self-esteem today.  :-)
Posted 15 years ago by hungrywoman    [ Reply ]
Oh, this is weirdly funny.  Cool.

(MUCH better than that Tragically Hip song a few minutes ago, which everyone else seemed to love.  Maybe it's me.) 
Posted 15 years ago by sdn    [ Reply ]
Supposedly written as a dig against Bryan Ferry when Eno left Roxy Music.
Posted 15 years ago by F1    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
What a bunch of wusses.
  Yeah - This is the same crowd that embraces Zappa?
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Gives a new dimension to 'trippy'.
Posted 15 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
Okay I was fine until the "OH NO! OH NO! OH NO!" warbling crap.

I'd like some sharp pointy sticks to jab into my ears now, please.

But, as others have said, thanks for the warning, bill.  Now stop please?  :)
Posted 15 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
Love this whole album and this era of Eno "pop".
Posted 15 years ago by camden_hampden    [ Reply ]
I like it, mostly because it's clearly so influential on his later production work. It stands on its own fairly well, too, albeit oddly akilter.
Posted 15 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
This covers my dose of weird for the day.
Posted 15 years ago by JonnyNismo    [ Reply ]
...on a casual background first listen, this definitely does not do it for me...

...i thought it was frank zappa until i checked...

Posted 15 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
I like it. What's interesting to me is hearing style elements he was using in the early '70s that are still popping up in his production work.
Posted 15 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
If someone were to compile a "Worst of Eno" collection, this would be in it, even if it were only a one track collection.

Posted 15 years ago by rmh3    [ Reply ]
Um, yeah. Yeah? {#Stupid}
Posted 15 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
 oldman wrote:
Somebody upload "Baby's on Fire" from this album
 
Please!! And Cindy Tells Me. (Agreeing with another prior comment)

Posted 15 years ago by annersjen    [ Reply ]
At least Bill warned us. This IS weird.

I sorta like it though.
Posted 15 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
wth is going on here?!?!
Posted 15 years ago by jenakle    [ Reply ]
So Brian Eno....Good to hear something so off the wall!
Posted 15 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Count me as one more vote for Baby's On Fire instead.
Posted 15 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]

"I was just a broken head
I stole the world that others punctured
Now I stumble through the garbage
Slide and tumble, slide and stumble
Beak and claw, remorse reminder
Slide and tumble, slide and stumble
Back and forth and back to nothing
Keep them tidy, keep them humble.

Chop and change to cut the corners
Sharp as razors shiny razors
Stranded on a world thats dying
Never moving, hardly trying.

I was just a broken head
I stole the world that others plundered
Now I stumble through the garbage
Slide and tumble, slide and stumble."

Now that's what I'd like to hear on RP!


Posted 15 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
This needs to be near the top of the don't-play list.

Posted 15 years ago by petesoper    [ Reply ]
No kidding- that's irritating as all hell!{#Frustrated}
Posted 15 years ago by purplespider    [ Reply ]
Sounds like someone is molesting a pelican in the background...
Posted 15 years ago by kylemichael    [ Reply ]
{#Music}
Posted 16 years ago by Deadwing    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
What a bunch of wusses. Go dig out your Celine Dion records and leave us alone!
 

Ew. Just EW.

Posted 16 years ago by melissab    [ Reply ]
I really like his ambient stuff.   This?   I think this is the first listen, and bless my soul, I just don't know yet.
Posted 16 years ago by ronniegirl    [ Reply ]
Agreed,... not the best cut to play. "Baby's on Fire"" (or Cindy Tells Me" or "On Some Faraway Beach" ) are stronger and have worn better. Still, All Music Guide gives it ***** for a reason.

Posted 16 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
Wow, was that unattractive. Made me long for the screaming of my infant grandsons.
Posted 16 years ago by ottojschlosser    [ Reply ]
Segue into Cracker was perfect.
Posted 16 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
{#Music}
Posted 16 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
WTF?  I don't think I can rate this... it transcends numbers.

Posted 16 years ago by andrewmi    [ Reply ]
Yeah, I'd say once every three years is about the right play frequency for this.
Posted 16 years ago by mongoose01ca    [ Reply ]
I thought there was a policy against squeezing seagulls and pelicans?
Posted 16 years ago by wenatchee    [ Reply ]
This guy is a god at helping others create better music.  He should stick to that.  His own music (if this is any indication of it) is horrendous.
Posted 16 years ago by lerxst    [ Reply ]
Somebody upload "Baby's on Fire" from this album
Posted 16 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
Interesting to hear how his production style has lived on with U2, Coldplay, etc.
Posted 16 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
What a bunch of wusses. Go dig out your Celine Dion records and leave us alone!
Posted 19 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Yesssssss
Posted 19 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Here's one time I hope Bill ignores the low ratings and just plays it 'cause he likes it. This is not the best cut on this LP (I personally like Here Come the Warm Jets, Needle in the Camel's Eye, and the godlike Baby's on Fire better), but I'm glad it's cracked the RP playlist. Bill, and the rest of y'all: Baby's on Fire. I'm tellin' ya.
Posted 19 years ago by horseplayer    [ Reply ]
I'm reading Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and somehow this song just fits as a soundtrack. Loving it. I always liked the weird, creepy, freaky Brian Eno of "Warm Jets" better than the spacey "Music For Airports" Eno anyway. Oh boy... Adrian Belew. Gotta go work some more now.
Posted 19 years ago by susafina    [ Reply ]
whoever is sitting on the goose..... get the hell off! (it can't breathe) 8O
Posted 19 years ago by beautifuldreamer    [ Reply ]
I've had this album for decades. Eno is an acquired taste. His influence was huge at the time ( Robert Fripp, David Byrne). A wee bit Syd, you'll enjoy or hate Eno.
Posted 19 years ago by UncleChig    [ Reply ]
I like sinister sounding tracks, this particular track works for me at some points. But other sections of the track just evoke my turn it off!! turn it off!! turn it off!! reflex.
Posted 19 years ago by Johnski333    [ Reply ]
I understand why Brian Eno was important, and maybe still is, but this is uttter crap.
Posted 19 years ago by twd3lr    [ Reply ]
Ok, it just gets worse. This is why you only hear about Eno on other people's records... :)
Posted 19 years ago by japanmoran    [ Reply ]
W T F I was prepared to vote this up just for being different than 90% of what RP plays, but this just plain sucks.
Posted 19 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
Excellent album!!! More, please! Maybe Baby's On Fire?
Posted 19 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
8O Koo-koo-ka-choob?
Posted 19 years ago by Beanie    [ Reply ]
Man, this sucks.
Posted 19 years ago by japanmoran    [ Reply ]
hey, this is wacked ;-)
Posted 19 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]