Tag: Mister Kicks

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I’ve told people that I love blogging on the weekends because I use this time to explore more than I do during the week. I’ve posted about The Blasters before and this time it’s the brothers…Dave and Phil Alvin. I like stories about making deals with the Devil and this song falls right into that. It’s been explored in movies and books…this theme is always interesting. 

I think the Devil is playing guitar on this one…because it is wicked sounding. No, that is Dave Alvin and his playing and tone are perfect. You cannot get a better tone than what he has on this. When I first heard it… that guitar stood out so much.

Dave and Phil Alvin are the brothers who founded The Blasters. This 2015 album was the duo’s second album called, Lost Time. When Dave left The Blasters in 1986 it created a riff but in 2012…a near-death experience for Phil..reunited the brothers to record a new album of Big Bill Broonzy songs called Common Ground.

The song was written by Oscar Brown Jr. an American singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, and civil rights activist. This song came from Brown’s musical called KICKS & CO. in 1961. They opened it up in Chicago but it closed early. It made it to Broadway 35 years later. 

It’s a well-written song thanks to Brown and it works today. 

Mr. Kicks 

Permit me to introduce myself, the name is Mr. Kicks
I dwell in a dark dominion way down by the river Styx
The devil has sent me here because I’m full of wicked tricks
And I’m such a popular fellow among all you lunatics
I teach a course in ruination from the Devil’s text
For fools who can’t withstand temptation,
Step right up you’re next
I hail from a hollow hell hole down around the river Styx
Allow me to introduce myself the name is Mister Kicks
When a old wolf starts a prowlin’
Out among the young lambs howling
Don’t you know he’s looking for kicks?
When a young cat full of sly tricks
Spends his evenings chasing fly chicks
Ten to one he’s looking for kicks
Kicks is always in demand
Cause kicks is full of fun and laughter
Lots of folks get out of hand
Because it’s only kicks they’re after
Shady lady and her lover operating undercover
She knows sin and virtue don’t mix
Her momma raised her prim and proper
But now wild horses couldn’t stop her
When she’s on a manhunt for kicks
Oh kicks, looking for kicks
Just kicks, nothing but kicks
I’m satan’s simple servant sent to get in a fix
So look me up just anytime
The name is mr., name is mr.,
Name is Mister Kicks