"The Angry Angakok" is a track by The Residents from their "cultural documentary" album Eskimo, released in 1979 on Ralph Records.
According to the liner notes, "The Angry Angakok" depicts (in the format of an ambient soundscape) the story of a hunter provoking the ire of an Angakok, a shaman of the fictional Polar Eskimo community detailed on the album.
In 2017 it was included in the retrospective box set compilation 80 Aching Orphans; on this release the track segues out of "Tourniquet of Roses".
Liner notes[]
Still from the Eskimo DVD, 2002
Angakoks, the Eskimo men of magic. are widely held as symbols of mortal power among the tribe. Stories of their feats are very popular at tribal gatherings.
The whales whistled as the Eskimo tribe danced on and on to the lively beat of the ceremonial band. For twenty days they danced. And sang. And prayed. And still the ice floe hugged the shore line preventing the Eskimos from being able to kill their most valuable prey, the large migrating whale.
Anger had been building in the people towards the Angakok who allegedly had the power to remove the ice that was blocking their passage. Finally a hunter challenged the magic of the Angakok with hostile words, and others soon joined him in the traditional taunt of "necki, necki, necki", until the Angakok rose up before them and silenced them with a single cry.
A spell escaped from his lips and the sky darkened. A curse slipped from his finger and the seas swelled. The ice was cracking at last. But that dull roar? The Eskimos looked at one another with fear in their weathered faces. Then it appeared. A "giant snake which stands on the water" wiggled before them with its head in the clouds.
They briefly watched it eat a path through the ice floe, then hysterically ran for safety. But the water spout had one more job to do. The hunter who challenged the Angakok's magic was never seen again.
Lyrics[]
The below derives from a "possible phonetic Anglicization" of the Polar Eskimo chants heard on this track, transcribed by noted Residents collector and fan Ima Buddy and featured in the 1992 document Ima Buddy's Totally Impartial Companion to Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated BIG MAMAS.
Tribe: Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Ca-ca-ca, ca-ca-ca Caah, caah Caah, caah Caah, caah Caah, caah Caah, caah Caah, caah Caah, caah Caah, caah
Angakok:
Chooky wooky took a cake
To make on Tennessee
Cause to see to see to see
To see come Ceasaro
Mero my name mero my name
Mero my name I know -
I know I see Zaro Mero -
Your love shine lika tree
Your love shine lika tree
Your love shine lika tree.
Is it or does it please A woodchuck or a crow That-that Uncle Tom has-has left it seems To find some seeds to sow. O, cook a book. O, cook a book. O, cook a book a day. 'Cause even if an acorn eats it We don't have to pay.
Wooo, wooo O cook a book Hah wah waaaaah[1]
List of releases[]
- Eskimo (1979)
- Eskimo DVD (2003)
- 80 Aching Orphans (2017)
External links and references[]
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Eskimo (1979) Side A: |