Old Man Mose
The Manhattan Transfer · Other Songs - The Manhattan Transfer
Now one time there lived an old man
With a very crooked nose
He lived inside a log hut
And they called him ol' man Mose
One dark and dreary morning I knocked upon his door
I didn't hear a single sound
So I ain't gonna do it no more.
'cos I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I believe ol' man, thatol' man Mose is dead.
I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I believe ol' man, that ol' man Mose is dead.
(Now you believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)
Now listen here,
I went round to the window
And I peeped in through the crack,
Inside there was an old man
Laying flat upon his back
I thought that he was sleeping
Head hung to the floor
He didn't make a single move
So I ain't gonna do it no more
'cos I found out ol' man, I found out ol' man
Yeah, I found out ol' man, ol' man Mose is dead
('cos you found out) ol' man
(you found out) ol' man
(you found out) ol' man
(you found out he's dead)
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out he's dead)
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kickin' up daisies
(you found out he's dead)
Old Man Mose is dead.
Old Man Mose
The Manhattan Transfer's 1969 recording of 'Old Man Mose' stands as a quintessential example of their signature style, blending jazz improvisation with gospel and folk influences. The group, known for their vocal ensemble approach, delivers a performance that balances intricate harmonies with a lively, rhythmic drive characteristic of their work during the late 1960s. While the song draws inspiration from traditional American spirituals and blues, the arrangement elevates the material through sophisticated jazz phrasing and dynamic interplay among the vocalists. This track exemplifies the band's ability to reinterpret folk and religious themes within a sophisticated jazz framework, creating a sound that remains distinctively theirs. The recording captures the energy and technical skill that defined their career, offering a timeless contribution to the vocal jazz genre.