Dennis Lawrenson Writes : Jacks Tracks
Tales of Brave Ulysses
From the brilliant Cream album Disraeli Gears which was released in 1967. The song was a Clapton / Sharp collaboration (Sharp was Erics flatmate at the time.) Sharp did the cover design for the album as well.
Tales of Brave Ulysses was a wahwah pedal extravaganza. Beginning with Jacks descending bass line its not long before the song is in full flight, along with lyrics that totally fitted into the psychedelic mind blowing era.
The basic chord structure gave Ginger the opportunity to give his drums an absolute workout whilst Jacks story telling vocals let you hear and absorb every word that frees your mind to conjure imagery of bright colours, a tantalizing girl, a swirling ocean, tiny purple fishes, what a trip!!
The song was relatively short clocking in at 2 minutes 46 seconds; the memories of the song have lasted a lot longer!
A full review including chords, lyrics and a sample MP3 of the live version recorded on March 10 1968 at Winterland, San Francisco (which was later released on Live Cream 2 in June 1972) can be found at the Cuicoland Back Issues site at the following address . www4.tpgi.com.au/jlorro/
Tales Of Brave Ulysses The chords D C G and Bb
Lyrics:
You though the leading winter would bring you down forever
But you rode upon a steamer to violence of the sun
And the colours of the sea blind your eyes with trembling mermaids
And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses
How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing
While the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss the white laced lips
Middle part:
Solo on these chords with lots of distortion and wah-wah
A7 D C A7 D C
Beat * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And you see a girls brown body dancing through the turqouise
And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea
And when your fingers find her she drowns you in her body
Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind
**Middle part again**
The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter
Her name is Aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell
And you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands
With tales of brave Ulysses how his naked ears were tortured
By the sirens sweetly singing
**Solo on verse chords**
The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter
**More solo on verse**