Manfred Mann
“Blinded by the Light” was a perplexing pop hit, an infectious little ditty, one that lodged itself in your brain like a hungry parasite. Its success seemed to come in spite of the song’s surreal refrains, or maybe because of them. In the spring of 1977 my friends and I were gleefully singing “wrapped up like a douche”, as were most kids within earshot of a radio, usually incessantly, especially during long car rides to Disney World or while rollerskating backwards.
As you probably are well aware, those aren’t the actual lyrics. Correct answer: “revved up a like a deuce” — we have mumbly singer Chris Thompson to thank for this misperception. Here’s the real stinger though: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band neither wrote this memorable tune nor followed its original lyrics. The composer? If you don’t know, you’ll never guess because it’s Bruce Springsteen. And the correct line? “cut loose like a deuce”. Still not sure what it is to cut loose or rev a deuce. Perhaps that’s a car thing?
But all criticisms of accuracy and annoyance aside, whenever this song came on the radio I turned it up. But it wasn’t to revel in lyricus absurdum. I was struck dreamy-eared over those glorious synthesizer sounds.
The Earth Band had a jazz pianist at its helm, a fellow from South Africa named Manfred Lubowitz. Distaste for Apartheid pushed the young pianist out to door and off to London where he became immersed in the British jazz scene. Once there, he fashioned the moniker Manfred Mann(e) in honor of drummer Shelly Manne. When the Earth Band finally got rolling in the late 60′s, Lubowitz opted not to sing. Instead, he focused on the high art of prog rock keyboarding — long synth solos and groovy sound effects with his MiniMoog.
Their mega hit was never equaled, but MMEB is still around, confusing a whole new generation of listeners with those confounded lyrics: Manfred Mann, winner of my cool-dude-of-the-day award.
I leave you with more poetry from this bizarre tune. Still not sure where to draw the line between The Boss and The Mann:
Some brimstone baritone anticyclone
rolling stone preacher from the east
Says, “Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in it’s funny bone,
that’s where they expect it least”
And some new-mown chaperone was standin’ in the corner,
watching the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone was messin’ with his frozen zone,
reminding him of romance
