Hi all,

I am looking for any info you might have on any possible origins or stories behind Norman Blake's song "Uncle Sam", which was on his 1978 album "Directions" on the Takoma label. I heard it the other day, and am now totally obsessed with it, and its story about a cornet blowing cocaine addict from somewhere 'round Kosciusko, Mississippi. I have used google to no avail, and I also didn't find anything on it in the mudcat database, so I thought I would go to the drastic step of asking a question.

There are many questions, actually. Who is this cocaine addict? Why is he somewhere 'round Kosciusko town? Who is Uncle Sam? Why all this talk about the "big brass band", and the cornet? What is it all about? Is there a story behind it, something tragic, perhaps? Did Blake write it just to drive me crazy?! Someone please enlighten a poor Norwegian!

These are the lyrics, the way I heard them, for those who have no idea what I am talking about:


"Uncle Sam" by Norman Blake

Mississippi morning, sunshine bound
Somewhere round Kosciusko town
Cocaine horse rode on the wind
He slept last night at the table again

Who's that yonder, waving his hand
Calling out the orders to the big brass band
Playing all the music glad and grand,
Let me tell you, good people, that's my Uncle Sam

He had no friends, he had no wife
Snow white cocaine ruled his life
A silver cornet it was his friend
Each saturday in the town square band

Who's that yonder, waving his hand
Calling out the orders to the big brass band
Playing all the music fine and grand,
Let me tell you, good people, that's my Uncle Sam

Mississippi morning, sunshine bound
Somewhere round Kosciusko town
The big brass band won't play again
But listen close to the evening wind

Who's that yonder, waving his hand
Calling out the orders to the big brass band
Playing all the music glad and grand,
Let me tell you, good people, thats my Uncle Sam