The term “heavy metal” wasn’t being used when Blue Cheer formed in San Francisco in the late 1960s. The power trio’s original personnel, singer/bass guitarist Dickie Peterson, guitarist Leigh Stephens, and drummer Paul Whaley, just knew they wanted their rock and roll loud with lots of feedback. They named themselves not after the laundry detergent, but after a particular variety of LSD devised by underground chemist Owsley Stanley. They are known for a blasting cover of Eddie Cochran’s Summertime Blues, but we’re going to go deeper into their debut album. From 1968’s Vincebus Eruptum Eruptum, this is “Out of Focus” from Blue Cheer.
Alright!
A cold, cold darkness
And past confusion
Is quickly calling
Yeah, all of my illusions
Now won't somebody tell me what's wrong
Tell me what's wrong with me.
From within
The magic madness
Said Lord, I could feel deep in my heart
A little bit of gladness
Now won't somebody tell me what's wrong
Tell me what's wrong with me.
Won't somebody tell me what's wrong
Cause Lord, I been searchin'
Searchin' so long
Oh, won't somebody
Oh, won't somebody
Tell me what's wrong with me.
Alright!
Won't somebody tell me what's wrong
Cause Lord, I been searchin'
Whoa so goddamn long
Oh, won't somebody
Oh, won't somebody
Tell me what's wrong with me.
And then from out
Of a mystic dream
There came an angel (What a baby, oh yeah)
She spread her wings (Spread 'em babe, Spread it all).
Now don't nobody tell me what's wrong
Tell me what's wrong with me.
Source: LyricFinD Songwriters: Dickie
Out of Focus lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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