I am proposing possibly the shortest Last Man Standing competition in the history of Rock Town Hall…but how many times have you heard that before?
I was listening to a song today that mentioned the animal the buffalo. My mind quickly raced to two other rock songs that involve the animal the buffalo. Just now, a few hours later, a fourth song came to mind, maybe the most obvious. Can you name the four songs that I have in mind? Can you name any more than four rock songs involving the animal the buffalo?
Rock songs involving the city of Buffalo do not count. Sorry “Buffalo Rocks,” or whatever.
Because pickings are so slim, I will sit this contest out. Hopefully I will still remember the four songs I presently have in mind. Go to it!
PS – Songs about a related species will be open to debate. From what I’ve researched, they probably should not qualify.
Buffalo Soldiers? Bob Marley
Buffalo Gals? Malcolm McClaren
I don’t think either are about the animal so they don’t count.
“Buffalo Stance” – Neneh Cherry. It’s not about the city, but I don’t know that the animal itself factors in, either.
Mod, I say play your cards. I have one specifically referring to the animal that I’ll hold onto for now.
“Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam….”
John Cale – Buffalo Ballet
Neil Young, Pocahontas
They massacred the buffalo
Kitty corner from the bank
The taxis run across my feet
And my eyes have turned to blanks….
great white buffalo by the nuge
Neil Young, Far From Home (from Prairie Wind)
Bury me out on the prairie
Where the buffalo used to roam
Where the Canada geese once filled the sky
And then I won’t be far from home
Bury me out on the prairie
Where the buffalo used to roam
You won’t have to shed a tear for me
‘Cause then I won’t be far from home
“Where Do We Go from Here”, a particularly unsuccessful Band song from Cahoots:
“Have yo heard about the buffalo on the plain…”
Townspeople, you amaze me. “Buffalo Ballet,” “Great White Buffalo,” and “Bufalo Soldiers” were three of the four I had in mind. I’ll leave the fourth one to you to figure out. You’ll probably come up with another 60 buffalo (the animal) references I hadn’t considered.
BTW, I looked up the term “buffalo soldier.” The Cheyenne, I believe, gave this name to the African American troop, it was speculated, because they compared the hair of the African American soldiers to that of the buffalo. Another possible reason for the comparison to buffalo was based on the soldiers’ fierce fighting powers. Either way, the comparison was to the animal not the city of Buffalo.
I have no idea what “Buffalo Stance” is all about. Haven’t heard the song for years. Are there references to O.J. Simpson’s 2000-yard season?
Dead Weather – Cut Like A Buffalo, though I’m not sure I understand it…
The Pretenders — “Hold a Candle to This.” Jus’ one line about bison: “…we’re going home / to where the buffalo roam!” and then a big Billy Bremner guitar solo!
Hey, this sorely overlooked gem of Chrissy’s may also qualify for the best guitar solo intro thread. I believe it is another one of her odes to her beloved Ohio. Give it a listen some time.
“Hologram Buffalo” by Brightblack Morning Light! It rocks! OK, no it doesn’t. It is spooky, though.
There´s a nice song called Buffalo & Deer by the Fruit Bats. And there´s Trail Of The Buffalo aka Buffalo Skinners, as performed by Woody Guthrie and Dylan.
“Genocide (The Killing Of the Buffalo),”
Thin Lizzy
Well, the first thing that came to mind was Roger Miller’s “You Can’t Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd” which probably doesn’t count if we’re only counting rock songs. On the other hand, “You Can’t Roller Skake” rocks harder than “Buffalo Ballet,” which despite being one of Cale’s better songs is a long way from rock. Not sure James McMurtry’s “No More Buffalo” counts either, since it’s not about buffalo but about the lack of them.
As for songs that mention buffalo in passing, how about Elton John’s “Indian Sunset” and my favorite Keb Mo’ song, “City Boy.”
At the risk of playing my penultimate hand too early, what do our more scientifically sound Townspeople say about that Japanese girl band’s song (just blanked on their name), “We’re Only Making Plans for Bison”? Do bison references count as buffalo references? If so, I am LAST MAN STANDING – and holding one more song in my hand!
BTW, mbwalker, the judges accepted your song referencing no buffalo. Thanks for your concern and sense of fair play!
OK, Mod, I’ll blink:
“Laredo Tornado” by ELO has the line: “Wild buffalo played and I never saw a rainy day”
Good one, alexmagic! I hope you enjoyed your time at the top of the heap, because I’m about to stand atop your shoulders. Here’s the last of the four songs that initially came to mind for me: Rod Stewart’s “Mandolin Wind” has a reference to buffalo.
LMS!