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John Kongos — Tokoloshe Man
Album: Tokoloshe Man
Avg rating:
6.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1732









Released: 1971
Length: 4:55
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Make your bed up high
Pray into the sky
Close the window close the door
Makes no difference if you're rich or poor.
Get on your knees scream please
That man just love to tease.
Try to run
Get a gun
He just laugh it make it more fun.
Hard like rock ain't got no soul
He can make the sun feel cold.
Put an eclipse on the moon
Make a little cloud forty day monsoon.
Don't recognize no hawk
Don't recognize no dove
Bad tokoloshe man
He don't even recognize love
And it makes no difference
If you're yellow or you're red
When that bad man say
Tonight is the night you are dead.
And it makes...
Only thing I can say to you is
You gotta be good an'you gotta be true
Think about Jesus Christ.
And it makes...
Comments (176)add comment
 sjmorrison2 wrote:
This song is almost 50 years old?  Talk about holding up well!



And now 53... still a great sound.
Posted 1 month ago by terryd    [ Reply ]
 Relayer wrote:

In case you were wondering:

 "In Zulu mythology, Tikoloshe, Tokoloshe or Hili is a dwarf-like water sprite. It is considered a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water. Tokoloshes are called upon by malevolent people to cause trouble for others. At its least harmful a tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but its power extends to causing illness and even death upon the victim. The way to get rid of him is to call in the n’anga (witch doctor), who has the power to banish him from the area"



In South Africa, the indigenous folk place the the legs of their beds on bricks or large paint tins because, of course, Tokoloshe's can't bridge these things.  Serious.
Posted 1 month ago by acferrad    [ Reply ]
 TallCreative1 wrote:

Now that I'm listening to this with a decent set of headphones wife got me for Christmas, bumping this up to 8.


Cool wife!  Check it out in FLAC!  
Posted 3 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
My  teenage years... +9
Posted 11 months ago by Tofolooo    [ Reply ]
 ecojot wrote:

memories of my birthplace



Are you Elon Musk? 
Posted 11 months ago by spichanator    [ Reply ]
 Pound33 wrote:

Great song!  Hard to believe it's from 1971.



Best played LOUD.
Posted 1 year ago by fgreene    [ Reply ]
Great song!  Hard to believe it's from 1971.
Posted 1 year ago by Pound33    [ Reply ]
Now that I'm listening to this with a decent set of headphones wife got me for Christmas, bumping this up to 8.
Posted 1 year ago by TallCreative1    [ Reply ]
memories of my birthplace
Posted 1 year ago by ecojot    [ Reply ]
How is this a 5.9??  I'm desk dancing here!  
Posted 2 years ago by mjlucas    [ Reply ]
 Alastair wrote:

Average of 5.9?  Shame on you all



I had this as a 6 originally. I'm trying to figure out why. Bumped to 7.
Posted 2 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
Average of 5.9?  Shame on you all
Posted 2 years ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

Whoa.

I thought this was Slade!


This was out at the same time as "Coz I Luv You".  Good times to be a young 'un.
Posted 2 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Why is this so poorly rated?! This rocks socks off! 
Posted 2 years ago by Warp-a-tron    [ Reply ]
Whoa.

I thought this was Slade!
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I thought it was Ludovico Einaudi.


haha
Posted 3 years ago by CWKeeney    [ Reply ]
This song is almost 50 years old?  Talk about holding up well!
Posted 3 years ago by sjmorrison2    [ Reply ]
Yep 10 /1 10 ~ no matter the skin tone!
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
 Relayer wrote:
In case you were wondering:

 "In Zulu mythology, Tikoloshe, Tokoloshe or Hili is a dwarf-like water sprite. It is considered a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water. Tokoloshes are called upon by malevolent people to cause trouble for others. At its least harmful a tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but its power extends to causing illness and even death upon the victim. The way to get rid of him is to call in the n’anga (witch doctor), who has the power to banish him from the area"
 
I am African and can confirm.  Superstitious people put a brick under their bed at night to ward off the Tokoloshe.  Might explain the opening line of the song “make your bed up high”.

Also the Tokoloshe is known to have a large penis which he carries over his shoulder.
Posted 3 years ago by garthtaljard    [ Reply ]
I wonder how John Kongos can sleep when the Beds Are Burning?
Posted 3 years ago by studioDEC    [ Reply ]
 joelbb wrote:
Actually amazing that "Christian Music" was this well arranged way back in '71!  This cut actually does qualify for serious rock 'n roll in a very serious era for the genre.  Gave it a 7.
Only a bad, bad pack of religious bigots would stick it with such low marks.

I'm not sure I follow.  What qualifies as low marks ? I gave it a 5 and had no idea what the song was about or who the artist is.  Was that low marks ? am I bigot ?
Posted 3 years ago by bluefrog    [ Reply ]
 drawcard wrote:
Got a strong "John Lennon scream therapy" sort of vibe...
 

Yup. 
Posted 3 years ago by cubaninlondon    [ Reply ]
Actually amazing that "Christian Music" was this well arranged way back in '71!  This cut actually does qualify for serious rock 'n roll in a very serious era for the genre.  Gave it a 7.
Only a bad, bad pack of religious bigots would stick it with such low marks.
Posted 3 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
Wait a minute.. 5.7 rating? Never heard it before but I like it way more than that!!
Posted 3 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
Got a strong "John Lennon scream therapy" sort of vibe...
Posted 3 years ago by drawcard    [ Reply ]
recorded music's ability to resurrect a snapshot of an artist's life always wows me... eternal legacy esp. if encoded out into the universe on the ole EM spectrum
Posted 3 years ago by jkforde    [ Reply ]
Have never heard this, or of him/this band. Sounds like a speeded up version of Led Zepplin.
Posted 3 years ago by jocelynsart    [ Reply ]
I wonder how many on here know what the tokoloshe is lmfao
Posted 4 years ago by t0m5k1    [ Reply ]
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
Interesting to hear this, but doesn't hold a candle to "He's Gonna Step On You Again".
 

Was just thinking, did the Happy Mondays cover this?  Or just use part of it ^^ that song?
Posted 4 years ago by studioDEC    [ Reply ]
 Johnny_Wave wrote:
I'll repeat my comment from almost 10 years ago - this still blows chunks.   A 1 from me
 

I gave it a 2.  Must have been feeling charitable.
Posted 4 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
 sdn wrote:
I thought this was The Who until I looked.
 
I thought it was Ludovico Einaudi.
Posted 4 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Noddy Holder?
Posted 5 years ago by Vakse    [ Reply ]
please make it stop!
Posted 5 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
Slade!!!!!!
Posted 5 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
This can't end soon enough. 
Posted 6 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
Liking this one
Posted 6 years ago by meauclaire    [ Reply ]
Get up and dance. Just a suggestion.

reindeer wrote:
This is such a repetitive and uninspired song.  Ugh.

 


Posted 6 years ago by marktberry    [ Reply ]
The voice is irritatingly gulpy & the ending of the song has a kitchen sink quality to it.  

It's nice to hear it start but it's just as nice to hear it end.
Posted 6 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
Cum on feel the noize!
Posted 6 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
 yes{#Smile}On_The_Beach wrote:
Gettin' a bit of a CCR "Ramble Tamble" vibe; only not as good.

 


Posted 7 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
I remember him from decades ago, High school 70s, love the grinding beat and it's always a celebration.
Posted 7 years ago by LAwolf8    [ Reply ]
Never heard of this guy before but was impressed enough to follow the iTunes Link, only to be told it wasn't available in the Ireland iTunes store. grrr. Will follow it up elsewhere - keep lifting the musical rocks for us to find the gems under! 
Posted 7 years ago by brianbrowne456    [ Reply ]
Gettin' a bit of a CCR "Ramble Tamble" vibe; only not as good.
Posted 7 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 ajlept wrote:

Turned up to 11.

 
Indeed
 
Posted 7 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
As soon as I heard this I thought "Come With Me Now". Go figure... his kids.
Posted 7 years ago by beinder    [ Reply ]
This is such a repetitive and uninspired song.  Ugh.
Posted 7 years ago by reindeer    [ Reply ]
 andrea924 wrote:
From the lost songs of David St. Hubbins.
 
Turned up to 11.
Posted 8 years ago by ajlept    [ Reply ]
I'll repeat my comment from almost 10 years ago - this still blows chunks.   A 1 from me
Posted 8 years ago by Johnny_Wave    [ Reply ]
 canadapaul wrote:
I like it: its got that sloppy groove that just rumbles along happily.

 
Nice post, my friend.  Takes me back to my younger years when everything was sloppy.
Posted 8 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Tikoloshe, ist ein zwergenhaftes, böses Fabelwesen in der Mythologie der Zulu.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
This song is awesome and inspired me to listen to the rest of this album.  The rest of the album is pretty different and for the most part does not rock this hard, but still seemed interesting enough to be worth some more listening.  I kept thinking this guy reminds me of a cross between John Lennon and Billy Joel.
Posted 8 years ago by MJdub    [ Reply ]
Whew, new to me — different. I think I like it.
Posted 8 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
Interesting to hear this, but doesn't hold a candle to "He's Gonna Step On You Again".
Posted 8 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]

No.

 

And especially not early in the morning.


Posted 8 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
What a gem! Thank you so much. Listened to this album in 1971 when I was a sophomore in high school. Awesome, awesome, awesome!!
Posted 8 years ago by hilo48    [ Reply ]
I saw john Kongos' sons' band, Kongos, when visiting Salt Lake City last month. They put on a damn fine show. And finished with this song. Very cool.   
Posted 9 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
In case you were wondering:

 "In Zulu mythology, Tikoloshe, Tokoloshe or Hili is a dwarf-like water sprite. It is considered a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water. Tokoloshes are called upon by malevolent people to cause trouble for others. At its least harmful a tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but its power extends to causing illness and even death upon the victim. The way to get rid of him is to call in the n’anga (witch doctor), who has the power to banish him from the area"
Posted 9 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
 sdn wrote:
I thought this was The Who until I looked.

 
I think it wants to be a Who song when it grows up.
Posted 9 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
headache,,,must ,,take,,, motrin
Posted 9 years ago by Kaisersosay    [ Reply ]
Way before my time, but I'm very much diggin' it. 
Posted 9 years ago by JasondotG    [ Reply ]
MUTE....<comes back in a few minutes>...still going. MUTE. {#Eek}
Posted 14 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
From the lost songs of David St. Hubbins.

Posted 14 years ago by andrea924    [ Reply ]
I thought this was The Who until I looked.
Posted 14 years ago by sdn    [ Reply ]
One of those songs that I forgot I remembered from my youth. Lotta fun. Thanks Bill, you always remind of when FM radio used to be cool.
Posted 14 years ago by Rhinofin    [ Reply ]
 Jimmy86 wrote:
I thought this was Slade for a moment! Not bad, not bad a'tall!
 
Same here, never heard these guys before, love it by the way!
Posted 14 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
I like John Kongos, but he should really fire that soprano sax player noodling hopelessly.
Posted 14 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
No more coffee for John Kongos!
Posted 14 years ago by Welly    [ Reply ]
rocklandlove wrote:
Dreadful. I'd rather hear John Lennon, since that's clearly what he's after. Maybe wouldn't even want to hear this from Lennon!

Stoopid, unnecessary comment! (Why bring Lennon into it, ffs? Some people talk about the bloke as though he were friggin' Jesus!)

This is a good song, with a great band, really well delivered: so 7.

Don't be so damn' "intellectual" man!

Posted 14 years ago by lawman    [ Reply ]
 OldFrenchie wrote:

very bad
 
very very bad

Posted 14 years ago by donnyballgame    [ Reply ]
Just goes on and on...{#Headache}
Posted 14 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
Dude must have anger issues.  Just incomprehensible yelling.  Terrible.
Posted 14 years ago by lerxst    [ Reply ]
I want to put the Tokoloshe Man in a jar with Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man, shake it up and watch them fight!
Posted 14 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
Dreadful. I'd rather hear John Lennon, since that's clearly what he's after. Maybe wouldn't even want to hear this from Lennon!

Posted 14 years ago by rocklandlove    [ Reply ]
aaaahhhhh!!!!!!! The Goodness.
 
Posted 14 years ago by Bazooka    [ Reply ]
5.6?  Really?

Gotta be at least a 7 for the drums alone.
Posted 14 years ago by ptooey    [ Reply ]
curtkare:  I'm pretty sure you're kidding about ELO, but, you're kidding, right?

 curtkare wrote:

Hence the reason we love RP!  You'll never hear this overblown 70's Lennon knockoff shite anywhere else... Play me some ELO!
 


Posted 15 years ago by Lyndra_Ski    [ Reply ]
I like this! It's new to me.  Then, maybe things are too boring out in the heartland.
Posted 15 years ago by bupanishad2012    [ Reply ]
I like this!
Posted 15 years ago by bupanishad2012    [ Reply ]
Damn, will this ever end??

Just terrible. 
Posted 15 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
What a fun old gem!  Thanks Bill!
Posted 15 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]
 walkerpub wrote:
Maybe the last place on earth that plays John Kongos...
 
Hence the reason we love RP!  You'll never hear this overblown 70's Lennon knockoff shite anywhere else... Play me some ELO!
Posted 15 years ago by curtkare    [ Reply ]
 Jimmy86 wrote:
I thought this was Slade for a moment! Not bad, not bad a'tall!
  When I first heard it,  Slade came into my mind also.


Posted 15 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
sounds like hairy 70s rock mash with too much going on, is this a supergroup jam thing?
Posted 15 years ago by drews    [ Reply ]
PeterRigg wrote:
Bad.
very bad
Posted 15 years ago by OldFrenchie    [ Reply ]
I thought this was Slade for a moment! Not bad, not bad a'tall!
Posted 15 years ago by Jimmy86    [ Reply ]
As if John Lennon had jammed with ZZ Top. Pretty special, I give it an 8.
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
In Zulu mythology, Tikoloshe, Tokoloshe or Hili (from the Xhosa word utyreeci ukujamaal) is a dwarf-like water sprite. They have only one arm and one leg, the face of an old man on a boy's body. They are considered a mischievous and evil spirit. They can become invisible by swallowing a pebble. (In case anyone cares...!)
Posted 16 years ago by garthwb    [ Reply ]
Bad.
Posted 16 years ago by PeterRigg    [ Reply ]
pinto wrote:
Sounds like an angry Lindsey Buckingham
you are right but at least LB you can understand the words
Posted 16 years ago by Bakaretsu    [ Reply ]
calray wrote:
great song very underrated by RP listeners... not sure why...
Ditto.
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
cathenley wrote:
Sounds like John Lennon to me...a bit...
Dontcha mean looks like John Lennon a bit? (and uses an echo like JL) Aside, from that -- g-r-r-r-eat - "sloppy groove" is right - real chair-bouncing stuff.
Posted 16 years ago by lawman    [ Reply ]
I like it: its got that sloppy groove that just rumbles along happily.
Posted 16 years ago by canadapaul    [ Reply ]
japanmoran wrote:
Make it stop!
X2
Posted 16 years ago by camarkim    [ Reply ]
no
Posted 16 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
For a minute I thought it was Slade.
Posted 16 years ago by madaxeman    [ Reply ]
This guy works better with this song... Sounds like John Lennon to me...a bit...
Posted 16 years ago by cathenley    [ Reply ]
I don\'t care if I can\'t understand him; it gets me rockin\' out at my desk!
Posted 16 years ago by ginniet    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Slade, bad 70\'s Glam rock with tartan outfits. Yu bold!
Posted 16 years ago by patreezia    [ Reply ]
pannaramma wrote:
You got my vote. Jeez- really bad.
Please try again when you are in a different mood--rebellious, cranky, ready to cut loose after an uptight day in a tightlaced office with unimaginative accountant types! You might feel differently!
Posted 17 years ago by rKokon    [ Reply ]
Wow, why is everyone so down on this song? I think it's pretty catchy
Posted 17 years ago by AmandaMaria    [ Reply ]
Groovy'ish ?
Posted 17 years ago by Irksome    [ Reply ]
Sounds like an angry Lindsey Buckingham
Posted 17 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
Maybe the last place on earth that plays John Kongos...
Posted 17 years ago by walkerpub    [ Reply ]
CRAZY lyrics, interesting legend
Posted 17 years ago by araujokrl    [ Reply ]
The voice reminds me of how the lead singer of Midnight Oil used his voice on "Beds are Burning" in the earlier part. Otherwise, this is very 70s, Lennonesque.
Posted 17 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
great song very underrated by RP listeners... not sure why...
Posted 17 years ago by calray    [ Reply ]
Make it stop!
Posted 17 years ago by japanmoran    [ Reply ]
Arun wrote:
Oh my gawd that was bad! Is there a way to get stuff voted off the list? Like forever.
You got my vote. Jeez- really bad.
Posted 17 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
Oh my gawd that was bad! Is there a way to get stuff voted off the list? Like forever.
Posted 17 years ago by Arun    [ Reply ]
dogdokken wrote:
Sounds like Slade and Mott the Hoople, but not as slick.
Exactly like Slade. More like Slade than Quiet Riot.
Posted 17 years ago by dogdokken    [ Reply ]
Roverfish wrote:
I'm officially serving notice that I would like the last 5 minutes of my life back. What a waste of a song.
I agree! I think this thing (it ain't music) is awful. It's like one of those awful hypersonic tv commercials by an over enthusiastic fast talking loud muscle bound man selling exercise equipment.
Posted 17 years ago by Govi    [ Reply ]
this is good - but the anthemic he's gonna step on you - is just too dam good - got the actual vinyl in the collection somewhere.
Posted 17 years ago by Pablo13    [ Reply ]
mojoman wrote:
These lyrics are more significant when you consider that he's South African writing during the deep dark days of Apartheid.
Additional info from Wikipedia (click here):
The Tokoloshe, or Tikoloshe, according to the Zulu shaman Credo Mutwa, is widely known as a bear-like humanoid being ... The Tokoloshe myth is well known and feared in most southern African countries. Many people place their beds on bricks in order to lift them higher off the ground so that the Tokoloshe cannot hide underneath and attack them. Some people are afraid to mention its name.
Sounds like a scary dude!
Posted 17 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Slade and Mott the Hoople, but not as slick.
Posted 17 years ago by dogdokken    [ Reply ]
At first I wanted to protest this nauseating change of pace, but as I was typing I realized my foot was tapping...hmmm...
Posted 17 years ago by cdcassaw    [ Reply ]
This pretty much blows big chunks
Posted 17 years ago by Johnny_Wave    [ Reply ]
Thought I was listening to Foghat for a moment there. Get down...get back up again.
Posted 17 years ago by Old_Pool_Skunk    [ Reply ]
I define this as a wannabe Zepplen gone miserably..horribly..terribly wrong....
Posted 17 years ago by DianaL    [ Reply ]
Welcome to Thrash aerobics.....feel the burn
Posted 17 years ago by jedzep    [ Reply ]
I'm officially serving notice that I would like the last 5 minutes of my life back. What a waste of a song.
Posted 17 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]