Robert Wyatt - Sea Song, Alifib live on piano 1975

Robert Wyatt sings Sea Song and at 5:24 Alifib from his ’Rock Bottom’ album, his first after the accident that confined him to a wheelchair. Sea Song was covered by Tears for Fears in 1985, later appearing on their Saturnine Martial & Lunatic album. Alifib and its reprise Alifie (& Sea Song) are believed to reference his partner and collaborator, the artist Alfreda ’Alfie’ Benge. Filmed for French TV, May 24 1975 - interview segments in French are edited out; they can be found elsewhere. Lyrics to the recorded versions: Sea Song lyrics by Robert Wyatt You look different every time You come from the foam-crested brine It’s your skin, shining softly in the moonlight Partly fish, partly porpoise Partly baby sperm whale Am I yours? Are you mine to play with? Joking apart When you’re drunk you’re terrific When you’re drunk I like you mostly late at night You’re quite alright But I can’t understand the different you In the morning, when it’s time To play at being human for a while Please smile! You’ll be different in the spring I know, you’re a seasonal beast Like the starfish that drift in with the tide With the tide So until your blood runs To meet the next full moon Your madness fits in nicely with my own With my own Your lunacy fits neatly with my own My very own We’re not alone Alifib lyrics by Robert Wyatt Not nit not nit no not Nit nit folly bololey Alifi my larder Alifi my larder I can’t forsake you or Forsqueak you Alifi my larder Alifi my larder Confiscate or make you Late you you Alifi my larder Alifi my larder Not nit not nit no not Nit nit folly bololy Burlybunch, the water mole Hellyplop and fingerhole Not a wossit bundy, see? For jangle and bojangle Trip trip Pip pippy pippy pip pip landerim Alifi my larder Alifi my larder #RobertWyatt #RobertWyattLive #RobertWyattRockBottom @Gazely Gaze