"Mingus' content was grave and his exclamations thick with bile: 'Oh Lord, don't let 'em tar and feather us/Oh Lord, no more Swastikas/Oh Lord, no more Ku Klux Klan.'"
"As the song progresses, Mingus and his band ratchet up the intensity, calling out 'Nazi Fascist supremacists' and reciting the names of a litany of depraved politicians."
"'Original Faubus Fables' is unbeatable for its agit-prop energy, yet the lyricless Ah Um version remains the composition's definitive take."
Charles Mingus expressed his disgust with racism and oppression through the song 'Original Faubus Fables,' featuring intense lyrics and a call-and-response style. The song critiques figures like Governor Faubus and other politicians, highlighting the societal issues of the time. Although the song was recorded in 1960 for Candid, it faced censorship from Columbia Records. The version recorded for Mingus Ah Um lacks lyrics but showcases a broader range of musicians, making it a definitive interpretation of the composition.
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