Allen Toussaint (1938-2015) Tribute List

Allen Toussaint, a legend of the New Orleans music scene, died on November 9 at the age of 77 of a heart attack. Toussaint had popular success writing other artists' hits such as "Working in a Coal Mine" and "Mother-in-Law" but it was as the musical embodiment of the New Orleans sound, that one-of- a-kind mix of blues, jazz and funk, that he will be best remembered. In recent years, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Toussaint became something of a musical ambassador, touring internationally (he died in Spain) and recording albums like "The River in Reverse" with Elvis Costello with a younger generation who were raised on his early recordings. Here are 10 vocabulary words from quotes and lyrics by Allen Toussaint.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. work
    activity directed toward making or doing something
    Well I been workin' in a coal mine
    Goin' down down
    Workin' in a coal mine
    --Working in a Coal Mine
  2. escapist
    a person who frequently retreats into a world of fantasy
    My music is homegrown from the garden of New Orleans. Music is everything to me short of breathing. Music also has a role to lift you up - not to be escapist but to take you out of misery.
  3. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
    To get to New Orleans you don't pass through anywhere else. That geographical location, being aloof, lets it hold onto the ritual of its own pace more than other places that have to keep up with the progress.
  4. repent
    turn away from sin or do penitence
    Although we know we must repent We hit the scene and look for sins
    That haven't even been invented
    — The Sharpest Thorn
  5. glint
    a momentary flash of light
    Shaking his fist at everyone
    Couldn't even act his age
    If you put him on a stage
    You might say he's all the rage
    But it's never enough
    Getting his prints on everything
    He's got semi-precious gems
    Glinting in his signet ring
    — Six Fingered Man
  6. colt
    a young male horse under the age of four
    Freedom for the stallion
    Freedom for the mare and her colt
    Freedom for the baby child
    Who has not grown old enough to vote.
    Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are praying to you?
    — Freedom for the Stallion
    A mare is a female horse over three years of age.
  7. redeem
    save from sins
    They only claimed to be redeemed
    They take that name and then blaspheme
    It didn't turn out the way we planned
    Now I'm living in Broken Promise Land
    — Broken Promise Land
  8. blaspheme
    speak of in an irreverent or impious manner
    They only claimed to be redeemed
    They take that name and then blaspheme
    It didn't turn out the way we planned
    Now I'm living in Broken Promise Land
    — Broken Promise Land
  9. stoop
    debase oneself morally
    Every time I open my mouth, she steps in, tries to put me out
    How could she stoop so low?
    Mother-in-law, mother-in-law, mother-in-law, mother-in-law
    — Mother-In-Law
  10. erode
    become ground down or deteriorate
    'Cause ma she knows better
    As she watched you come and go (all you'll show)
    And as she watched your promises erode

    What do you want the girl to do
    Don't you know you're breakin' the child in two
    What do you want the girl to do
    Can't you see you're breakin' the child in two
    — What Do You Want the Girl To Do?
  11. vain
    unproductive of success
    f I can help somebody
    As I travel along
    If I can help somebody
    With a word or song
    If I can help somebody
    From doing wrong
    My living shall not be in vain.
    — If I Could Help Somebody
Created on Tue Nov 10 11:46:26 EST 2015 (updated Tue Nov 10 12:50:08 EST 2015)

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