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Traffic — 40,000 Headmen
Album: Traffic
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 723









Released: 1968
Length: 3:12
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Forty thousand headmen couldn't make me change my mind
If I had to take the choice between the deafman and the blind
I know just where my feet should go and that's enough for me
I turned around and knocked them down and walked across the sea

Hadn't traveled very far when suddenly I saw
Three small ships a-sailing out towards a distant shore
So lighting up a cigarette I followed in pursuit
And found a secret cave where they obviously stashed their loot

Filling up my pockets, even stuffed it up my nose
I must have weighed a hundred tons between my head and toes
I ventured forth before the dawn had time to change its mind
And soaring high above the clouds I found a golden shrine

Laying down my treasure before the iron gate
Quickly rang the bell hoping I hadn't come too late
But someone came along and told me not to waste my time
And when I asked him who he was he said, 'Just look behind'

So I turned around and forty thousand headmen bit the dirt
Firing twenty shotguns each and man, it really hurt
But luckily for me they had to stop and then reload
And by the time they'd done that I was heading down the road
Comments (73)add comment
 Dave_Mack wrote:
Hey, Traffic is playing on KPIG right now!  I couldn't figure out what station I was on for a second.  Except I'm hearing "Light Up or Leave Me Alone".  Funny.

40,000 Headmen is great too



KPIG lead me directly here, 20+ years ago.
Posted 8 months ago by bimmerfan739    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:
miahfost wrote: If you mean that your IQ has to be over 30, then yes. Sorry if that automatically rules you out.


Humpf, calm down please. Youth have to learn, but with IQ30?
Posted 1 year ago by Pitjes    [ Reply ]
 buddy wrote:

Outstanding & the best version of this great song!


Personally I prefer the version on Welcome To The Canteen.
Posted 2 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
GREAT TUNE!!!  GREAT BAND!!!
Posted 3 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 buddy wrote:

Outstanding & the best version of this great song!



True, but Blood, Sweat & Tears does a damn good version as well.
Posted 3 years ago by Ok_Sobriquet    [ Reply ]
oh my gosh

what a lineup
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Unique voice of Stevie Winwood
Posted 4 years ago by avikatz    [ Reply ]
Wow, 1968!  Knew old but not that ancient.  Great stuff!
Posted 4 years ago by dublanica    [ Reply ]
Outstanding & the best version of this great song!
Posted 5 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
WONDERFUL old tune by a WONDERFUL group.  What daze!
Posted 5 years ago by dublanica    [ Reply ]
{#Hearteyes}
Posted 8 years ago by fitmartin    [ Reply ]
love it
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Great song from a great album.  Their 2nd release and it really showed that they all had a great deal of talent.
Posted 12 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
 Stropatus wrote:

Great band and good old memories.  I am still a sucker for Winwoods voice and not forgetting the later stuff Jim Capaldi did solo

 
Damn straight.  Entire canon of Traffic is 5-star.
Posted 12 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
Good memories, great song!
 
Posted 12 years ago by meadowwoods    [ Reply ]
 crockydile wrote:

 The folks with bell bottoms and wide lapels made a hell of a lot better music than the tie-dyed, flower children.
  
 

Ever hear of Hendrix and a group called the Beatles ? Ever listen to what Dylan put out in the 60's, or Zeppelin.If Rock music was a flower it bloomed in the 60's and was plasticized in the 70's and 80's.Mirror balls and disco just didn't qualify.


Posted 12 years ago by That_SOB    [ Reply ]

Great band and good old memories.  I am still a sucker for Winwoods voice and not forgetting the later stuff Jim Capaldi did solo


Posted 12 years ago by Stropatus    [ Reply ]

Sitting in the lotus position and in a natural trance. {#Music}
Posted 12 years ago by GeneP59    [ Reply ]
One of my all time fav's. . . . . good memories
Posted 13 years ago by paraclete    [ Reply ]
Hey, Traffic is playing on KPIG right now!  I couldn't figure out what station I was on for a second.  Except I'm hearing "Light Up or Leave Me Alone".  Funny.

40,000 Headmen is great too

Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Excellent song!  Brings back lots of mellow memories................
Posted 14 years ago by woodchuk    [ Reply ]

There are good old hippy tunes and then there are bad ones. . .  this is not one of the former. . .


Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]

Posted 14 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 miahfost wrote:
You have to be over thirty to like this crap.
 
I'm 45 and I still think it's crap. Never liked Traffic,  but I did like Winwood's pop stuff in the 80's. Stick that in your bong and smoke it, hippie zealots!  There was good music that came out of the 60s, but the stuff in the early 70's was the best. The folks with bell bottoms and wide lapels made a hell of a lot better music than the tie-dyed, flower children. {#Moon}
Posted 14 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:


 
{#Roflol}

Posted 15 years ago by DaMoGan    [ Reply ]
 strongbad wrote:
Those were the days, hippies, transcendence, hallucinogens, great music.
 
Your soo right!

Posted 15 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 strongbad wrote:
Those were the days, hippies, transcendence, hallucinogens, great music.
 
man i miss those days...peace
Posted 15 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
 strongbad wrote:
Those were the days, hippies, transcendence, hallucinogens, great music.
 

Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 strongbad wrote:
Those were the days, hippies, transcendence, hallucinogens, great music.
 
I do agree,sad part,remember nothing! Still like Traffic though.
Posted 15 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
kaosmonkey wrote:
I have a feeling the musical landscape would be much the same as it is now if these hippies had never picked up a flute.

Thgese guys would disagree

https://www.music-map.com/traffic.html

In fact you'll find Bruce Hornsby on that list and you gave one of his songs a 9.

Posted 15 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
Brilliant!!! right alonside the trippy syd barret floyd, moody blues, jerry garcia....mmmm, music in technicolor {#Tongue}
Posted 15 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
 strongbad wrote:
Those were the days, hippies, transcendence, hallucinogens, great music.
 

Glory be, we were there!
Some prodigious talent in that cover shoot!

Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
 laroue wrote:
How about some Blind faith while were at it? {#Music}
 Yeah, wanna get me all misty, play Blind Faith.


Posted 16 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]

And the elbows going flying up in defence of Traffic.  LOL!

Who said Canadian hockey players were the only ones who played rough?

 

Great set Bill, all of it.


Posted 16 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
How about some Blind faith while were at it? {#Music}
Posted 16 years ago by laroue    [ Reply ]
Oxford Hall, Berkeley, summer of 1969. This album was the soundtrack.
Posted 16 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
I can smell it all so clearly now
Posted 16 years ago by Moonflower31    [ Reply ]
wally42 wrote:
If your under thirty the music you listen to owes it's very existence to this crap.
I have a feeling the musical landscape would be much the same as it is now if these hippies had never picked up a flute.
Posted 16 years ago by kaosmonkey    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote:
You have to be over thirty to like this crap.
No, just stoned.
Posted 16 years ago by Krow_Pie    [ Reply ]
Not my favorite from Traffic but it still works for me!
Posted 17 years ago by CatSitter    [ Reply ]
This is an awesome band, song, genre. But it has a hint of Jethro Tull in it and it's not just the flute, its the whole mystery, travelling quality to it. Like venturing down an English road waiting to be ambushed by the local robbers. Traffic always created a great atmosphere to their tunes.
Posted 17 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote:
You have to be over thirty to like this crap.
If you mean that your IQ has to be over 30, then yes. Sorry if that automatically rules you out.
Posted 17 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote:
You have to be over thirty to like this crap.
You betcha'!
Posted 17 years ago by LeeSG    [ Reply ]
A ONE OF A KIND SOUND0 ONE OF A KIND SONG!
Posted 17 years ago by JACKSHOWS    [ Reply ]
Frater_Kork wrote:
I obviously fit into that category =)
Perhaps over 50 to fully enjoy it!
Posted 17 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote:
You have to be over thirty to like this crap.
I obviously fit into that category =)
Posted 17 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Those were the days, hippies, transcendence, hallucinogens, great music.
Posted 17 years ago by strongbad    [ Reply ]
Live version is better. Welcome to the Canteen
Posted 17 years ago by Foreverfree    [ Reply ]
wally42 wrote:
If your under thirty the music you listen to owes it's very existence to this crap. Good point! Awesome set , Bill the last our has just rolled along!
Posted 17 years ago by bronorb    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote:
You have to be over thirty to like this crap.
If your under thirty the music you listen to owes it's very existence to this crap. Awesome set , Bill the last our has just rolled along!
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
You have to be over thirty to like this crap.
Posted 17 years ago by miahfost    [ Reply ]
xs9095 wrote:
its all trippy hippy like, flute'tashious
where really are the power of the seventies music. what kind of magician is this? melody? lyrics? drugs?? liberty?? i love the seventies atmosphere... ((Sorry my english))
Posted 17 years ago by scama    [ Reply ]
Traffic was one of the best bands ever, but this was not one of their best tracks.
Posted 17 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
Make that BS&T "Dyslexics untie!!"
Posted 18 years ago by rspauldi    [ Reply ]
In spite of the possibility of being flamed, may I put in my request to hear BTS's version of this song? TIA!!
Posted 18 years ago by rspauldi    [ Reply ]
This was the first Traffic album I owned and it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Posted 18 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
liser wrote:
Oh, duh. Thank you!!
:)
Posted 18 years ago by RobRyan    [ Reply ]
RobRyan wrote:
Blood Sweat & Tears
Oh, duh. Thank you!!
Posted 18 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
liser wrote:
Um, who's BST?
Blood Sweat & Tears
Posted 18 years ago by RobRyan    [ Reply ]
Um, who's BST?
Posted 18 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
its all trippy hippy like, flute'tashious
Posted 18 years ago by xs9095    [ Reply ]
I'm always amazed at how many Traffic albums I have in my collection. They always managed to maintain remarkably consistent quality despite all the personnel changes, but I've always considered this to be one of their best tracks. Never seems to get stale.
Posted 18 years ago by RockinInDetroit    [ Reply ]
Roach wrote:
Yeah, go figure. David Clayton-Thomas has one of the best R&B voices this side of the sun.
Unfortunately, while I agree that Davidy Clayton-Thomas had a great voice, I believe his pop/top-40 incarnation of BS&T was far inferior to the previous lineup blessed with the talents of Al Kooper.
Posted 18 years ago by RockinInDetroit    [ Reply ]
haunting excellence.
Posted 18 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
AC wrote:
How the hell people with enough taste to boot up RP can mention Traffic and BST in the same breath is beyond me.
Yeah, go figure. David Clayton-Thomas has one of the best R&B voices this side of the sun.
Posted 20 years ago by Roach    [ Reply ]
jbwiv wrote:
Nice, beautiful, and trippy. I like it ;-)
Yup! and danceable too... trippy dancing!
Posted 20 years ago by Drunkenlilacwine    [ Reply ]
you guys are hot tonight!!!! An all time favorite that still sounds as good as when I first heard it
Posted 21 years ago by prairieskye    [ Reply ]
Nice, beautiful, and trippy. I like it ;-)
Posted 21 years ago by jbwiv    [ Reply ]
Bravo
Posted 21 years ago by basstooner    [ Reply ]
How the hell people with enough taste to boot up RP can mention Traffic and BST in the same breath is beyond me. I swear this band\'s stuff just keeps getting better and better with each passing year.
Posted 21 years ago by AC    [ Reply ]
I'm a Traffic fan from 'way back, but... as with the Stones' rendition of "Sympathy for the Devil" you played a short while ago, I vote for David Clayton-Thomas' BST version. The two songs ("Sympathy" and "Headmen") are on the same album, too, y'know!
Posted 21 years ago by Amazon    [ Reply ]
Haven\'t heard this song in ages.Music for the ages.Traffic at it\'s best.
Posted 21 years ago by prairieskye    [ Reply ]