Great Lakes Spotlight: The Knaves - Leave Me Alone/The Girl I Threw Away

We'll hit the hot Great Lakes Region Battle of the Garage Bands on day 8 with a truly inspired number. This is the kind of thing that could only come from the demented minds of crazed male teenagers. Lucky for us, Bill Traut and his Dunwich cronies didn't try to tame them.

The demented band in question went by the name The Knaves and they hailed from the northern suburbs of Chicago. The band was made up of Howard Berkman, John Hulbert, Mark Feldman, Neil Pollack, and Gene Lubin. Singer and guitarist, Howard Berkman and guitarist and harmonica player, John Hulbert get writing credit for their maiden release, Leave Me Alone/The Girl I Threw Away. It was recorded in '66 and released in January, 1967.

This anti-authority number -- allegedly originally released on the Glen Label before being picked up by Dunwich -- has all the musical punch and drive to back up it's "piss-off" lyrics. I'm not 100% sure on all these, but here are the lyrics to Leave Me Alone. They say more about why this is a great song, than I ever could.

I was driving in my jaguar car, I had nothing much to do.
I had my woman with me, we were looking at the view
We were driving around searching, for a nice little place to stop
When up pulled that blue suede warrior, better known as a cop.
He said "Hey baby, do I know you? Can you call this town your home?"
So I rolled up my window I said "Leave Me Alone" 

Why Don't you Leave Me Alone
Can't you see I'm doing nothing
Well fight some crime, or something
Just, Leave Me Alone 

I was sittin' in a restaurant, trying to shake the flies outta my hair
I was lookin' at my woman, I was admiring the silverware
When up steps a waiter, he says, "Hey Babe you can't do that"
He said, "Why don't you order something?"
I said "give me filet of fat"
He said, "Look here, baby, we can't do that, it's un-American in tone"
So I put down my fork and I said, "Leave Me Alone"

Why Don't you Leave Me Alone
Well go wait on a table
Or go sweep out the stable
But Leave Me Alone 

I was sitting in my apartment, about 5 O'Clock at night
I was smoking and I was drinking, I was getting kinda tight
I was sitting on the ceiling, I was looking at the floor
When in walked my landlord, he walked right thru the door
He said "Hey baby, get out of here, don't you call this place your home"
Why, I said, "why don't you choke yourself and Leave Me Alone." 

Why Don't you Leave Me Alone
Build yourself a slum
Or chew some bubble gum
But Leave Me Alone

If you think you can figure out what it is he orders (I said "give me the last _____") please let us know. One website had "Give me a leg of fat" but I don't hear that.

Check comments for clarification on the lyrics.

The A-side gets all the love and all the comp action. But we present here the under-the-radar Flip-Side, The Girl I Threw Away. The boys aren't so mad on this side. They are a little reflective and a little sorrowful. Berkman and Hulbert get writing credit on this folky jangler.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side.