Proverb is a musical composition by Steve Reich for three sopranos, two tenors, two vibraphones, and two electric organs. It is set to a text by Ludwig Wittgenstein. It was written in 1995 and was originally intended for The Proms and the Utrecht Early Music Festival. It was premiered at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on February 10, 1996 by Theatre of Voices with Paul Hillier, to whom the piece is dedicated.
Proverb was written during a period when Reich was experimenting with "speech melody", and is influenced by the period Reich spent working on The Cave with Paul Hillier and singers with a strong background in medieval polyphony. This is especially apparent in the two tenor parts, which pay homage to Pérotin and organum in their use of rhythmic modes and pedal points. The text is: "How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life!"
"Degüello" is a Spanish noun from the verb "degollar", to describe the action of throat-cutting. More figuratively, it means "give no quarter." It "signifies the act of beheading or throat-cutting and in Spanish history became associated with the battle music, which, in different versions, meant complete destruction of the enemy without mercy." It is similar to the war cry "¡A degüello!" used by Cuban rebels in the 19th century to launch mounted charges against the Spanish infantry.
On the outskirts of town, there's a little night spot
Dan dropped in around five o'clock
Took off his coat, said "The night is short"
He reached in his pocket and he flashed a quarter
He hollered, "Rave on, children I'm with ya,
Rave on cats, " he cried
"It's almost dawn, the cops is gone
Let's all get Dixie fried"
Well, Dan got happy and he started raving
He jerked out a razor but he wasn't shaving
And all the cats knew to jump and hop
'Cause he was born and raised in a butcher shop
He hollered, "Rave on, children, I'm with ya
Rave on, cats, " he cried
"It's almost dawn, the cops is gone
Let's all get Dixie fried, fried, fried, yeah"
The cops heard Dan when he started to shout
They all ran in to see what it was about
And I heard him holler as they led him away
He turned his head and this is what he had to say
He hollered, "Rave on, children, I'm with ya
Rave on, cats, " he cried
"It's almost dawn, the cops is gone
Let's all get Dixie fried, fried, fried?
Now, Dan was the bravest man that we ever saw
And he let us all know he wasn't scared of the law
Through the black crossed bars he tossed a note to his dear
"It ain't my fault, sugar, I'm in here"
For hollering, "Rave on, children, I'm with you
Rave on, cats, " he cried
"It's almost dawn, the cops ain't gone
And I've been Dixie fried"
