Soul Of A Man
By: Beck Hansen
Written by: Beck Hansen

Versions:
  1. Soul Of A Man (2:36)
    Available on Modern Guilt.
    Credits
    Recorded at: Anonyme Studios
    Beck Hansen: Bass, Electric Piano, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
    Drew Brown: Beats, Engineer
    Danger Mouse: Producer, Sounds
  2.  
  3. Soul Of A Man (acoustic) (2:50)
    Available on Modern Guilt acoustic.
    Credits
    Bram Inscore: Cello
    Joey Waronker: Drums
    Beck Hansen: Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals
    Brian Lebarton: Percussion
    Jessica Dobson: Vocals (Background)
 
Lyrics:
Soul Of A Man [Version (a)]:

Beat my bones against the wall
Staring down an empty hall
Deep down in a hollow log
Coming home like a letter bomb
Cold was the storm
That covered the night

Call the doctor, call the ghost
Put a fire into your bones
Sic a dog on all you know
Cut it loose before you go
Cold was the storm
That covered the night

What makes the soul the soul of a man?

Beat my bones against the wall
Put a fire and thrown the ball [notes say "bank note on your bond"]
Gris gris and a golden rod
Deep down in a hollow log
Cold was the storm
That buried in the night

What makes the soul the soul of a man?
 
The Song:

This could be the same song as "Beggar's Shoes, with a new name. Or it could be it's own song, and "Beggar's Shoes" is no longer on Modern Guilt. It could be an old blues cover too? More info needed.

UPDATE ON THAT NONSENSE: "Beggar's Shoes" became "Gamma Ray." This, of course, is it's own song.

The blues cover reference I made was referring to an old blues song called "Soul Of A Man." Interestingly, Martin Scorsese made a documentary about the blues which he named Soul Of A Man. More interestingly, Beck played a song on the soundtrack ("I'm So Glad"). Beck clearly knows the old blues version, and tapped into that language to write his own song. He does this regularly.
 
Live:

Played live 32 times:
Earliest known live version: June 11, 2008
Latest known live version: March 26, 2009