In Toba Tek Singh
A gullible American is conned by an internet swindler who uses the lockdowns to garner sympathy.
At the height of the lockdowns, I was approached by a guy from Pakistan through Facebook Messenger who presented himself as being in dire financial circumstances. The economic situation there was even worse than it is now, and it made my blood boil that governments and public health authorities conspired to lock everyone down and ruin peoples’ businesses and the overall economy.
I decided to give this guy some work in exchange for promoting my music and I suppose this was my way of virtue signaling. I wanted to prove I wasn’t like the rest of these criminals who were killing (especially) poor peoples’ ability to make a living.
My mistake was that I let this guy slide as to the work he was supposed to do for me and before you know it, I got suckered into believing a whole bunch of what I would describe as a surfeit of “tall tales.” I wasn’t in my right mind anymore and he played me for money I shouldn’t have given him.
The most incredible part of his story was that on the night he was supposed to get married, he and his mother were physically attacked by the bride-to-be and her family.
I finally came to realize none of what he was telling me was true. Nonetheless something good came of all this. Toba Tek Singh may have been the best lyrics and most unique concept I’ve ever created.
Audio track:
What a fabulous story and song and I love the imagery in your video. It’s a genuine human that can get played by internet cons. I celebrate your humanity and kind heart. I had a man approach me over fb with pictures of orphaned children. He told me he was the tradesman at the orphanage and everyone was on the brink of starving. By some miracle I was to unwell on the day to give him money... I would have... and then I stalled transferring funds until I had done some digging. There is a vulnerability in being open hearted. But it’s worth it!
I'm sorry about what happened to you. But like a phoenix rising from the flames, you have transformed this dreadful soul sucking experience into a transcendent work of art. I love your stuff, but I guess like all the best art, it is informed by the reality of the human condition. And part of the human condition is that some people aren't very good humans.