Ol' Flat-Top (Come Together; The Beatles)

NAME/ORIGIN

Character name
 Ol' Flat-Top (at least, that's his nickname)
Song/Album
 "Come Together"/Abbey Road
Act
 The Beatles
Writer
 John Lennon (credited to Lennon-McCartney)
Release Date
 1969


ABILITIES

Powers
-Possibly those associated with African witchcraft
"He got Juju eyeballs" (often misspelled "joo-joo")
-Telepathy. Even though you just met him, he says:
"I know you; you know me."
-Precognition, perhaps limited to fore-knowing major disasters
"He got early warning"
-Control over the purity of others' magic
"He one mojo filter" (A "mojo" is a small bag for amulets)
Skills
Chiropractic
"He one spinal cracker"
Attributes
Is marked by inconsistency. Is unkempt, yet charismatic; Bible-thumping, yet devil-may-care; commands, yet preaches individuality, etc.
Vulnerabilities
Is ill, possibly with a fever, skin condition, or something externally tangible:
"Hold you in his arms, yeah*/ You can feel his disease."
(*not "armchair")
Formidability
High, in the sense of charisma; people convene to him when he simply says:
"Come together, right now, over me."
Although his gospel is one of self-determination:
"One thing I can tell you is: You got to be free."
Attractiveness
"He wear no shoeshine" and is overall inattentive of his appearance:
"He bad production"
On the other hand, his long hair seems to hide his face:
"Got to be good-lookin', 'cause he's so hard to see"
Source
N/A


POSSESSIONS

Weapons
N/A
Amulets
"Monkey finger"
There is a short story called "The Monkey's Paw" about a wish-granting (at a price!) magical monkey hand. This may be a finger of such a hand (even if that story is set in India, not typical Juju territory). 
Objects
-a wad of "toe jam" the size of a "football" 
(or, since this is a British song, more likely a soccerball)
-access to "Coca Cola," a drink he is so addicted to he "shoots" (injects) it like heroin
-A "sideboard" (a sort of bureau or dresser, but for storage in the living or dining room) that belonged to Yoko "Ono."
-"Muddy water"
(Perhaps drinking this and shooting Coca-Cola are what is making him ill?)
Either that, or he is friends with bluesman Muddy Waters.
Clothing
-At least one "gumboot," a high rubber boot used for wading, boating, etc. ("gum" is British for "rubber"); it is made of "walrus" hide, which makes sense since these animals are waterproof.
Vehicles
None. He seems to prefer to walk, or rather, amble.
"He come groovin' up slowly"
Dwelling
N/A
Milieu
A major city (speculative)


BIOGRAPHY

Gender
Male
Age
N/A. "Ol'" may mean "familiar" (cf "Good Ol' Charlie Brown," a child)
Physique
-Hair is of indeterminate length. On the one hand, "flat-top" means "buzz cut" but it also says "got hair down to his knee"
Ethnicity
N/A, but is versed in African spiritualism
Origin
N/A, speaks informal English
Ancestry
N/A 
Profession
Chiropractor, possibly not now practicing:
"He one spinal cracker"
Education
His formal education is low.
"He say: One and one and one is three."
SES
Low, but may be an ascetic, someone who abstains from comforts and wealth for spirtual reasons (like Gandhi, Buddha, Mother Thesesa, and monks, hermits, saints, etc. worldwide throughout history) 
Relationships
May have disciples
Pets
N/A


PERSONALITY

Morality
Indeterminate, or perhaps variable or even hypocritical.
On the one hand, he seems religious, even in an evangelical mode:
"He one holy roller"
On the other, he can be amoral
"Got to be a joker/ He just do what he please"
Intro/extrovert
Extrovert. Has no trouble engaging people, commanding people.
Intelligence
High, given all his powers
Emotions
Seems even-keeled-- "groovin' up slowly"-- yet can be commanding
Sanity
Perhaps manic depressive:
"He roller coaster"
Enemies
N/A


Narrative Function
Catalyst
Other Notes
Even though his hair is very long, he maintains the nickname "Flat-Top." This is a hairstyle favored by the military since it requires low maintenance. It is possible the character is ex-military. Given the time of the song's release, he may be a Vietnam veteran... back from the war a very changed man. What happened to him, over there?  


Comments