This blog will host my ramblings about life. To be a bit more specific, I'll probably focus on these subjects: music, sports, food, the everyday beauty of life, and the comedy/tragedy/absurdity of our existence. That about covers it.
Jason Isbell deservedly gets a lot of attention for his more recent albums, but one of my favorite songs of his comes from his first solo album. I identify with it because I remember the feeling of lusting after an older girl when I was a young boy. I secretly pined for the older girl who lived across the street from me. I would sit in a pin oak tree (I was a tree climber as a boy) and fantasize about her. As the lyrics (full lyrics below) state, "I learned how to lust."
"Grown"
Last night I heard the sirens' song, and I followed it in the ditch. Oh baby, I'm just carrying on, far be it for me to bitch.
Last night I heard the distant hum of another damn hurricane. Oh, Sunnie tell me where you've gone. Are you still dancing to 'Purple rain'?
You took my little hand. You took me to your room. You taught me how to want something. I learned how to move.
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown.
Last year I heard your momma had a little trouble with the thin red line. I always knew that you could understand and not undermine.
You took me to your room. I let my eyes adjust. You taught me how to want something. I learned how to lust.
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown.
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown.
All them years ago you took a nervous little kid, and you taught me how to slow it down just a little bit
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown. Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown. Oh, oh, oh, oh you made me feel so grown. Oh, oh, oh you made me feel so grown.
The video image below is the album cover of the first CD I ever bought, Fishbone's The Reality of My Surroundings, which came out in 1991.
It's still probably one of my favorite albums of all time. And while I'm not an avid concert goer, Fishbone is one of the few bands I've seen in concert more than once. This song is the opening song on the album, and it's still highly relevant today, especially with the sickening rise of white nationalism and anti-semitism. For that reason, I'm providing the lyrics below. Fight the Youth And now another story of stolen faith and tragic glory. They claim to be your friends, but all the while they taunt you with lies. They tell you what to think and how to face the world around you. You never question what you know inside is lax and untrue. But take a look around. We're not running anymore. We're in the positive, but we're ready for the war... for the war Fight the Youth, the youth with poisoned minds. Ignite the truth. Restore sight to these blind. Fight the youth, the youth with poisoned minds. And if they suffer, it's no fault but their own. And every time I see the hatred that engulfs these children, it makes me wonder if the quest for peace will someday subside. I'm not afraid to wage the hopeless battles I must fight. For I could never lose. I know my cause shines in the light. Take a look around. We're not hiding anymore. Your weapon's cowardice, and we won`t take it anymore... Anymore.
Fight the Youth,the youth with poisoned minds. Ignite the truth. Restore sight to these blind. Fight the youth, the youth with poisoned minds. And if they suffer, it's no fault but their own. And all the feelings of a generation fed with anger make all the choices for a future where all nightmares come true. I choose to fight for youth, to fight for truth, to fight for justice. I choose to heal the wounds of sacrifice made by the children.
I was listening to Pearl Jam Radio on my way to taking my car for an oil change, and this song was preceded by bassist Jeff Ament talking about how this is a great songs because of the drum part, which is one of his favorites out of all of their songs. It is a great drum part that pairs well with his bass line. And then there's "Police stopped my brother again."
This was the last song on my iPod shuffle tonight as I finished walking the dog. When I have earbuds in, I tend to notice the lyrics more closely. This song has some country strong lyrics. Enjoy.
As we were driving up to Iowa for my father's funeral, I listened to a lot of the Pearl Jam channel on SiriusXM radio. This is a tune that rings true in some ways from an emotional level.
Selected lyrics:
I seem to recognize your face. Haunting, familiar yet I can't seem to place it. Cannot find the candle of thought to light your name. Lifetimes are catching up with me.
The new album by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The Nashville Sound, is getting all kinds of deserved attention. Here's one of my favorite songs off the new album. After the video with lyrics is Isbell's extended interview with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show.
This song came up the other day when I had my iPod in the car and the shuffle function was doing it's thing. "LIfe's a bell that must be rung. Life's a song that must be sung."
I've heard good things about Father John Misty, but I got intrigued after reading "Here Is the Scandalous Father John Misty Interview You've Been Waiting For" on Pitchfork. So yesterday I purchased I Love You, Honeybear. I'm looking forward to the new release, Pure Comedy. Here's the title track with lyrics afterward.
"Pure Comedy"
The comedy of man starts like this. Our brains are way too big for our mothers' hips. And so Nature, she divines this alternative. We emerged half-formed and hope that whoever greets us on the other end Is kind enough to fill us in. And, babies, that's pretty much how it's been ever since.
Now the miracle of birth leaves a few issues to address. Like, say, that half of us are periodically iron deficient. So somebody's got to go kill something while I look after the kids. I'd do it myself, but what, are you going to get this thing its milk? He says as soon as he gets back from the hunt, we can switch. It's hard not to fall in love with something so helpless. Ladies, I hope we don't end up regretting this.
Comedy, now that's what I call pure comedy. Just waiting until the part where they start to believe They're at the center of everything. And some all-powerful being endowed this horror show with meaning.
Oh, their religions are the best. They worship themselves, yet they're totally obsessed With risen zombies, celestial virgins, magic tricks, these unbelievable outfits. And they get terribly upset When you question their sacred texts Written by woman-hating epileptics.
Their languages just serve to confuse them. Their confusion somehow makes them more sure. They build fortunes poisoning their offspring And hand out prizes when someone patents the cure. Where did they find these goons they elected to rule them? What makes these clowns they idolize so remarkable? These mammals are hell-bent on fashioning new gods, So they can go on being godless animals.
Oh comedy, their illusions they have no choice but to believe Their horizons that just forever recede. And how's this for irony, their idea of being free is a prison of beliefs That they never ever have to leave.
Oh comedy, oh it's like something that a madman would conceive! The only thing that seems to make them feel alive is the struggle to survive. But the only thing that they request is something to numb the pain with Until there's nothing human left. Just random matter suspended in the dark. I hate to say it, but each other's all we got.
There's not enough bourbon in the world to numb my senses enough to distract me from the direction this country is going in. So I offer Faith No More's song from Angel Dust with partial lyrics.
Soon our boy became a million. People loved him so and helped him to grow. Everyone knew the thing that was best. Of course, he must invest. A penny won't do, but he made us proud. He made us rich, but how were we to know he's counterfeit. Now everything's ruined.
I'm sitting here in a rocking chair at the Baltimore airport. My co-author and I gave a presentation and workshop at a focus group deal put on by our publisher. My flight doesn't leave until 10:30, and I get into the Indianapolis airport around midnight. After that I have a two-hour car ride ahead of me until I make it home. It's rainy out there, folks. Lots of wetness happening here on the east coast. You would think that today's Music Friday post would be "Raining in Baltimore," but I've posted that before. Then there's "Baltimore Blues" by Deer Tick. Done that too. So let's go with the song after "Raining in Baltimore" on August and Everything After, which is "A Murder of One."
A Murder of One Blue morning, blue morning, wrapped in strands of fist and bone. Curiosity, Kitten, doesn't have to mean you're on your own. You can look outside your window. He doesn't have to know. We can talk awhile, baby. We can take it nice and slow.
All your life is such a shame. All your love is just a dream.
Are you happy where you're sleeping? Does he keep you safe and warm? Does he tell you when you're sorry? Does he tell you when you're wrong? I've been watching you for hours. It's been years since we were born. We were perfect when we started. I've been wondering where we've gone.
All your life is such a shame. All your love is just a dream.
I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow, casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there counting crows. One for sorrow, two for joy, three for girls, and four for boys, five for silver, six for gold, and seven for a secret never to be told. There's a bird that nests inside you sleeping underneath your skin. When you open up your wings to speak, I wish you'd let me in.
All your life is such a shame. All your love is just a dream. Open up your eyes. You can see the flames of your wasted life. You should be ashamed.
You don't want to waste your life.
I walk along these hillsides in the summer 'neath the sunshine. I am feathered by the moonlight falling down on me. Change, change, change.
I'm way late with this post. The boy and I drove over to the Cincinnati area on Friday for my daughter's dance competition. The ladies de Nasty had already gone over there on Wednesday, and we came later because the boy had rookie league games on Wednesday and late Thursday.
But enough of my excuses. Let's get to the music.
If you look at the back of the cd case of the Punch Brothers' The Phosphorescent Blues, you'll find all members of the band starting at smart phones with their faces illuminated.
"Little Lights" closes the band's recent opus.
While I guess you can read the lyrics as being positive, I see the song as negative and morose, a commentary on our "connectedness" via technology. Turkle's Alone Together comes to mind.
These verses support my reading: "Look at us we're glowing/ tripping the dark fantastic," "I can love it all to distraction/," Look at us hold each other spellbound/ Every moment a polished silver/ link in a chain forever," and "Guide us back to where we are/ From where we wanna be."
Here are the full lyrics to the song:
"Little Lights" Look at us we're glowing Tripping the dark fantastic Singing the phosphorescent pinks and blues To beloved tunes In beloved rooms I can love it all to distraction With this... Look at us hold each other spellbound Every moment a polished silver link in a chain forever rattling through Our beloved tunes In our beloved rooms God I've loved you all to distraction With this This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine Shine little lights of ours Like Orion's belt of stars Connected only from afar Shine little lights of ours Like Orion's belt of stars Guide us back to where we are From where we wanna be
The tune reminds me of the video "Look Up," which I got introduced to this year at one of my daughter's other dance competitions when a large group of ladies danced to the audio of the video. See below.
When I was in my office Thursday, I was struck (once again) with how "Thin Blue Flame" is an outstanding tune. So I'm sharing it today.
Here's some snippets of the lyrics:
Heaven's just a thin blue line. If God's up there, he's in a cold dark room. The heavenly host are just the cold dark moons. He bent down and made the world in seven days, And ever since he's been a'walking away, Mixing with nitrogen in lonely holes Where neither seraphim or raindrops go. I see an old man wandering the halls alone. Only a full house gonna make a home. If what's loosed on earth will be loosed up on high, It's a Hell of a Heaven we must go to when we die Where even Laurel begs Hardy for vengeance please. The fat man is crying on his hands and his knees. Back in the peacetime he caught roses on the stage. Now he twists indecision takes bourbon for rage. Lead pellets peppering aluminum. Halcyon, laudanum and Opium Sings kiss thee hardy this poisoned cup. His winding sheet is busy winding up. In darkness he looks for the light that has died, But you need faith for the same reasons that it's so hard to find. And this whole thing is headed for a terrible wreck. And like good tragedy that's what we expect.
I'm in a Death Cab for Cutie kind of mood. So here's a good video of a live version of "We Looked Like Giants" with Gibbard explaining his motivation for writing the lyrics about halfway through the song. "God bless the daylight, the sugary smell of springtime, remembering when you were mine in a still suburban town. When every Thursday I'd brave those mountain passes, and you'd skip your early classes, and we'd learn how our bodies worked. God damn the black night with all its foul temptation. I became what I always hated when I was with you then."
The wife-husband duo Shovels & Rope has a new album out this year. I've listened to it a few times and am enjoying it. Here's the title track from the album.
And here are a couple of stanzas from the song: And you can't help but wonder how long it will be before the restless ocean comes lapping to the branches of the trees The money in your eyes has left you blind. You'll be the one drowning when it's swimmin' time
My mom died Wednesday morning. On the drive up to Iowa yesterday, I listened to CDs in an attempt to get my mind on other things. When listening to Todd Snider's Happy To Be Here, I realized one of my favorite songs by Snider reminds me of my mom because the advice Miss Virgie provides sounds like something my mom would say. So the song today is a sort of a tribute to my mom. Lyrics are below the video.
Ballad of the Devil's Backbone Tavern By Todd Snider Old Miss Virgy tended bar at this shack out in the hills. It never made her any money boys but paid of all her bills. Now she must have been 80 years old, but her heart was warm, and her beer was cold. She gave away more than she ever sold, smiling all the time. I used to sing off in the corner every Friday night to a loud crowd of cowboys, bikers, and bar room fights. They were drinking beer, carrying on, not a one of them listening to one of my songs. But old Miss Virgy sang along. She said she knew 'em all by heart. And then one night after closing she poured me another beer She said "Come on over and sit down you little shit. I got something you need to hear" She said "Life ain't easy getting through. Everybody's gonna make things tough on you, But I can tell you right now if you dig what you do, they will never get you down." She said life's too short to worry. Life's too long to wait. Too short not to love everybody, Life's too long to hate I meet a lot of men who haggle and finagle all the time, trying to save a nickel or make a dime. Not me, no sireee, I ain't got the time. Now I ain't seen Ol' Virgy in must have been about ten years. I've been bumming around this country singing my songs for tips and beers. Now the nights are long. The driving's tough. Hotels stink, and the pay sucks. But I can't dig what I do enough, so it never gets me down. I say life's too short to worry Life's too long to wait. Too short not to love everybody, Life's too long to hate. I meet a lot of men who haggle and finagle all the time, trying to save a nickel or make a dime. Not me, no sireee, I ain't got the time.
This morning has been a day of listening to Led Zeppelin, in particular the album Physical Graffiti. One of my favorite tunes on that album is below. "Let me wander in your garden/ And the seeds of love I'll sow./ You knoooooooow."
Because Isbell's album garnered my number one album for the year, I'm featuring the final song on the album, "Relatively Easy," with lyrics.
Relatively Easy By Jason Isbell
Are you having a long day, Everyone you meet rubs you the wrong way? Dirty city streets smell like an ashtray. Morning bells are ringing in your ear.
Is your brother on a church kick? Seems like just a different kind of dopesick. Better off to teach a dog a card trick Than try to have a point and make it clear.
You should know, compared to people on a global scale, Our kind has had it relatively easy. And here with you there's always something to look forward to. My angry heart beats relatively easy.
I lost a good friend At Christmas time when folks go off the deep end. His woman took the kids, and he took Klonopin, Enough to kill a man of twice his size. Not for me to understand. Remember him when he was still a proud man, A vandal's smile, a baseball in his right hand, Nothing but the blue sky in his eye.
Still, compared to those a stone's throw away from you, Our lives have both been relatively easy. Take a year and make a break--there ain't that much at stake. The answers could be relatively easy.
Watch that lucky man walk to work again. He may not have a friend left in the world. See him walking home again to sleep alone. I step into a shop to buy a postcard for a girl.
I broke the law boys, Shooting out the windows of my loft, boys. When they picked me up I made a big noise, Everything to blame except my mind.
I should say, I keep your picture with me everyday. The evenings now are relatively easy. And here with you there's always something to look forward to. My lonely heart beats relatively easy.
In my annual and forthcoming Top Twentysomething Albums of 2013, Essential Tremors by J. Roddy Walston & The Business comes in at number 7. The opening song of the album should get you energized. I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but I dig the song. Regardless, head the lead singer's warning... You're gonna wake up, You're gonna wake up, You're gonna wake up, Find the heavy bells Toll their tune for you too. All hail, heavy bells. All hail, heavy bells. All hail, heavy bells. All hail, heavy bells. All hail, heavy bells. All hail, heavy bells.
