Tuesday, September 18, 2012

You’ve had a chance to live your life

Song recommendation: Birmingham Jail by Chatham County Line




Four little girls tying their sash in the basement room that day 
Poking fun and making jokes before getting on their knees to pray 
Just so young with all their dreams and years to their end
Strewn away in the rubble by the hatred of scared white men 

It was early December in the year of ‘63 
George Wallace defied what the federal courts they did decree 
They said make your school doors open for the child of black & white 
Wallace clenched up both his fists and he called out for a fight 

Down in the Birmingham Jail 
Down in the Birmingham Jail 
You’ve had a chance to live your life but now you’re locked. . . 
In the Birmingham Jail 

When the locals heard the news that day, their blood began to boil 
They decided the only good coloured man is down beneath the soil 
So with their hate and money, they began to conspire 
And soon in Birmingham the air was thick with powder and fire 

Down in the Birmingham Jail 
Down in the Birmingham Jail 
You’ve had a chance to live your life but now you’re locked. . .
In the Birmingham Jail 

Four little girls tying their sash in the basement room that day 
Poking fun and making jokes before getting on their knees to pray 
Just so young with all their dreams and years to their end
Strewn away in the rubble by the hatred of scared white men 

Down in the Birmingham Jail 
Down in the Birmingham Jail 
You’ve had a chance to live your life but now you’re locked. . .
In the Birmingham Jail 


Monday, August 13, 2012

Let's still believe in love (Parlons encore d'amour)

Song recommendations: The Ugly and the Beautiful and La Bête et la Belle by (the real) Tuesday Weld





Well after all that we've been through
Would you still call this love baby?
Cause love's the only proof
That the ugly could be beautiful

God knows i'm feeling spent
Though i've still got my money honey
Money's the revenge
Of the ugly on the beautiful

Well the drugs just ain't enough
Though i like the way they made us crazy
But love's the only drug
It turns the ugly into beautiful

And i can't tell you why
I'm still so much afraid of dying
Dying reconciles
The ugly with the beautiful

Though we've been burned by it
Let's still believe in love
Cause love's the greatest gift
Of the ugly to the beautiful
(repeat 1x)

[no video available on you tube]

Au lendemain de nos déboires
Pourra-t'on parler d'amour
Mon amour
Écoute bien cette histoire
C'est l'histoire de la bête et la belle

Dieu sait que j'ai ramé
Mais j'ai gardé mes sous ma pauvre
Dignité
Car l'argent est la revanche
Que la bête prendra sur la belle

Les drogues étaient trop douces
Mais quelle exquise petite folie
Mon amour
Les drogues sont la seule route
Qui fera de la bête une belle

Non ne me demande pas
Pourquoi j'ai tellement peur de mourir
Alors que la mort verra
La bête s'unir à la belle

Bien qu'il nous ait brûlés
Parlons encore d'amour
Car l'amour est le plus vrai
C'est le cadeau de la bête à la belle

Non ne me demande pas
Pourquoi j'ai tellement peur de mourir
Alors que la mort verra
La bête s'unir à la belle

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Happy birthday! (Your life still isn't over)

This Post is dedicated to my best friend AI.  Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!

(Happy Birthday by the Arrogant Worms)



Once a year we celebrate
With stupid hats and plastic plates
The fact that you were able to make
Another trip around the sun

And the whole clan gathers round
And gifts and laughter do abound
And we let out a joyful sound
And sing that stupid song

Happy birthday!
Now you're one year older
Happy birthday!
Your life still isn't over
Happy birthday!
You did not accomplish much
But you didn't die this year
I guess that's good enough

So let's drink to your fading health
And hope you don't remind yourself
your chance of finding fame and wealth
Decrease with every year

Does it feel like you're doing laps
And eating food and taking naps
And hoping that someday perhaps
Your life will hold some cheer

Happy birthday!
What have you done that matters?
Happy birthday!
You're starting to get fatter
Happy birthday!
It's downhill from now on
Try not to remind yourself
Your best years are all gone

If cryogenics were all free
Then you could live like Walt Disney
And live for all eternity
Inside a block of ice

But instead your time is set
This is the only life you get
And though it hasn't ended yet
Sometimes you wish it might

Happy birthday!
You wish you had more money
Happy birthday!
Your life's so sad it's funny
Happy birthday!
How much more can you take?
But your friends are hungry
So just cut the stupid cake

Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday, dear...
(random calling out of names, including Ralph, Bill, Ralph Kramden, bob,
Skippy, the bush kangaroo, Stanly, starts with a 'J', and the b-b-b-b-b-bu-bu-bu- that leads into
"Dangerous")

Monday, August 6, 2012

What I got to do to be heard?


Song recommendation: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by Elton John




What I got to do to make you love me?
What I got to do to make you care?
What do I do when lightning strikes me?
And I wake to find that you're not there?

What I got to do to make you want me?
What I got to do to be heard?
What do I say when it's all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word.

It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation.
And it's getting more and more absurd.
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.

What do I do to make you want me?
What I got to do to be heard?
What do I say when it's all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word.

It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation.
And it's getting more and more absurd.
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.

Yeh. Sorry

What I got to do to make you love me?
What I got to do to be heard?
What do I do when lightning strikes me?
What have I got to do?
What have I got to do?
When sorry seems to be the hardest word.

Dig out the cancer of all human greed


Song recommendation: Rise Up by Flogging Molly




God you say is always the answer
But what is the answer for our cruelty
We punish a life 'til it's life ever after
Ever after the place that we all end up being

O' such is a morn' as this to awaken
Forgotten the hour that was yesterday
With a standing blow to the head of frustration
Divide and we fall have you nothing to say?

[Chorus]
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility

Many's the word that's been broken true anger
Lips that are sealed as the hour slips away
Belief is a joke to this lost generation
Building the walls as the mind segregates

But when all is said
The voice that is silent can't be heard

[Chorus]

For we, we shall overcome... someday

So we bring the head of the ol' palace tribe
For there is the rapture that bleeds out a life
Hand over fist from their pulpit they spew
Liars they'll crumble not knowing the truth

But when all is said
The voice that is silent can't be heard

[Chorus]
So let us rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Let us rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of futility
Rise up
Stand and be counted, stand and be counted
On that let's agree
Let us rise up
Dig out the cancer; dig out the cancer of all human greed

For we, we shall overcome...

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Nobody's permanent, everything's on loan here

Song recommendation: Time the Avenger by the Pretenders




Nobody's perfect
Not even a perfect stranger
But oh what a gal
She was such a perfect stranger
And you're the best in your field
In your office with your girls
And desk and leather chair
Thought that time was on your side
But now it's time the avenger

Nobody's permanent
Everything's on loan here
Even your wife and kids
Could be gone next year
And with what you have left
You'll be forever under pressure
To support her
And a lover who looks strangely
Like time the avenger

Time, time, hear the bells chime
Over the harbor and the city
Time, one more vodka and lime
To help paralyze that tiny little tick, tick, tick, tick

Nobody's perfect
Not even a perfect gent
When your property took the a train
I wonder where your manners went
You were standing at the station
In your briefcase
Was your aftershave and underwear
Can you hear the whistle blow?
Sounds like time the avenger

Time, time, hear the bells chime
Over the harbor and the city
Time to kill another bottle of wine
To help paralyze that tiny little tick, tick, tick, tick

Thursday, July 19, 2012

While the birds fly, I sink below


Song recommendation: Draw the Stars by Andrea Triana


[I can't find a video that works, try going on YouTube to find it.  It is a lovely song, I'm sure you'll enjoy it]

While the people sleep, I lie awake
Encased in dreams, That carry me
To a distant sound, To undertake
I feel it's way

Even though I am helpless of
The force above
And even though I Can't see far
I hold tighter and draw the stars

While the birds fly
I sink below
Into the cloth and weeping willows
Binding me to the wood
A shelter from a world of good

Even though I am helpless of
The force above
Even though I can't see far
I hold on tighter draw the stars

Upon my page
And while the wind blows
I open my arms
And just let them go

Even though I am helpless of
The force above
Even though I can't see far
I hold on tighter and draw the stars

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

You'll find your legs and go and stay gone


Song recommendation: Beg, Steal or Borrow by Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs



So your home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk
and the chatter

Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life’s long ladder

You've been howling at the moon like a slack jaw fool
And breaking every rule they can throw on
But one of these days it's gonna be right soon
You'll find your legs and go and stay gone

Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man going to make a stand
You beg, steal you borrow
You beg you steal you borrow

Well all the friends that you knew in school
They used to be so cool and they just bore you

Well look at them now, already pulling the plow
So quick to take to grain like some old news

Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man going to make a stand
You beg steal you borrow
You beg you steal you borrow

Dreaming of the day
You're gonna pack your bags
Put the miles away
Oh, just grab your girl and go
Where no one knows you
What will all the old folks say?

So the home town's bringing you down
Are you drowning in the small talk and the chatter?
Or you gonna step into line like your daddy done
Punching the time and climbing life’s long ladder

Young man full of big plans and thinking about tomorrow
Young man going to make a stand
You beg, steal you borrow
You beg you steal you borrow

Friday, July 13, 2012

Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt


Song recommendation: I'm Eighteen by Alice Cooper



Lines form on my face and hands
Lines form from the ups and downs
I'm in the middle without any plans
I'm a boy and I'm a man

I'm eighteen
and I don't know what I want
Eighteen
I just don't know what I want
Eighteen
I gotta get away
I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin in outer space
Oh yeah

I got a
baby's brain and an old man's heart
Took eighteen years to get this far
Don't always know what I'm talkin' about
Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt
Cause I'm

Eighteen
I get confused every day
Eighteen
I just don't know what to say
Eighteen
I gotta get away

Lines form on my face and my hands
Lines form on the left and right
I'm in the middle
the middle of life
I'm a boy and I'm a man
I'm eighteen and I LIKE IT
Yes I like it
Oh I like it
Love it
Like it
Love it
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen and I LIKE IT

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Our best defence is no defence at all

Hi guys, just so you know, because of my job (and my best attempt at a better social life) I won't be posting daily.  Instead I'll try weekly.  Forget that, I'll post when I feel like it.  Hopefully that will be at least weekly.

Song recommendation: Love's the Greatest Instrument of Rage by Thea Gilmore




I heard the deal was done
That it was sealed last night
The red woman stood to take the oath
lt wasn't front page news
She wasn't pretty
These days things are either nothing or they're both
Another sip of wine another card
And then I really have to leave
They saved my place in line
The ugly anodyne
To beg another's master for reprieve
Uhuhuhu uhuhuhu woho.

Well is it just my ears
Or does that beat appear
Just a little quieter than before
I guess we knew the score
The centre couldn't hold
The ladies pearls will skid across the floor
It'll come from Albert Dock
It'll come from Tower Bridge
It'll grab our politicians by the balls
Our quiet stupor our broken culture
Our best defence is no defence at all
Uhuhuhu uhuhuhu woho.

And you can call it progress
And you can call it foresight
Oh I don't know its name baby
But it keeps me up at night
And I'm sure there's something coming
I'm sure it will be soon
That the devils of our time will slouch
Across a blackened room
So take this epitaph
Take anything that's left
I don't want to be here
Come the day
I did my best you know
I tried to swim the tide
But I am just as guilty in my way
For every beaten brow
For every heaving chest
For every shaky word on every page
It’s taken 30 years
And a little pill to learn
That love's the greatest instrument of rage
It’s taken 30 years
And a little pill to learn
That love's the greatest instrument of rage
Uhuhuhu
Uhuhuhuhuhuhuhu
Uhuhuhuhuhuhuhu
Uhuhuhu woho woho.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Stop and smell the smoke

Song recommendation: Smoke by Ben Folds Five



(I was unable to find a video that worked, read the lyrics anyway.
I'll try to find a video after the long weekend.)

Leaf by Leaf page by page
Throw this book away
All the sadness all the rage
Throw this book away
Rip out the binding, tear the glue
All of the grief we never ever knew
We had it all along

Now its smoke
The things we've written in it
Never really happened
All of the people come and gone
Never really lived
All of the people have come have gone

No one to forgive smoke
We will never write a new one
There will not be a new one
Another one, another one
Here's an evening dark with shame
Throw it on the fire
here's the time I took the blame
Throw it on the fire
Here's the time we didn't speak
it seemed for years and years
Here's a secret
No one will ever know the
realsons for the tears
They are smoke

Where do all the secrets live
They travel in the air
You can smell them when they burn
They travel
Those who say the past is not dead
Stop and smell the smoke
You keep on saying the past is not dead
Come on and smell the smoke
You keep saying the past is not even past
You keep saying
We are, smoke

And in her eyes you see nothing

Song recommendation: For No One by the Beatles




Your day breaks, your mind aches
You find that all the words of kindness linger on
When she no longer needs you

She wakes up, she makes up
She takes her time and doesn't feel she has to hurry
She no longer needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You want her, you need her
And yet you don't believe her when she said her love is dead
You think she needs you

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You stay home, she goes out
She says that long ago she knew someone but now he's gone
She doesn't need him

Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be time when all the things she said will fill your head
You won't forget her

And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

What is the color, when black is burned?

I won't be able to post at all this long weekend, maybe even longer.  I'm moving down south for the summer for the job I wanted.  There'll be free Wi-Fi once I'm at my residence, but it'll be awhile until I get to my there.  I'll post a few extra song recommendations today to make up for it.

Song recommendation: I Am a Child by Neil Young




I am a child, I'll last a while.
You can't conceive
of the pleasure in my smile.
You hold my hand,
rough up my hair,
It's lots of fun
to have you there.

God gave to you,
now, you give to me,
I'd like to know
what you learned.
The sky is blue
and so is the sea.
What is the color,
when black is burned?
What is the color?

You are a man, you understand.
You pick me up
and you lay me down again.
You make the rules,
you say what's fair,
It's lots of fun
to have you there.

God gave to you,
now, you give to me,
I'd like to know
what you learned.
The sky is blue
and so is the sea.
What is the color,
when black is burned?
What is the color?

I am a child, I'll last a while.
You can't conceive
of the pleasure in my smile.

A place you can hide ’til the war has begun

Song recommendation: Native Son by John Hiatt


(sorry for the low quality video!!!!)


You finally found the mainstream
In the middle of your life
You tapped into a vein
Of endless gold chains
Now you’re locked up tight
Tearing down the middle of it
Splitting it right in half
Bobbing up and down the waves
Like a runaway slave
On a huck finn raft

[Chorus:]
Take your wife
Take your family
Take your gun
Running through the woods
And the burned out neighborhoods
Looking for someone
A member of your tribe
A place you can hide
’til the war has begun
’cause in the fields before the flood
You’ll be spilling blood
Like a native son

Where you gonna run to
There ain’t no underground
If only you could fly
You’d cut across the sky
Like a rifle round
Oh, who are your people
And where is your homeland
’cause they’re dying side by side
At the river of pride
Where we tried to take a stand

[Chorus twice]

In the fields before the flood
You’ll be spilling blood
Like a native son

Thursday, June 28, 2012

I need to protect you, keep you from harm

Song recommendation: Porcelain Doll by Chatham County Line



Unfortunately I couldn't find the lyrics for this beautiful song.  I urge you to spend a few minutes of your time to listen to this song.  I love this song a lot, I am so disappointed that I couldn't find a web site with the lyrics.  I do not believe it would be a waste of your time to take a moment to listen, to lose yourself in this song.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Please beware the quiet front yard

Song recommendation: She's a Jar by Wilco




She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
She begs me not to miss her

She says forever
To light a fuse
We could use
A hand full of wheel
And a day off
And a bruised road
However you might feel
Tonight is real

When I forget how to talk, I sing
Wont you please
Bring that flash to shine
And turn my eyes red
Unless they close
When you click
And my face gets sick
Stuck
Like a question unposed

Just climb aboard
The tracks of a trains arm
In my fragile family tree
And watch me floating inches above
The people under me

Please beware the quiet front yard
I warned you
Before there were water skies
I warned you not to drive
Dry your eyes, you poor devil

Are there really ones like these?
The ones I dream
Float like leaves
And freeze to spread skeleton wings
I passed through before I knew you

I believe it's just because
Daddy's payday is not enough
Oh, I believe it's all because
Daddy's payday is not enough

Just climb aboard
The tracks of a trains arm
In my fragile family tree
And watch me floating inches above
The people under me

She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
You know she begs me not to hit her

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Well exactly who or what would I be?

Song Recommendation: Mora (Blackberry) by Corb Lund




What if I wound up spending most my whole day through
Talking over coffee, leftist politics with you
And my face lit up with Che Guevera
Hero of all of South America
Challenging the yanquis of America
Well exactly who or what would I be?

And if because of prison beatings and corrupt police
I had to flee beloved Chile in the seventies
Come to seek asylum in your embassies
Well exactly who or what would I be?

CHORUS:
My name would be Jose Alberto Mora (Blackberry)
And I would be a good man
His name would be Jose Alberto Mora (Blackberries)
And he would be a good man

What if I lost my arm as a younger lad
When I broke it at the shoulder in the hilly lowlands
North to Santiago by the quickest route
Because we didn't have good medicine or medics in the south
Hurrying to try to keep infection out
Well exactly who or what would I be?

If we arrived too late and it was all gangrene
And the doctor said it was the worst case he had seen
We'll have to cut the arm and the extremities
Well exactly who or what would I be?

CHORUS

What if wound up marrying a gringa who
Gave me one young son with the eyes like hers, of blue
And we named him well for Simon Bolivar
Handsome as a Latin silent movie star
How could we have known that we'd have come this far
Well exactly who or what would I be?

And if I not so good with English much when I arrive
But I sent for my old father to come start a brand new life
If you come close but don't quite sing my accent right
Well exactly who or what would I be?

CHORUS

Ai!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

No one's sorry, you did it yourself

Song recommendation: Bandit by Neil Young



Turning the pages in this old book
Seems familiar, might be worth a second look.

Wrapping up dope in a paper bag.
Talking to yourself taking a drag.
Who you kidding, is what you say.
Does it matter? They’ll never hear it any way.

Gotta get past the negative things.
Lawyers and business, you get what you bring.
No one's sorry, you did it yourself.
It's time to relax now and then give it hell.

Someday you'll find what you're looking for.
Someday you'll find what you're looking for.

You didn't bet on the Dodgers to beat the Giants.
Then David came on,
Now you gotta pay up.
You didn't count on that.

Gee, half the money's gone
The month is still young.
Where are you gonna go now?
Things are closing in.

Gotta trust someone.
Trust someone.
Someone one you trust.
Gotta be careful, careful.

Can't go to your brother
That money's all gone
Can't go to your friends.

Someday you'll find everything you're looking for.
Someday you'll find everything you're looking for.
Someday you'll find everything you're looking for.
Someday you'll find everything you're looking for, yeah.

Made out like a bandit for so many years.
What are you working for?
One more big score?
What are you trying to prove?

Try to get closer, but not too close.
Try to get through, but not be through.
No one can touch you now.
I can touch you now.

You're invisible, you've got too many secrets.
Bob Dylan said that.
Or some’in’ like that.

Someday you'll find everything you're looking for
Someday you'll find everything you're looking for
Someday you'll find everything you're looking for
Someday you'll find everything you're looking for, yeah

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Future outcasts and they don't last

Song recommendation: Androgynous by Crash Test Dummies


an·drog·y·nous[an-droj-uh-nuhs]
adjective
1.
being both male and female; hermaphroditic.
2.
having both masculine and feminine characteristics.
3.
having an ambiguous sexual identity.
4.
neither clearly masculine nor clearly feminine in appearance:the androgynous look of many rock stars.
5.
Botany having staminate and pistillate flowers in the sameinflorescence.



Here comes Dick, he's wearing a skirt
Here comes Jane you know she's sportin' a chain
Same hair, a revolution
Same build, evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss?
And they love each other so, androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so, androgynous

We'll don't get him wrong, and don't get him mad
He might be a father but he sure aint a dad
And she don't need the advice that is sent to her
She's happy the way she looks, she's happy with her gender
And they love each other so, androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so, androgynous

Mirror image, see no damage, see no evil at all
Cupie dolls and urine stalls will be laughed at
The way you're laughed at now

Something meets boy and something meets girl
They both look the same they're overjoyed in this world
Same hair revolution
Unisex evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss?

And tomorrow Dick is wearing pants,
Tomorrow Jane is wearing a dress
Future outcasts and they don't last
And today people dress the way that they please
The way they tried to do in the last centuries

And they love each other so, androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so, androgynous