It’s been metric yonks since I posted to this category, ages since I’ve shared some music with my fine and deeply sexy readerfolk.
So here’s not one, no not even two, but count ’em three! songs for your delectation, to make up for my dereliction. Songs that I hope you might not know yet, and might after hearing them enjoy as greatly as I do. If you do like ’em, go buy the albums in question. As usual, the mp3s’ll be up for a couple of days at most before I take them down again.
I’ve chosen three songs that put me in mind this evening of Being Wonderchicken at age 18, 28, and 38, respectively.
With no further ado, then:
#1: Being 18
The Mountain Goats – This Year [Update: mp3 taken down, sorry]
I put the pedal to the floor
headed north on mills ave
and listened to the engine roar
my broken house behind me
and good things ahead
a girl named cathy
wants a little of my time
six cylinders underneath the hood
crashing and kicking
aha! listen to the engine whine
i am going to make it through this year
if it kills me
i am going to make it through this year
if it kills me
i played video games in a drunken haze
i was seventeen years young
hurt my knuckles punching the machines
the taste of scotch rich on my tongue
and then cathy showed up
and we hung out
trading swigs from a bottle
all bitter and clean
locking eyes
holding hands
twin high maintenance machines
i am going to make it through this year
if it kills me
i am going to make it though this year
if it kills me
i drove home in the california dusk
i could feel the alcohol inside of me hum
pictured the look on my stepfather’s face
ready for the bad things to come
i down shifted
as i pulled into the driveway
the motor screaming out
stuck in second gear
the scene ends badly
as you might imagine
in a cavalcade of anger and fear
there will be feasting and dancing
in jerusalem next year
i am going to make it through this year
if it kills me
i am going to make it though this year
if it kills me
That was both melancholy and joy-inducing, was it not? OK! On the next song, friends, with alacrity and alcohol!
#2: Being 28
Ray Lamontagne – Jolene [Update: mp3 taken down, sorry]
Sold my coat when I hit Spokane
Bought myself a hard pack of cigarettes
in the early morning rain
Lately my hands they don’t feel like mine
My eyes been stung with dust and blind
Held you in my arms one time
Lost you just the same
Jolene
I ain’t about to go straight
It’s too late
I found myself face down in a ditch
Booze in my hair
Blood on my lips
A picture of you holding a picture of me
In the pocket of my blue jeans
Still don’t know what love means
Jolene
Been so long since I seen your face
Or felt a part of this human race
I’ve been living out of this here suitcase for way too long
A man needs something he can hold onto
A nine pound hammer or a woman like you
Either one of them things will do
Jolene
I ain’t about to go straight
It’s too late
I found myself face down in a ditch
Booze in my hair
Blood on my lips
A picture of you holding a picture of me
In the pocket of my blue jeans
Still don’t know what love means
Jolene
Well, that’s a little melancholy too, perhaps, but there’s a ray of light knifing through the clouds, isn’t there? f–kin’ right, there is!
#3: Being 38
Smog – Dress Sexy At My Funeral [Update: mp3 taken down, sorry]
Dress sexy at my funeral my good wife
For the first time in your life
Wear your blouse undone to here
And your skirt split up to there
Dress sexy at my funeral my good wife
For the first time in your life
Dress sexy at my funeral my good wife
Wink at the minister
Blow kisses to my grieving brothers
Dress sexy at my funeral my good wife
And when it comes your turn to speak before the crowd
Tell them about the time we did it
On the beach with fireworks above us
On the railroad tracks with the gravel in your back
In the back room of a crowded bar
And in the graveyard where my body now rests
Dress sexy at my funeral my good wife
Dress sexy at my funeral my good wife
For the first time in your life
Also tell them about how I gave to charity
And tried to love my fellow man as best i could
But most of all don’t forget about the time on the beach
With fireworks above us.
Light’s not going out there, goddamnit, much as it may seem so. Right? Joy and antijoy can meet without the fabric of spacetime gettin’ all shredded like a hooker’s panties. You bastards need to get off the happy pills.
Anyway, so there you go. Songs good. If I’m still blogging when I’m 48, I’ll update this motherf–ker.
Share and enjoy.
Update: Songs taken down. Snooze/loose.
Update 2: Jeff Ward at This Public Address joins the fun! Anyone else care to play?
Update 3Shelley gives it a go (sort of), too! You know, this used to be easier when trackbacks were flying around all over the place…
Good triple shot of dark-meets-light. Wash only in cold water, hang to dry.
Thanks, mate!
Well, I have you to thank for turning me on to selection #2, so right back at ya, my friend.
That was a trip 🙂
http://www.thealders.net/blogs/2006/03/20/looking-back/