I get this damn song stuck in my head all of the time. It is one of the few songs that I honestly believe has more insight stuffed into each line than almost any other song ever written, except those written by Lenoard Cohen.
You sure are cool, a European jewel I dig you most A letter came, it’s not the same The ink was blue A relative stopped by to say he saw you, hey A walkin’ down a lonesome town some time ago He said you had a mouth so bad, the lips were rotting off You dropped a tear to end his fear You seem quite well... It’s a long time spell I’m wondering where you got that infection There’s bugs in my brain I can’t feel any pain Just a shaking sha— [song ends abruptly]
On April 15 2012 15:45 lolmlg wrote: You sure are cool, a European jewel I dig you most A letter came, it’s not the same The ink was blue A relative stopped by to say he saw you, hey A walkin’ down a lonesome town some time ago He said you had a mouth so bad, the lips were rotting off You dropped a tear to end his fear You seem quite well... It’s a long time spell I’m wondering where you got that infection There’s bugs in my brain I can’t feel any pain Just a shaking sha— [song ends abruptly]
Good lines, except I couldn't get over the second line because it made me think of Pulp Fiction..."I know baby, you dig it the most." LoL.
On April 15 2012 15:45 lolmlg wrote: You sure are cool, a European jewel I dig you most A letter came, it’s not the same The ink was blue A relative stopped by to say he saw you, hey A walkin’ down a lonesome town some time ago He said you had a mouth so bad, the lips were rotting off You dropped a tear to end his fear You seem quite well... It’s a long time spell I’m wondering where you got that infection There’s bugs in my brain I can’t feel any pain Just a shaking sha— [song ends abruptly]
Good lines, except I couldn't get over the second line because it made me think of Pulp Fiction..."I know baby, you dig it the most." LoL.
Well, it was written in the 70s. Maybe Tarantino liked the song. Jandek had a lot of celebrity admirers in the 90s.
On April 15 2012 15:45 lolmlg wrote: You sure are cool, a European jewel I dig you most A letter came, it’s not the same The ink was blue A relative stopped by to say he saw you, hey A walkin’ down a lonesome town some time ago He said you had a mouth so bad, the lips were rotting off You dropped a tear to end his fear You seem quite well... It’s a long time spell I’m wondering where you got that infection There’s bugs in my brain I can’t feel any pain Just a shaking sha— [song ends abruptly]
Good lines, except I couldn't get over the second line because it made me think of Pulp Fiction..."I know baby, you dig it the most." LoL.
Well, it was written in the 70s. Maybe Tarantino liked the song. Jandek had a lot of celebrity admirers in the 90s.
This is true. Tarantino is totally 70s. I do love Jandek for his keep ability to make every song sound like a suicide note. I get "White Box" by Jandek stuck in my head often.
Beachcombers in dozens A raging waltz Sun, salt, and sea Walkin' down the halls I'm wondering where It's a murdering town I'm beatin' a hundred From way down below There's a place you could call me Out in Ohio You're down in the numbers You're listed forty-five You heard and you answered "I'm not dead, I'm alive" You'll walk on a tightrope Wear the suit of a clown You rear back in anger Don't forget there's no answer Watch your feet and where they're goin' Don't forget you're a dancer
So I walk up the street whistlin this Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of Me and eric b, and a nice big plate of Fish, which is my favorite dish But without no money it’s still a wish
On April 15 2012 16:31 lolmlg wrote: Ok, more then.
Beachcombers in dozens A raging waltz Sun, salt, and sea Walkin' down the halls I'm wondering where It's a murdering town I'm beatin' a hundred From way down below There's a place you could call me Out in Ohio You're down in the numbers You're listed forty-five You heard and you answered "I'm not dead, I'm alive" You'll walk on a tightrope Wear the suit of a clown You rear back in anger Don't forget there's no answer Watch your feet and where they're goin' Don't forget you're a dancer
Damn, I forgot how good the old Jandek albums were, especially compared with the stuff from the past 15 years or so. I will counter Jandek's "Wild Strawberries" with The Mountain Goats "I've Got the Sex":
Crushing strawberries one by one Watching the juice drip down Two and a half months ahead of schedule The leaves on the trees are turning brown We got ready for winter, as the sun rose up in the sky There was something almost soothing in the hard to define note of terror in your eye
Watching the strawberries lose their shape As the wind blew through the elm tree The wind was far too cold for the middle of April And you reached out your hand to me It was good to feel your hand in mine It was good to know you felt the pull too I scooped up a palmful of strawberry pulp And smeared it all over you
The wild strawberries drove me on As I lapped them up off of your skin And I could feel your basal body temperature Rise as the cold came in Hey hey
BTW - I just put on Six and Six...had to listen to it again after this.
"On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell And I was thinking to myself, "This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place) Such a lovely face Plenty of room at the Hotel California Any time of year (Any time of year) You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain, "Please bring me my wine" He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine" And still those voices are calling from far away, Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place) Such a lovely face They livin' it up at the Hotel California What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise) Bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device" And in the master's chambers, They gathered for the feast They stab it with their steely knives, But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before "Relax, " said the night man, "We are programmed to receive. You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave! "
"On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell And I was thinking to myself, "This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place) Such a lovely face Plenty of room at the Hotel California Any time of year (Any time of year) You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain, "Please bring me my wine" He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine" And still those voices are calling from far away, Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place) Such a lovely face They livin' it up at the Hotel California What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise) Bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device" And in the master's chambers, They gathered for the feast They stab it with their steely knives, But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before "Relax, " said the night man, "We are programmed to receive. You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave!
"
So the question here becomes about meaning. Do you buy into the Eagles saying that this was a song about the Record Companies and culture during the 70s or do you believe in the common world view that it is about drugs?
EPT
