Cheesy Music Lyrics Night
O.K., the lyrics themselves aren't cheesy--it's my sappy commentary on them that's going to be cheesy. After my night of seething rage, my morning of abject depression, my afternoon of scoffing disbelief, and my evening of commiserating with Jackspatula, hugging my dog, and scrubbing the bathroom furiously, I am feeling a bit . . . sentimental.
I am not a negative person. I can't stay in a funk. I just can't . . . deal, man, with that. One must carry on, live life. Over the past several years, I've become very good at forgiving myself. It's just not worth it, agonizing endlessly, no matter how bad you fuck up. Accept responsibility for it, deal with it, move on. As a prerequisite for forgiving myself, I made a deal with myself--to be forgiving of others as well. This has worked out well--seems to be a good philosophy. I'm sticking with it.
I'm not forgiving those frigging rednecks who voted for Bush, though. Not yet. I'm only human. I'll forgive them when they hit middle age and have no retirement money or health care. The evangelicals I can forgive now--they can't help themselves.
Anyhoo, tonight I am listening to one of my comfort CDs--"Smile" by the Jayhawks. It's one of those CDs where I can relate the lyrics to any given situation, so each track is kind of like a different song each time I listen to it. Tonight, for example . . .
Track 1: Smile
"Smile when you're down and out"--what I and many others did today.
Track 2: I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
This is a song from America to all of us citizens: "I'll never be all you want me to, but that's alright."
Track 3: What Led Me to This Town
"I woke up one day and my dreams were gone"--see what I mean about the cheesy part?
Track 4: Somewhere in Ohio
"Somewhere in Ohio, there are a bunch of redneck idiots who voted for Bush!" O.K., those really aren't the lyrics, but it's just too irresistible. Plus, the phrasing really works, because my own county did go for Kerry . . . but somewhere in Ohio . . . all right, you get it.
Track 5: A Break in the Clouds
This is Jackspatula's and my wedding song. He is my break in the clouds. (Sorry, more cheese, but it's true. Love you, baby!)
Track 6: Queen of the World
Hmm . . . it's a good song, but I got nothing. Could be Laura Bush's theme song, I suppose, but I don't want to think of it in that way.
Track 7: Life Floats By
"In my mind, in my soul, I never really loved you." What I am petulantly saying to Kerry tonight. You hate to kick a guy when he's down, but anger is a natural part of the grieving process. Besides, he'll never know.
Track 8: Broken Harpoon
"New lines were drawn and rules were made." This is our oh-too-near-future. Prepare yourself. Title of the track itself could also be interpreted as symbolic of the Democratic National Committee's strategy.
Track 9: Pretty Thing
"You're such a pretty thing, I taught you everthing you know." This is obviously Karl Rove whispering adoringly in W's ear. Duh.
Track 10: Mr. Wilson
This one requires a full refrain quote:
"Your doubt is your undoing
Afraid to open your door
You're still too busy screwing
Up the battle and the war."
This goes out to . . . you know . . . everyone who voted for . . . you know. Too obvious. But eloquent.
Track 11: In My Wildest Dreams
Wow, these are getting more and more transparent, aren't they? But this track, more than any other, requires extensive quoting. Guess who I have in mind here?
"The more I get to know you
The less that I admire
I fade as the unholy light surrounds you
I'm mystified you got so high
You had so far to fall
What you don't own, you beg, you steal, you borrow."
Kind of brings a tear, doesn't it? A tear of RAGE!!! O.K., moving on.
Track 12: Better Days
Another obvious one. Quotables/inspirational:
"I've seen better days."
"Too late for hope, but a dream remembered."
"What you regret are the things you never do." (A more general observation.)
Track 13: Baby, Baby, Baby
"I would have run, but I never saw it coming." So true. But moving to the Netherlands is kind of impractical, anyway.
That's it. It's important to note that I accidentally listened to the CD on random, so the last track I heard was "Better Days." Remember the dream, folks.
In the words of Travis*, peace the fuck out.
(*The band, not you T-boy--but it was great to hear from you! Congrats on your baby girl! I'll call soon.)
I am not a negative person. I can't stay in a funk. I just can't . . . deal, man, with that. One must carry on, live life. Over the past several years, I've become very good at forgiving myself. It's just not worth it, agonizing endlessly, no matter how bad you fuck up. Accept responsibility for it, deal with it, move on. As a prerequisite for forgiving myself, I made a deal with myself--to be forgiving of others as well. This has worked out well--seems to be a good philosophy. I'm sticking with it.
I'm not forgiving those frigging rednecks who voted for Bush, though. Not yet. I'm only human. I'll forgive them when they hit middle age and have no retirement money or health care. The evangelicals I can forgive now--they can't help themselves.
Anyhoo, tonight I am listening to one of my comfort CDs--"Smile" by the Jayhawks. It's one of those CDs where I can relate the lyrics to any given situation, so each track is kind of like a different song each time I listen to it. Tonight, for example . . .
Track 1: Smile
"Smile when you're down and out"--what I and many others did today.
Track 2: I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
This is a song from America to all of us citizens: "I'll never be all you want me to, but that's alright."
Track 3: What Led Me to This Town
"I woke up one day and my dreams were gone"--see what I mean about the cheesy part?
Track 4: Somewhere in Ohio
"Somewhere in Ohio, there are a bunch of redneck idiots who voted for Bush!" O.K., those really aren't the lyrics, but it's just too irresistible. Plus, the phrasing really works, because my own county did go for Kerry . . . but somewhere in Ohio . . . all right, you get it.
Track 5: A Break in the Clouds
This is Jackspatula's and my wedding song. He is my break in the clouds. (Sorry, more cheese, but it's true. Love you, baby!)
Track 6: Queen of the World
Hmm . . . it's a good song, but I got nothing. Could be Laura Bush's theme song, I suppose, but I don't want to think of it in that way.
Track 7: Life Floats By
"In my mind, in my soul, I never really loved you." What I am petulantly saying to Kerry tonight. You hate to kick a guy when he's down, but anger is a natural part of the grieving process. Besides, he'll never know.
Track 8: Broken Harpoon
"New lines were drawn and rules were made." This is our oh-too-near-future. Prepare yourself. Title of the track itself could also be interpreted as symbolic of the Democratic National Committee's strategy.
Track 9: Pretty Thing
"You're such a pretty thing, I taught you everthing you know." This is obviously Karl Rove whispering adoringly in W's ear. Duh.
Track 10: Mr. Wilson
This one requires a full refrain quote:
"Your doubt is your undoing
Afraid to open your door
You're still too busy screwing
Up the battle and the war."
This goes out to . . . you know . . . everyone who voted for . . . you know. Too obvious. But eloquent.
Track 11: In My Wildest Dreams
Wow, these are getting more and more transparent, aren't they? But this track, more than any other, requires extensive quoting. Guess who I have in mind here?
"The more I get to know you
The less that I admire
I fade as the unholy light surrounds you
I'm mystified you got so high
You had so far to fall
What you don't own, you beg, you steal, you borrow."
Kind of brings a tear, doesn't it? A tear of RAGE!!! O.K., moving on.
Track 12: Better Days
Another obvious one. Quotables/inspirational:
"I've seen better days."
"Too late for hope, but a dream remembered."
"What you regret are the things you never do." (A more general observation.)
Track 13: Baby, Baby, Baby
"I would have run, but I never saw it coming." So true. But moving to the Netherlands is kind of impractical, anyway.
That's it. It's important to note that I accidentally listened to the CD on random, so the last track I heard was "Better Days." Remember the dream, folks.
In the words of Travis*, peace the fuck out.
(*The band, not you T-boy--but it was great to hear from you! Congrats on your baby girl! I'll call soon.)
posted by flipper @ 9:33 PM
2 Comments:
At 11:30 PM,
David said…
Music is a great healer and sometimes so is laughter. We are all disappointed, but you and Lulu are right to try and see the bright side. I sometimes feel that I have less right than ya'll to be upset, because I did less to push K forward, but anyway, we've just got to keep on moving forward and staying positive however we can.
Of course, writing is also a good healer and I am glad you are doing it for yourself and for us to see.
Thanks,
At 9:33 AM,
flipper said…
Aw, shucks. You are sweet. And you have EVERY right to be upset--you have kids, after all! It's their future that's on the line.
Won't somebody think of the children??
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