Battlefields

Do NOT ask me why I woke up this morning with this song stuck in my head. I'm going to go ahead and blame it on late-night television, maybe a stray commercial. Or I could blame it on some sort of eighties flashback tripwire. I have no idea. But in the spirit of honesty, I present the random tune bouncing around my brain this am.

We are young, heartache to heartache we stand
NO PROMISES, NO DEMANDS
Love Is A Battlefield
We are strong, no one can tell us we're wrong
Searchin' our hearts for so long, both of us knowing
Love Is A Battlefield

You're beggin' me to go, you're makin' me stay
Why do you hurt me so bad?
It would help me to know
Do I stand in your way, or am I the best thing you've had?
Believe me, believe me, I can't tell you why
But I'm trapped by your love, and I'm chained to your side

We are young, heartache to heartache we stand
NO PROMISES, NO DEMANDS
Love Is A Battlefield

We are strong, no one can tell us we're wrong
Searchin' our hearts for so long, both of us knowing
Love Is A Battlefield

We're losing control
Will you turn me away or touch me deep inside?
And before this gets old, will it still feel the same?
There's no way this will die
But if we get much closer, I could lose control
And if your heart surrenders, you'll need me to hold

We are young, heartache to heartache we stand
NO PROMISES, NO DEMANDS
Love Is A Battlefield

We are strong, no one can tell us we're wrong
Searchin' our hearts for so long, both of us knowing
Love Is A Battlefield

Artist: Pat Benatar
Album: Live from Earth
Year: 1983
Genre: Arena Rock

The Silence Between Us...

Man, it's been a day. Long day, but less stressful than previous days... which is a good (and long-needed) situation. Everyone's been walking on eggshells since the layoffs, so I needed a good day, and I got one... how about them apples? I really feel blessed... most of the time.

So yeah, I'm packing up at the day job and headed up the road to do a few errands, stop by to see a friend or two, and then meet one of my oldest friends and my brother up at 3Monkeys, where we will drink excessively and flirt with college girls, whom - if you don't know this, listen up, dudes - are actually quite interested in talking to older guys.

I'm totally serious. These little hotties don't get the clueless frat-boy ridiculous come-ons from the boys from 32A. No, sir - we're good-looking, unique, intelligent guys with a lot of life experience... they are both caught off guard, surprised and intrigued by this. Really! No joke!

All I have to say is... it's good to be a thirty-something single guy, at this particular time in my life.

Hells, yeah.

Psyching up to get on the road: I just spun up Bob Mould's District Line ... I subscribe to Paste Magazine - which by the way, is absolutely AMAZING - sign up immediately if you care about great new indie music... and check it out, every issue comes with a free sampler CD containing tracks off new (and very cool) releases.

Anyway, I got off track there (surprise). The best song on District Line is definitely, imho, The Silence Between Us. You might want to click on this link - you can download the song for FREE!

I can't wait to turn that one up LOUD and drive down the road feeling like I'm 22 again, screaming the lyrics and remembering how much I love, love, LOVE Sugar's Copper Blue.

(That was only one year ago, of course. ;)

There were trails of fallen trees
Deciduous and weeding marsh
The lowland birds and crickets roared
The final sound of fall
Along the banks of the river
We approached the footbridge
Entering the wilderness
Following my footstep

The silence between us is the time
When I can't hear the thoughts
That's on your mind, yeah

Beyond the panic and worried that
Seems to consume most every thought
There lies a calm and steady hand
That someday you might see
Perhaps it isn't what you wanted
Or even what you're looking for
But once you see the symmetry
Once you see the you and me

The silence between us is the time
When I can't hear the thoughts
That's on your mind, yeah
Winter lovers, we're so nervous
The words will disappear
What thoughts are on your mind, yeah

You park the car outside the Holiday Inn
We cross the highway single-file
And you were walking in a hurry
And there was me without water with a smile
Yeah!

The silence between us is the time
When I can't hear the thoughts
That's on your mind, yeah

Winter lovers, we're so nervous
The words will disappear
What thoughts are on your mind, yeah
On your mind, yeah
On your mind, yeah
On your mind, yeah

Album: District Line
Artist: Bob Mould
Genre: Bob Mould (seriously... this guy does everything well. Amazing mus

It's No Big Deal...

On this nice sunny day "It's no big deal..." was running though my head. I was doing my thing with the song playing in my head and had to look for some stuff on Amazon, and Amazon has a LOT of stuff.

Until today I had not seen this on any website; now granted, I am not a professional web-surfer. When I was at the top of my game Yahoo was brand new. That being said, I did a search for something that I had never found until today (granted, I have not searched for this in more than a year).

Amazon.com SEARCH: Waxing Poetics

Result: WOW, the entire Waxing Poetics library is there.

I have been waiting for this day, (or actually, probably shortly after the date of my last search) for a long time. TWP was (is?) a very regional band with a pretty short time in the spotlight. I am not a normally excitable guy so I did not shout "Woo Hoo!!!" or anything like that but I did utter something.

time don't capture light just right
it makes your face too long
time don't capture light just right
makes your name seem wrong
but it's no big deal you say
it's no big thing
time don't capture love at all
& love don't capture anything

found out what happened to baby jane
tried to take another photograph
take it to the masses
take it to the masses

look what happened to baby jane
look what happened to america
look what happened to baby jane
the same thing happened to america
but it's no big thing you say

it's no big deal

time don't capture love at all
& love don't change the way you feel

found out what happened to baby jane
tried to take another photograph
dress her up in plastic
take it to the wasteland
take it to the wasteland

and it's no big deal you say
it's no big thing
time don't capture love at all
& love don't capture anything

found out what happened to baby jane
tried to take another photograph
take it all for granted
take it all for granted

Song: Baby Jane
Artist: Waxing Poetics
Album: Manakin Moon
Year: 1988

Shakedown Charlottesville

I just got two tickets to see The Dead in Charlottesville... so some lucky person will be joining me for a ride to the Hook on April 15. I. Cannot. Wait.

I never got to see the Dead with Jerry. That's one of my biggest regrets... my brother was lucky enough to catch one of Jer-bear's last shows, in DC, and he isn't even much of a GD fan, per se. Oh well - hindsight's always 20/20.

So, you know what's stuck in my head now... Green Day. KIDDING! It's an old favorite called Terrapin Station, baby... my good friend Kathryn gets credit for hooking me on this album.

Terrapin Station

Let my inspiration flow in token rhyme, suggesting rhythm,
That will not forsake you, till my tale is told and done.
While the firelights aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow,
Till things weve never seen will seem familiar.

Shadows of a sailor, forming winds both foul and fair all swarm.
Down in carlisle, he loved a lady many years ago.
Here beside him stands a man, a soldier from the looks of him,
Who came through many fights, but lost at love.

While the story teller speaks, a door within the fire creaks;
Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there.
Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair,
She takes her fan and throws it, in the lions den.

Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise,
Strategy was his strength, and not disaster.

The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him.
Thats how it stands today. you decide if he was wise.
The story teller makes no choice. soon you will not hear his voice.
His job is to shed light, and not to master.

Since the end is never told, we pay the teller off in gold,
In hopes he will return, but he cannot be bought or sold.

Terrapin station

Inspiration, move me brightly. light the song with sense and color;
Hold away despair, more than this I will not ask.
Faced with mysteries dark and vast, statements just seem vain at last.
Some rise, some fall, some climb, to get to terrapin.

Counting stars by candlelight, all are dim but one is bright;
The spiral light of venus, rising first and shining best,
On, from the northwest corner, of a brand new crescent moon,
While crickets and cicadas sing, a rare and different tune,
Terrapin station.

In the shadow of the moon, terrapin station.
And I know well get there soon, terrapin station.
I cant figure out, terrapin, if its the end or beginning, terrapin,
But the trains put its brakes on, terrapin,
And the whistle is screaming, terrapin.

Terrapin station - at the siding

While you were gone, these faces filled with darkness.
The obvious was hidden. with nothing to believe in,

Sullen wings of fortune beat like rain.
Youre back in terrapin for good or ill again, for good or ill again.

Artist: The Grateful Dead
Album: Terrapin Station
Year: 1977
Genre: Jerry!

A Twilight Song of Longing....

This unseasonably warm weather has erupted into a nostalgia for summer so palpable that I can taste it. I lay in bed night-before-last listening to the frogs sing and drinking in the breeze from the open window. The mental soundtrack was “after the boys of summer have gone” by Don Henley.

For me that song WAS high-school-era summer nights. Growing up in a coastal town with lots of summer-time visitors, I could feel the angst of the home-town guy watching his girl cavort with the summer people. A twilight song of longing…..

I want to ride in a convertible, walk barefoot on the beach and just plain play hooky!!!! No more cold weather!!!

The spell of warm weather has come to an end, but Summer, “my love for you will still be strong” when you come back for good ….long about May? I can hardly wait!!!!

Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summers out of reach
Empty lake,
Empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I’m drivin’ by your house
Though I know you’re not home
But I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your
Sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you
Will still be strong after the boys of
Summer have gone

I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how you made me crazy?
Remember how I made you scream?
Now I don’t understand what’s happened
To our love,
But babe, I’m gonna get you back
I’m gonna’ show you what I’m made of
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
I see you walkin’ real slow and you’re smilin’ at everyone
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

Out on the road today I saw a deadhead sticker
On a cadillac
A little voice inside my head said, don’t
Look back. you can never look back.
I thought I knew what love was,
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I can see you-
Your brown skin shining in the sun
You got that hair slicked back and
Those wayfarers on, baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

Artist: Don Henley
Album: Building the Perfect Beast
Year: 1984
Genre: Rock

Welcome to The Song Stuck in My Head

Ever get a song stuck in your head for hours and hours on end?
So have we!

Just a few hours ago my wife was listening the Genesis: "Invisible Touch" and of course now the chorus is stuck in my head. While I am a Genesis fan I for the most part I prefer their early stuff (Peter Gabriel singing).

Right now the chorus is on repeat forever ... and ever ... and ever.

Hopefully, tomorrow will bring a different song.

Song: Invisible Touch
Artist: Genesis
Album: Invisible Touch
Year: 1986