For the Sake of the Song
February 27, 2008 at 9:05 am
Some songs demand more attention to be fully appreciated. Songs that are so powerful once you’ve heard the lyrics that they can change people’s lives forever. Today I’ll share with you five of my favourites.
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Townes van Zandt - Tecumseh Valley
Our Mother the Mountain (Tomato, 1969)
The devastatingly beautiful Tecumseh Valley tells the tale of a young woman growing up through rock-hard times. As money is running out – and with winter on its way – her father sends her off, on her own, to Tecumseh Valley for work. In these beginning stages of the song Van Zandt, in spite of everything, portrays her as a girl full of colour and life, still untainted by her early life’s misery.
The name she gave was Caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her
But once she arrives in Tecumseh Valley she soon finds that when you pack your bags, all the bad things in your life inevitably attach and will travel with you. The times are just as hard in Tecumseh Valley and - though full of vigour and determination - she’s struggling to earn a living. She finds a job tending bar at a place called Gypsy Sallys and throughout the song we see life slowly taking away her colour, wearing her down day after day. Once the winter is finally over and she has earned enough money to return home her father dies and the song takes a heartbreaking turn for the worse. Townes van Zandt (still 25 years old here!) is at his best as he sings the tale of a lively young woman, still full of spirit and grit, who tragically succumbs to the crushing weight of a tough and bleak life that knows no mercy.
So she turned to whorin’ out on the streets
With all the lust inside her
And it was many a man
Returned again
To lay himself beside her
They found her down beneath the stairs
That led to Gypsy Sallys
In her hand when she died
Was a note that cried
Fare thee well… Tecumseh valley
* Full lyrics in the comment section *
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David Olney - 1917
Through a Glass Darkly (Rounder Philo, 1999)
As an interesting contrast here, David Olney, one of the most underrated songwriters of our time, also writes about a woman who has turned to prostitution in his masterpiece 1917, but with an entirely different sentiment. He delivers the song from the point of view of a French prostitute catering to World War I soldiers. A harrowing lament, remarkably enough told in such a way that is as romantic as any song ever written.
The strange young man who comes to me
A soldier on a three day spree
Who needs one night’s cheap ecstasy
And a woman’s arms to hide him
He greets me with a courtly bow
He hides his pain by acting proud
And he drinks too much and laughs too loud
How can I deny him
Let us dance beneath the moon
I’ll sing to you “Claire de Lune”
The morning always comes too soon
But tonight the war is over
As the strings delicately swell in the background and the startlingly beautiful story unfolds, she realizes all too well that these boys are doomed and probably won’t survive the horrific battlefields. She feels pity for them and asks herself: “who am I to deny them?” It is with this extraordinary sense of compassion and humanity that the song can be free of any moral condemning that typically surrounds this issue.
He speaks to me in schoolboy French
Of a soldier’s life inside a trench
The look of death, the ghastly stench
I do my best to please him
If I would have to make a top ten of my favourite songs, 1917 would be in there without a doubt. To be able to write a tale about a kind-hearted French prostitute giving comfort to doomed soldiers in such a way is a gift that few songwriters possess.
I’d pray for him but I’ve forgotten how
And there’s nothing, nothing that can save him now
But there’s always another with the same funny bow
And who am I to deny them
* Full lyrics in the comment section *
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Tom Waits - Poor Edward
Alice (Anti, 2002)
Rarely does a song possess the ability to put you under a spell like Tom Waits’ Poor Edward inevitably does, even with its most well prepared listeners. This song tells the tale of a man called Edward who seems doomed for life. As the strings create an eerie and melancholic atmosphere that is so typical for his exceptional Alice album, Tom Waits sits himself behind the piano and unravels a horrifying tale.
Did you hear the news about Edward?
On the back of his head he had another face
Was it a woman’s face or a young girl?
They said to remove it would kill him
So poor Edward was doomed
The face could laugh and cry
It was his devil twin
And at night she spoke to him
Things heard only in hell
But they were impossible to separate
Chained together for life
Finally the bell tolled his doom
He took a suite of rooms
And hung himself and her from the balcony irons
Some still believe he was freed from her
But I knew her too well
I say she drove him to suicide
And took poor Edward to hell
Once the song is over – and for the first time you’ve paid real attention to the words – you cannot help but to feel shocked. It floored me and left me baffled the first time I heard it, much like on the day when I saw a glimpse of the lifeless arm of a girl hanging out an upside down car’s window when passing by a highway accident six years ago. You instantly know that you’ve seen or experienced something that is so powerful and haunting that it will live in your memory eternally.
Whenever I look at the lyrics I’m puzzled by how few lines there actually are. In my imagination this song is much bigger. Like a novel. I can see Edward’s expression as he stands there desperately in a darkened, brown-coloured hotel room with a rope tight around his neck getting ready to walk towards the balcony and the street-lights below. Like the short folk stories of the Brothers Grimm, Waits only needs a couple of lines to bring to life a tale of epic proportions. Lines like “And at night she spoke to him / Things heard only in hell” are ingeniously simple and effective. Not even a 1,000 page book could better describe the things Edward heard than these five simple words.
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Mark Kozelek - Ruth Marie
Rock ‘N’ Roll Singer (Badman Records, 2000)
Probably the saddest and most human of all songs, Ruth Marie deals with an aging mother who struggles with loneliness and her declining condition as she feels her death inevitably coming closer. Kozelek sings the song from the perspective of the mother while she’s being taken care of in a nursing home where she’s reminiscing about her life and the things most valuable to her.
I grew so old in that house I lived in
They brought me here ’cause I can’t take care
I lost my worth and my purpose here
But the song is not so much about being afraid of dying. She is not fighting that final day. Instead the song is about the period that leads to that final day. The song is about losing what’s most important to you and the almost unavoidable loneliness that comes with aging in our Western, individualized culture. It’s about not being able to express your feelings or to be with the ones you love the most, just when you need them the most.
I watched you grow up from babies on the floor
To the beautiful women that you are
And I hated that you’ve gone away so far
‘Cause I know I won’t ever see those eyes
The eyes I gave you
It is with this mindset that the song becomes one of the most moving and painfully honest pieces of music I’ve ever heard. These sad events seem so excruciatingly truthful and recognizable that you cannot help but to think about your own life and the ones around you; to feel an utmost determination to be there for those who need you the most.
You know I love you, though I can hardly say
And I hate it when you see me in this way
But in darkness, I’ll always see those eyes
The eyes I gave you
* Full lyrics in the comment section *
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Vic Chesnutt – Iraq (live)
Live recording MFA Boston 2-14-2006
While performing with fellow songwriters Mark Eitzel (American Music Club) and Will Johnson (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel) as the Undertow Orchestra around 2005 and 2006, the prolific songwriter Vic Chesnutt regularly performs a cleverly written song about the “war” in Iraq. Chesnutt rather uses the word invasion for what’s still going on in Iraq and makes sure to point this out in this song, written from the perspective of Uncle Sam. He uses a metaphor with the US as a rapist who deludes himself into thinking he’s spared his victim from an abusive marriage.
She is beautiful and rich
And married to a world-class prick
He beats her and rages
So I’m gonna save her
That puty bully is no match for my
Well toned muscles
While I’m tearing him limb for limb
She will see what great shape I’m in
She’ll kiss me on the cheek
And say “you’re my hero”
I’ll take her in my arms
And then I’ll have her
She’ll be mine!
Well I did just what I said
I beat that bastard dead
But as I was punching and pounding and beating
She was sobbing and bleeding and screaming
Which wasn’t exactly what I was expecting
But never for one moment did I
Let it distract me
The lyrics seem painfully real even with such an absurd metaphor. Vic Chesnutt has always been applauded for his ingenious and cynical lyrics but on this song – when the motive for writing the song is of so much importance – he seems to outdo himself. Rarely have I heard a song that so well captures the absurd reality of today’s events.
She spat at my face
As I tightened my embrace
And as I pressed against her
She twisted and resisted
She tried to fight it
As I pushed inside her
I said, you’ll learn like it
You’ll learn love it
You’ll learn to love me
For I am your hero
* Full lyrics in the comment section *
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Is there a song with great lyrics you feel similarly passionate about? Share it with us and write about it on your blog (if you have one) and let us know. Or if you don’t have a blog, share it with our readers in the comment section. We’d love to hear it!
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Townes van Zandt - Tecumseh Valley
The name she gave was caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her
She came from spencer
Across the hill
She said her pa had sent her
’cause the coal was low
And soon the snow
Would turn the skies to winter
She said she’d come
To look for work
She was not seeking favors
And for a dime a day
And a place to stay
She’d turn those hands to labor
But the times were hard, lord,
The jobs were few
All through tecumseh valley
But she asked around
And a job she found
Tending bar at gypsy sally’s
She saved enough to get back home
When spring replaced the winter
But her dreams were denied
Her pa had died
The word come down from spencer
So she turned to whorin’ out on the streets
With all the lust inside her
And it was many a man
Returned again
To lay himself beside her
They found her down beneath the stairs
That led to gypsy sally’s
In her hand when she died
Was a note that cried
Fare thee well… tecumseh valley
The name she gave was caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her
David Olney - 1917
The strange young man who comes to me
A soldier on a three day spree
Who needs one night’s cheap ecstasy
And a woman’s arms to hide him
He greets me with a courtly bow
He hides his pain by acting proud
And he drinks too much and laughs too loud
How can I deny him
Let us dance beneath the moon
I’ll sing to you “Claire de Lune”
The morning always comes too soon
But tonight the war is over
He speaks to me in schoolboy French
Of a soldier’s life inside a trench
The look of death, the ghastly stench
I do my best to please him
He puts two roses in a vase
Two roses sadly out of place
Like the gallant smile on his haggard face
Playfully I tease him
Hold me ‘neath the Paris sky
Let’s not talk of how or why
Tomorrow’s soon enough to die
But tonight the war is over
We make love too hard, too fast
He falls asleep, his face a mask
He wakes with the shakes and drinks from his flask
I put my arms around him
They die in the trenches, they die in the air
In Belgium and France, the dead are everywhere
They die so fast there’s no time to prepare
A decent grave to surround them
Old World glory, Old World fame
The Old World’s gone, gone up in flames
Nothing will ever be the same
And nothing lasts forever
I’d pray for him but I’ve forgotten how
And there’s nothing, nothing that can save him now
But there’s always another with the same funny bow
And who am I to deny them
Tonight the war is over
Mark Kozelek - Ruth Marie
I grew so old in that house I lived in
They brought me here ’cause I can’t take care
I lost my worth and my purpose here
I feel you cry, but I can’t speak my mind
Will you hold me and never let me go?
‘Cause I hate it when you walk outside that door
‘Cause I know I won’t ever see your eyes
The eyes I gave you
When my eyes shut, they’ll take me to the land
For fifty years I lived there with my man
And on my own, I lived for forty more
I watched you grow up from babies on the floor
To the beautiful women that you are
And I hated that you’ve gone away so far
‘Cause I know I won’t ever see those eyes
The eyes I gave you
The evenings fall, they’ll drag me out the hall
Up to my bunk and drug me ’til I’m numb
But pass the haze, I see your pretty face
Remember me when I’m gone
You know I love you, though I can hardly say
And I hate it when you see me in this way
But in darkness, I’ll always see those eyes
The eyes I gave you
Vic Chesnutt - Iraq
She is beautiful and rich
And married to a world-class prick
He beats her and rages
So I’m gonna save her
That puty bully is no match for my
Well toned muscles
While I’m tearing him limb for limb
She will see what great shape I’m in
She’ll kiss me on the cheek
And say “you’re my hero”
I’ll take her in my arms
And then I’ll have her
She’ll be mine!
Well I did just what I said
I beat that bastard dead
But as I was punching and pounding and beating
She was sobbing and bleeding and screaming
Which wasn’t exactly what I was expecting
But never for one moment did I
Let it distract me
His blood, my sweat and her tears soaked me
As I rose to my feet above his body
His head in my one hand
Held high triumphantly
But I had to hit her
To keep her from clawing me
But I knew she didn’t know what she was doing
So I held her down until she stopped flailing
And then I whisper in her ear
You are free, baby
You are free
Make love to me
She spat at my face
As I tightened my embrace
And as I pressed against her
She twisted and resisted
She tried to fight it
As I pushed inside her
I said, you’ll learn like it
You’ll learn love it
You’ll learn to love me
For I am your hero
The Tom Waits song is about Edward Mordrake…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Mordrake
OMG. I will never buy anything from Vic Chesnutt again! That Iraq song is pathetic and ignorant.
Why does he hate Iraqis so much that he doesn’t want them to be liberated?
Anyone that still thinks there was no reason to liberate Iraq, doesn’t understand that Saddam DID have WMD, or that the world has been safer due to the WOT - they are morons that irrationally Hate GWB more than they care about our country.
Alice was the first album from Tom Waits that I bought and the one that made me love his music. The opening title track and ‘Poor Edward’ alone have such good lyrics that you could really just borrow them and write amazing novels inspired by their madness and despair.
As noted by Neil, the horrifying lyrics to “Poor Edward” are actually based on the allegedly true story of Edward Mordrake, an englishman man who was born with a second, female face on the back of his head.
Great post Bubba, I’ve enjoyed very much listening to this songs while reading your perspective on them. Also I think this is the first time I see a post in the motel almost as long as our sidebar.
What I find pathetic and ignorant is people supportive of a pro-war stance, thinking that the best way to fight stupid atrocities is by commiting even more. Have you not been paying attention? It seems that many Americans still struggle in understanding the concept of blowback and/or retribution.
Thanks, for the Vic Chesnutt post!!!!
We all can be heroes, just for one day!!!!!
Cap February 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pm ~ edit comment
Anyone that still thinks there was no reason to liberate Iraq, doesn’t understand that Saddam DID have WMD, or that the world has been safer due to the WOT - they are morons that irrationally Hate GWB more than they care about our country.”
==================
Don’t repeat that again.
-
A somgwriter I truly enjoy is Adam Bianchi. Here is a video for his song “Calling You Out” which he stands up against bosses, people, and death. As one reviewer put it,”There’s something so freeing about the sentiment of this song; calling out those things that have held us prisoners.” I hope you enjoy it. Check out his website or myspace for more music and info.
http://www.adambianchi.com
http://www.myspace.com/adambianchi
6. calling you out
ol’ boss, you’ve got nothing on me now
and i’m standing up and calling you out
i gave you my time
for your peace of mind
but boss you ain’t taking mine now
ol’ world, you’ve got nothing on me now
and i’m standing up and calling you out
you tried constantly
to make a fool out of me
but world you ain’t breaking me now
ol’ death, you’ve got nothing on me now
and i’m standing up and calling you out
you may take my friends
to their early ends
but death you ain’t taking me now
This one really struck me. It’s very depressing and dark and it actually made an impression. The song is about a son who speaks with his father right after he killed himself. The son desperately looks for the reasons that his dad did this, and through the ‘conversation’ seeks closure.
It is weird that such a theme would be in harmony with music that is essentialy made for dancefloors, but it happens often in the electro world. The music actually blends pretty well with the lyrics. The song is called ‘Disappoint’ by a band called Assemblage 23:
Just one more time
For the sake of sanity
Tell me why
Explain the gravity
That drove you to this
That brought you to this place
That pushed you down
Into the soil’s embrace
Give me the chance
I was denied
To sit and talk with you
For one last time
Did I disappoint you?
Did I let you down?
Did I stand on the shore
And watch you as you drowned?
Can you forgive me?
I never knew
The pain you carried
Deep inside of you.
I can’t forget
Having to see
The words that knocked the wind
Right out of me
It’s not enough
I’ve come undone
Trying to find sense
Where there is none
Just give me peace
You owe me that
To help ward off the fears
I must combat
And so I ask
For one more chance
To understand
This senseless circumstance
Help me to see
This through your eyes
The reasons I’ve been trying
To surmise
Though you are gone
I am still your son
And Though your pain is over
Mine has just begun
Did I disappoint you?
Did I let you down?
Did I stand on the shore
And watch you as you drowned?
Can you forgive me?
I never knew
The pain you carried
Deep inside of you.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DFrcuiIrdOE
This is one of the mixes. I realize that it’s not really your aesthetic, but I think you can appreciate many different genres.
A great selection, Bubbachups. I especially enjoyed the Waits song.
Neil, thanks for the additional information about the Poor Edward song, didn’t know it was based on a real myth. Makes the song even more creepy.
J. and Pijotr, thanks a bunch for adding those songs! Didn’t know either of them. It’s so strange indeed to hear such personal lyrics in the Assemblage 23 song to be locked up in such a mechanical sound.
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If I hear another crazy tired song like Vic Ches nuts trying to hard to be original and heartfelt, and flying the flag about how we can will peace on F(&*ing crazy terrorists by singing our songs, I am going to be sick. Let all youth herd together some more now.. all herding together. What happened to independent thought?
This song - 1917, much much care as to setting and tone. Akin, maybe in feminine way, to ‘Road to Moscow’.
Shame for you masturbation with Iraqi Space you waste? You American? Come live in my world.