These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

We Are Happy Landfill

2008-07-31T18:54:00.005-05:00

We Are Happy Landfill:
(just right click and "save as")

The feeling in
Guts to the brain
It means you got it coming and you ain't got a chain
Their only attire
Is a typical vice
But if it gets you well, well you ain't being nice, no
No! So follow the lives
Till they cut up your eyes
You won't be even seeing if you ain't growing lies
Then bought all the shit
That should never be sold
They put a gun above it and a narrow behold
We are the happy landfill
We are the happy landfill
All right! The feeling in
Guts to the brain
It means you got it coming and you ain't got chain
Their only attire
Is a typical vice
But if it gets you well, well you ain't being nice, no
No! So follow the lives
Till they cut up your eyes
You won't be even seeing if you ain't growing lies
Then bought all the shit (we are the happy landfill)
That should never be sold (we are the happy landfill)
They put a gun above it and a narrow behold

Goldfrapp : Let It Take You

2008-04-22T23:18:00.006-05:00

One of the prettiest songs ever and a wonderful modern British Band, Goldfrapp. Just let it take you.

They sail light, ocean
Sail this night, ocean
Filling my sleep so gently

Just let it take you
Just let it steer

They sail light, ocean
Sail this night, ocean
Shimmer like gold,
They're singing
Filling my sleep so gently

Just let it take you
Just let it steer
Just let it take you
This is easy

Badfinger : Flying

2008-04-22T23:10:00.007-05:00

Who can deny the power of Badfinger? One of the best British pop bands and a logical extension of The Beatles, since Paul McCartney was writing songs for them on the Beatles' Apple label. Wish I could be into crazy.. Here's Flying.

Feel like I'm flying, I'm dying to say
"Want you forever and easy"
Be where you are, where I want you to stay
Don't you know what I'm saying?
Believe me

Feel like I'm falling, it's all I can do
Lyin' and dyin' is lonely
Deeper and darker, no way to forgive
No way to believe what you told me
No way to believe what you told me
Way to believe

Kings in their castles wound up in the wine
Drinking their confidence daily
Wish I could be into that peace of mine
Wish I could be into crazy
Wish I could be into crazy
Wish I could be...

In Preparation for Wed. March 12th

2008-03-11T11:29:00.004-05:00

I'm offering up one of my songs and in no way comparing myself to the geniuses on this blog. However, maybe you'll find something useful in it. So here it is, Sleeping Beauty.

Here is the lowdown:
Wednesday March 12th 8pm
The Victorian Room at The Driskill
SXSW 2008

XTC : Scarecrow People

2008-01-07T13:28:00.000-06:00

Again, it is tremendously hard to pick just one XTC song to put up here. However this one is truly a favorite of mine. I wish I could write lyrics like Andy Partridge. I believe you either love or hate XTC, there is no middle ground. And I feel Andy Partridge can really do no wrong, whatever he writes is always a true heart felt gem.

Scarecrow People

Hope you enjoyed your flight in one of our new straw aeroplanes,
You'll find things here are just like what you're used to. There's
Lots of waste and razor wire and no one gives a damn about the land,
We just stand around and stare like you folks do.

For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just
That wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow
People, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start
Living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.

Hope you enjoyed your meal it's only gas and chemicals, we thought
That you'd prefer something not nature made. Now while you're here,
Can you advise us on a war we'd like to start, against some scarecrows
Over there, a different shade?

For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just
That wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow
People, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start
Living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
We don't have no tears here, no one hopes or cares or fears here,
For the old, the sick, the poor and them what taint you. We thought
We'd base our civilization upon yours, 'cause you're the smartest
Animals on earth, now ain't you?

We don't have no love here, there's no need to rise above here, no
One wants to write a book or try to paint thee. We thought we'd base
Our civilization upon yours, 'cause we're all dead from our necks up,
Now ain't we?

And we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just
That wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow
People, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start
Living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
And I ain't got no brains and I ain't got no heart, it's just them
Other humans tear my soul apart. I'm a scarecrow person, have I got
Quite some message for you. For if we don't start learning well,
We're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too!

Marvin Gaye : I Met A Little Girl

2008-01-06T20:35:00.000-06:00

There are one too many Marvin Gaye songs to pick just one, so I will start with just one from one of my all time favorite records of his, Here My Dear. This record hits home with me like none other. It's a deeply personal record dealing with the end of his marriage to Anna Gordy, Barry Gordy's daughter (the founder of Motown, Marvin's label at the time) this would be his last record on Motown. If you'd like to read a bit about this record go here, he was being sued by Anna and the court settlement was that Marvin would give all the proceeds made off this record to her. At the time, I think it was 3 Million dollars.

I Met A Little Girl

I met a little girl, ahh sure was fine
Pretty little thing just about blew my mind
She took me home ahh and made love to me
I knew right then and there this is where I wanted to be
Most of my life I had been all, all alone
And you're so sweet to me, don't think i'll ever roam
And then one day as time will pass
I had this feeling that our love would last
Nothing could go wrong and it seemed everything I did
Seemed to please you, of the heartaches you hid

Then one night after we made it, and we were through
That's when I decided I wanted to marry you

Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife
To have, hold and cherish for the rest of your life?
I do, yes I do, indeed I do darlin'
'Cause I love you

1964
Once you really loved me
Once I really loved you

1976
Then time would change you
As time would really change me
We thought our love would stand the test of time
And as I sing this song right now I wonder today
If you're a friend of mine

Cry cry cry I have done some crying
Woman, you have caused my tears to flow
Cry cry cry-d you cry about me?
Do you ever think about the kind of love we had?

Ha le hallelejah
Ha le lu i'm free
Ha le hallelejah
Ha le lu i'm free

Charles Mingus : Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

2008-01-01T13:06:00.001-06:00

This really is the most beautiful song in the world to me. It sings to my heart and soul like none other. If only I could write a piece as beautiful as this..Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. I was a late bloomer to Charles Mingus, I finally discovered him in my thirties and what an absolute treasure he is. So without further delay, Happy New Year big ol' Earth of ours and Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.

Van Dyke Parks : G Man Hoover

2007-12-16T10:04:00.000-06:00

This is one of the songs on constant rotation in my head. Van Dyke Parks is truly one of the greatest composers of our time and the odd thing is, the Average Joe has no idea who he is. Well I'm hoping to change that and educate some of you smart people, so please Get Hip to Van Dyke Parks.

G Man Hoover

G-Man Hoover

(public domain/arr.& adapted VDP)

A B C D E F G G-Man G-Man Hoover
Rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat
Rat tat tat G-Man Hoover
Rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat
Rat tat tat G-Man Hoover

Criminals come but they have one way to go
Gangsters are dumb for by now they ought to know
Stick with care or they gang you over there
Hoover will bring them to the electric chair
A B C D E F G G-Man G-Man Hoover
Young or smart, cruel
Had no heart, fool
You were bad he was smoother
What a lad G-Man Hoover
Rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat
Rat tat tat G-man Hoover
Stick up a bank grab the dough get out of town
Guess the cops come for your love to mow them down
Shave off your beard change the color of your hair
Step out the door there's Hoover waiting there
G-Man G-Man Hooveer
You can go now
Don't dare go now
It's a frame you're a loser
To that game of G-Man Hoover
Rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat rat tat tat tat
Rat tat tat G-Man Hoover

Kidnap a child 'cuz to you he's just a brat
His mama's wild she's afraid you'll use your gat
Money's your aim then you'll take it on the lam
Mud is your name Hoover always gets his man
A B C D E F G G-Man G-Man Hoover

Prince : Face Down

2007-12-03T15:58:00.000-06:00

Who can deny this song? Certainly not me. If you want the ultimate bug off song, this has to be one of them. It really needs no explanation on how this song affects the listener. I am a very lucky man to have seen this tour 3 times, the Emancipation Tour that is. I was also very fortunate to see the Musicology tour. I love me some Prince, talk about extremely influential in my musical life.

Face Down

(Dead like Elvis) {sample repeated in song}

Check, check, 1 2, check
U know what he's sayin'?

Face down! {x2}

Somebody once told him that he wouldn't take Prince through the ringer
Let him go down as a washed up singer
Ain't that a bitch?
Thinkin' all along that he wanted 2 be rich
Never respected the root of all evil and he still don't 2 this day, huh
Bury him face down, let the motherfuckers kiss a ass, OK?

Face down! {x2}

Told 'em he wanted 2 sing a song about a black child goin' buck wild
And they just laughed in his face
Talk 2 your lawyer but U got no case
What U need 2 do is keep your place
Next time U pull a card, it better be a ace motherfucker
Or U can lay face down (Face down!)

1 2
Face down! 1 2

Horn {x2}
Bass {x2}

Him and her meaning who I'm singin' about
And his psychoanalyst kinda saw the catalyst
As the devil with the blue jeans on, huh
Ain't it kinda funny when U see the dawn?
Sign the name they gave ya
But when them motherfuckers turn around ass up, U're what?

Face down! 1 2
Face down! New Power Generation in the house, bury 'em all
Face down! Yes, oh Lord
Face down!

Orchestra {x3}
Face down!
Orchestra
Face down!

It's in his will, I read it
He shot 2 kill, he said it
4 those who know the number and don't call
Hmph, fuck all y'all

Face down! {x3}

Sly and The Family Stone : If You Want Me To Stay

2007-12-02T15:49:00.000-06:00

So I've been trying to think of a song about being done with things and moving on and while I know there are many songs out there, I can only think of one right now, "If You Want Me To Stay," by Sly And The Family Stone. It kinda sums up this feeling of being taken for granted and at the same time staying true to who we really are. Here ya' go, can you dig it?

Side Note:
I am in no way condoning listening to or even watching the comeback Sly as of late. However I am condoning listening to seventies era Sly.

If You Want Me To Stay

If you want me to stay
I'll be around today
To be available for you to see
I'm about to go
And then you'll know
For me to stay here I've got to be me

You'll never be in doubt
That's what it's all about
You can't take me for granted and smile
Count the days I'm gone
Forget reaching me by phone
Because I promise I'll be gone for a while

When you see me again
I hope that you have been
The kind of person that you really are now
You got to get it straight
How could I ever be late
When you're my woman takin' up my time

How could you ever allow
I guess I wonder how
How could you get out of pocket for fun
When you know that you're never number two
Number one gonna be number one

I'll be good
I wish I could
Get this message over to you now
When you see me again
I hope that you have been
The kind of person you really are now

[Instrumental Interlude]

When you see me again
I hope that you have been
The kind of person that you really are now
I'll be so good
I wish I could
Get the message over to you now

The Beach Boys : Can't Wait Too Long

2007-12-01T09:34:00.000-06:00

Today it was a toss up between Prince or The Beach Boys and well, The Beach Boys won out. Don't get me wrong there will be a day for Prince to shine on this blog. It's funny because I used to hate The Beach Boys with complete and utter disgust. I couldn't stand silly songs like "Help Me Rhonda," "Little Deuce Coupe," and all the early Beach Boys songs. That was until I was a young man in my early 20's and living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I was actually 24 when The Beach Boys music came crashing down on me and I soon gained a deep-seated appreciation for them and it all started with the album Smiley Smile, "Good Vibrations" is on that record after all and if you can show me a man who says he doesn't like "Good Vibrations," I will show you an ignorant fool.

There are too many Beach Boys songs for me to have one favorite, but "Can't Wait Too Long," is surely one of the songs up high on my list of all time favorites. The arrangement is incredibly beautiful, simple, melodic and intricate. The vocals speak for themselves. I hope you enjoy this as much as me. This song hits me right where it hurts, the heart, the gut.. I truly feel this song.

Can't Wait Too Long

Been too long

I miss you darling
I miss you so hard

I miss you darling
I miss you so hard

Miss you so hard
Now
(Miss you darling)
Come back baby
And don't break my heart
How it goes

And now I'm alone lying down
Looking up at the stars
(Stars)
Relivin' the
Relivin' the times we shared when the moon the stars and the music was all

Been way too long
Been way too long baby
Way too long
Been way too long baby
Way too long
I can't wait too long baby
Way too long
I can't wait too long baby
Way too long
I can't wait too long baby
Way too long
I can't wait too long baby
Way too long
I can't wait too long baby
Way too long
I can't wait too long baby

Baby you know that I
Can't wait forever
Awoke in the night again
We were together
Windows of darkness are
All I can see through
Searching the shadows
Hoping to see you
Baby you know that I
Can't wait forever
Awoke in the night again
We were together
Baby you know that I...

ELO : Wishing

2007-11-30T11:45:00.000-06:00

ELO was the first concert I ever went too. My mom took me in 1980 to see them play the Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, Alabama. She was a huge ELO fan and I have to say I am too. It was also the first time I ever smelled the strange scent that is Marijuana. I had no idea what it was, but I knew there was some funky smell all swirling all around me. It was a great show. The ELO record out at the time was "Time." To introduce the show, they'd constructed a very similar looking R2D2 robot that came out and with a blue laser light attached to his rotating silver head split the darkness and the clouds of pot smoke. I have to say this was one of the coolest experiences ever. So without further adieu here is one of my very favorite ELO songs, "Wishing."

Wishing

Little darlin', don't you cry,
You know I'll try to be there with you by and by
When everything is going wrong now don't you cry.
I'm wishin'.
Little darlin', far away,
I see the world go rollin' by my window pane,
But I can only wish that I was there again.
I'm wishin'.

I wish that everything was gold,
I wish you were here to hold, I'm wishin'.

Little darlin', the night is long,
I thought I'd be back now I must have got it wrong
You and California call me in this song.
I'm wishin'.

I wish that everything was gold,
I wish you were here to hold, I'm wishin'.

Little darlin' I see you, you're cryin' in the sun
I gotta be with you,
I'm gonna be with there soon I'll make it all come true.
I'm wishin'.

I wish that everything was gold,
I wish you were here to hold, I'm wishin'.

The Kinks : Money Talks

2007-11-29T11:45:00.000-06:00

Well I'm gonna kick it all off with my all time favorite group EVER, The Kinks and the song is "Money Talks, and it surely does. Take a listen and read along, you'll get the picture.

Money Talks

Show me a man who says he can live without bread
And I'll show you a man who's a liar and in debt.
There's no one alive who can't be purchased or enticed
There's no man alive who wouldn't sell for a price,
Money talks and we're the living proof,
There ain't no limit to what money can do
Money talks, money talks.

Money can't breathe and money can't see,
But when I pull out a fiver people listen to me.
Money can't run and money can't walk,
But when I write out a cheque I swear to God I hear money talk.
Money talks and, baby, when you've been bought
You pay attention everytime money talks.
Money talks, money talks.

Money talks and there's no doubt about it

[Money Talks lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]
Money talks and we can't live without it,
What's the point of living unless you've got money?
I just couldn't function without money.
Money talks, money talks,
Money talks, money talks.

Show me an upright respected man
And I'll have him licking my boots when I put money in his hand.
It rots your heart, it gets to your soul,
Before you know where you are you're a slave to the green gold.
Money talks and we're the living proof
There ain't no limit to what money can do.
Money talks you out of your self-respect,
The more you crave it the cheaper you get.
Money talks, money talks.

Money buys you time and people listen,
Money can buy a smile and make life worth living.
If you're ugly money can improve you.
I just couldn't face the world without mazuma.
Money talks, money talks.