Monday, December 31, 2007

Summary of NE trip


Heres the skinny , the long and short, the upside to the downside, the flippity grease spot or something. We had a great time in Mass, in Maine, all over. I spent time with family, with old friends, with brand new humans, with sweet excellent pets, in the Old port, at homes, in restaurants, at hotels, at the sushi bar. Arrrrr... It's been a while since I've had quite that kind of week and I want to thank you all. I'm glad to be home, but still. I'll remember my Xmas vacation 2007.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

meeting zeke in seekonk

my good friend Zeke met us in seekonk,Ma on the way back home. us following chain food lunch and beers.

Friday, December 28, 2007

bull feeneys portland me

chronic funk in portland. look em up! great stevie wonder rendition. this might b the last dispatch from portland 2nite....

Multimedia message

cousinsss!

from left: aaron, sara, and keith brown

brownfest 2007

so this...was the goal. holy crap, whole lotta cousins going on.

welcome to portland!

bout time!

will b in ME until sunday....

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

uh huh huh

not much to report on from Memphis . the Bbq stand in concourse b is great! thank you, king of rock n roll, for inspiring so many many grateful retailers.

tulsa int'l 943 am

fridays. comfort food, unless you want breakfast. merry Xmas everyone!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

pic from boynton

little better quality of the abandoned home in Boynton. still working on my camera skills.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Monday, December 17, 2007

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Something I thought of recently...

What if we all called Brookstone, LL Bean, Pier One, etc. and asked them to reduce the frequency of their catalog issues, or assured them that since we do so much shopping online anyway, if they could stop sending the catalog? Would you, yourself, surrender your email address in exchange for saving that much paper every year? It's way easier to discard an email (or ignore it) than to fill a trash can with catalogs you're tired of looking at...

Thursday, December 13, 2007

abandoned storefront

why are there so many empty storefronts right in the center of town? why do I find this so interesting?

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

dispatch from OK A...

so I wrote a song just standing in my kitchen. its all about standing in my kitchen. ENJOY!

Monday, December 10, 2007

cobbosee

ice,rain,all good frisbee weather ...

OK ice storm

not as bad as last year, but very dismal. will inform if trees start exploding...

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Why Hybrids and You are Awesome!

CNET green blog: Hybrid Drivers tend to be Healthy, Wealthy
I knew it. People who are smart and care about the environment also lean toward caring about other things, like looking after their finances and their bodies. Don't stop the madness!

Friday, December 7, 2007

Multimedia message

what a cute couple ! bubba n cobbosee...

Multimedia message

very foggy times in Muskogee...the weather is ridiculous here,out of whack....

bumpersticker

could use a few more like this here in OKLAHOMA ...

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Change is good, inevitable, etc.

I now have plans of converting my song lyric blog to a place to document my personal efforts to use less, get more and generally keep the earth cleaner. I also will reprint technology notes of interest. What did you do today to make your environment cleaner? Start a compost heap? Recycle your newspapers? Build a steam powered modem? let the MOOT PT. know! peace...

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Guided By Voices: The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory

Sometimes theres just no explanation. One of the most beautiful and haunting songs I've ever heard, with no discernable meaning whatsoever.
Also a very short song. Oh, well. That's what I go to GBV for. From "Bee Thousand" which is pretty much awesome on a consistent basis. So they will get several images.
Moot Pt.





cold hands touching my face
don't hide - the snake can see you
old friends you might not remember
fading away from you the goldheart mountaintop queen directory the goldheart mountaintop queen directory
and we looked
and we passed
through the hallways of shatterproof glass

she runs through the night as if nobody cares
she screams and she cries and ignores all the stares
she wants me to come, but i'm never going there
the goldheart mountaintop queen directory
the goldheart mountaintop queen directory

Friday, August 10, 2007

Squeeze: Tempted

Honestly, I knew of this song long before I knew or cared who played it. But the more I think about it, the more I appreciate the storytelling involved and the sort of controlled pissed-offness of the lyric (self loathing, I think?) The dude is distracted and just listing a bunch of crap that fits in a suitcase. I like that it's just a simple bunch of rhymes, but it's smooth. I'll bet this is one of the most misquoted lyrics in the world.
Moot Pt.


I bought a toothbrush, some toothpaste
A flannel for my face
Pyjamas, a hairbrush
New shoes and a case
I said to my reflection
Lets get out of this place
Past the church and the steeple
The laundry on the hill
Billboards and the buildings
Memories of it still
Keep calling and calling
But forget it all
I know I will

Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
Whats been going on
Now that you have gone
Theres no other
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered

Im at the car park, the airport
The baggage carousel
The people keep on crowding
Im wishing I was well
I said its no occasion
Its no story I could tell

At my bedside empty pocket
A foot without a sock
Your body gets much closer
I fumble for the clock
Alarmed by the seduction
I wish that it would stop

I bought a novel, some perfume
A fortune all for you
But its not my conscience
That hates to be untrue
I asked of my reflection
Tell me what is there to do

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The Beatles: Let It Be


This might seem like an obvious choice, but I had to do it someday. I was watching the movie "Quitting" on IFC one day, and here it comes, in Chinese (reading subtitles): "speaking words of wisdom, things as they are..." or something very similar. here is the link to IMDB for that movie:
Quitting
These are the type of words that upon first reading seem really cheesy, then you realize it's only because they've been copied so many times.
Moot Pt.

Here are the ever so famous English lyrics:

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Stroke 9: Little Black Backpack

I'm not sure I know what these words are about, but I like the song anyhow. My take is, the couple who's tight in a lot of ways, but one night at the bar she's too friendly with someone or someones too friendly with her, etc. Hopefully the make up sex produced a good song , too. "Your mind is lined with layers of lead..." is my favorite line.
Moot Pt.

I know it
It's a shame
A shame I can't show it
And I see it
I can see it now
But I'm so far below it
Don't wanna

Don't wanna talk about it
I say why not?
Don't wanna think about it
I say there's got to be some good reason
For your little black backpack
Up, smack, turnaround he's on his back
And
Don't wanna tango with you
I'd rather tangle with him
I think I'm gonna bash his head in
And this shouldn't concern you except that
Just don't expect to get your bloody black backpack back

I feel you
Yes I can
What about that don't you understand?
I sense you
It's something sensual
But it's less than I planned
Don't wanna

You're trying to find a reason for the way you feel tonight
Your mind is lined with layers of lead
Have you heard one thing that I've said?

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Various artists:MTA

Various artists? yes indeed. The link below can explain much more clearly how this song has been passed down through a few generations before it was popularized by the Kingston Trio. I love this song, have since I was a kid. Check out the history of this incredibly amusing lyric:
MTA origins
Thanks to Brownez for the suggestion.

Let me tell you the story
Of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket,
Kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA

Charlie handed in his dime
At the Kendall Square Station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there the conductor told him,
"One more nickel."
Charlie could not get off that train.

Chorus:
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned.

Now all night long
Charlie rides through the tunnels
the station
Saying, "What will become of me?
Crying
How can I afford to see
My sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?"

Charlie's wife goes down
To the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window
She hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.

As his train rolled on
underneath Greater Boston
Charlie looked around and sighed:
"Well, I'm sore and disgusted
And I'm absolutely busted;
I guess this is my last long ride."
{this entire verse was replaced by a banjo solo}

Now you citizens of Boston,
Don't you think it's a scandal
That the people have to pay and pay
Vote for Walter A. O'Brien
Fight the fare increase!
And fight the fare increase
Vote for George O'Brien!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA.

Chorus:
Or else he'll never return,
No he'll never return
And his fate will be unlearned
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man (Who's the man)
He's the man who never returned.
He's the man (Oh, the man)
He's the man who never returned.
He's the man who never returned.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

The Cure: Close to Me

Probably one of my favorite Cure lyrics, possibly one of my favorite lyrics hands down. Robert Smith didn't do it for me much after "Disintegration". You can feel the tension in the words here. Waiting for something. Release? Not yet. The Cure never hit you in the head with anything. They kind of snuck around and quietly seduced you. A song like this one or "10:15 saturday night" holds up to a lot of listens and keeps on sounding good.

I've waited hours for this
I've made myself so sick
I wish i'd stayed asleep today
I never thought that this day would end
I never thought that tonight could ever be
This close to me
Just try to see in the dark
Just try to make it work
To feel the fear before you're here
I make the shapes come much too close
I pull my eyes out
Hold my breath
And wait until i shake

But if i had your faith
Then i could make it safe and clean
If only i was sure
That my head on the door was a dream

I've waited hours for this
I've made myself so sick
I wish i'd stayed asleep today
I never thought that this day would end
I never thought that tonight could ever be
This close to me

But if i had your face
I could make it safe and clean
If only i was sure
That my head on the door
Was a dream

Faith No More: Collision

From FNM's "Album of the Year". What the hell is Mike talking about? I sometimes wonder if he wrote words to describe the music the band had already recorded. I love the sound of this song, and it's a brilliant album taken as a whole. Some of the lyrics in the "chorus" (I need it, I head on...) overlap each other in the song ,too.
Moot Pt.

Collision, my mission
When the dawn breaks
With a hand shake
Relaxed and feeling great
Screeching, head on, head on, head on
I need it, I head on, I head on, I head on
Screeching, head on, head on, head on
I need it, I head on, I head on, I head on
All the day's plans
All the shaking hands
Beepers and suntans
Screeching, head on, head on, head on
I need it, I head on, I head on, I head on
Screeching, head on, head on, head on
I need it, I head on, I head on, I head on
Collision, my mission, head on, head on, head on, head on
When the dawn breaks
With a hand shake
Relaxed and feeling great
Collision, my mission
Head on, head on, head on

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Edie Brickell: What I Am

Holy cow. Remember this one? Is it me or do these lyrics make more sense now that the song is not on the radio every four seconds? I have gone through periods with Edie & the NB. Actually haven't checked them out in a long time. I think the last thing they put out was a greatest hits/retrospective. Little bit of Zen in this song. People put their faith into strange things. Be who you are.
thanks to Bonnie for the suggestion.



I'm not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean
Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box
Religion is the smile on a dog
I'm not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean, d-doo yeah

Choke me in the shallow waters
Before I get too deep

What I am is what I am
Are you what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
Are you what you are or

Oh, I'm not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean
Philosophy is a walk on the slippery rocks
Religion is a light in the fog
I'm not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean, d-doo yeah

Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep

What I am is what I am
Are you what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
Are you what you are or what?

What I am is what I am
Are you what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
Are you what you are or what you are and

What I am is what I am
Are you what you are or what?

Don't let me get too deep
Don't let me get too deep
Don't let me get too deep
Don't let me get too deep

Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep
Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep

Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep
Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Kevin Ayers: the Hat song

Because I love it. it's absurd, you're absurd, I'm absurd, and whatnot. makes a great roundabout singalong


You say you like my shirt
you say you like my hat
you never say that you like me
or something nice like that
What about me?
What about me?
is it just an envelope that you can see?

Sunday, June 24, 2007

The Roots: Water

Hi Boys and girls,
Todays selection is from the Roots album Phrenology, which came out in 2002 and might still be the greatest, most solidly written rap/hip-hop album i've ever heard. "Water" stands out for me because it describes how hard it can be to keep things together when things aren't going that well. Somehow it ties in concern for family and friends with pride and accomplishment, a bit of advice and a rallying call. The last verse urges that music can save you , no matter what shit is going on in your life.
Some might say that rap lyrics will change less out of context than "melodic" lyrics. I disagree, especially in the case of the Roots. Especially in the case of Phrenology. I think you could almost listen to Phrenology without the lyrics and it would still be good.
Moot Pt



South Philly, North Side, Oakland, Texas, Georgia
Black people, uh
Worldwide
Na what I'm sayin'?
This is for my nigga
Dumb and blind

They say a record aint nothin if it's not touchin', grippin'
draw you in close and make you wanna listen to it
and if you real ill at makin' music
the listna gonna feel like he living through it
that's how my nigga do it
I met Slacks back in like ninety-one rappin'
we went to Millersville to get away from gun clappin'
it aint last, i be in class dreaming 'bout fifty-thousand fans up in the stands
screaming out
Encore, yo I'm heading back to philly, nigga you rollin with me?
I'm tryna get busy
We walked dogs that was off the chain, lotta times at the shows people hardly
came
I just, took it in stride as a part of the game but inside
people down with me started to change
It was a couple thangs, little syrup, little pills
Instead of riding out on the road you'd rather chill
I know the way the pleasure feels, I'm not judgin'
but still I'm on a mission yo I'm not buggin
I got fam that can't stop druggin', they can't sleep
they can't stick to one subject and can't eat
it's people steady comin at me out in the street
like Riq yo what up with ya peeps, it gets deep nigga

Yo, you need to walk straight masta ya high
Son you missing out on what's passin' ya by
I done see these streets suck a lotta cats dry,
but not you and I my nigga,
We got to get,
c'mon over, over, the water (x2)
yo, water (x2)

We done been through many meals a couple of deals
shared clothes and wheels, killed mics and reels
we done rocked shows abroad and slept on floors
trying to figure what the fuck we gettin' slept on for
or what we walkin with the weapon for
weighted by the gravity law, you know it if you came up poor my nigga
picture the bus up north
you know we made of errething outlaws are made of
I'm far from a hata, and I don't say I love you 'cause the way I feel is
greater,
M-illa you a poet son, you a born creator
and this'll probably dawn on you later
it's in your nature, lyrics all up on you walls like they made of paper
you gotta follow where the talent take ya
ya might fuck around and finally make it, and that's real but yo

(Chorus)

I want ya all to understand I come from South Philly,
and when I walk the streets it's like a pharmacy
They got all type-a shit anybody can get
It go from H to X to loosie cigarettes
for my ghetto legend, known for little shiest runnin'
cop codine by the quarts and keep comin' and dumbin'
just embracing the dope like it's a woman
ya burning both sides of the rope and just pullin' and tuggin'
in between islam and straight thuggin'
layin everyday around the way and doin nothin'
see em all shakin' their heads and start shruggin'
if they don't got a man like mine they gotta cousin
an yo, you better be a true friend to him, before the shit put an end to him
or give a pen to him
and lock him in the studio with a mic
'cause on the real it might save his life
and keep tellin' him

Friday, June 22, 2007

Bjork: Joga

It's not a secret I think this girl is a genius. The question is really, is it the voice, the music, the words or all of these? Bjork really has an amazing body of work, as far as diversity of sounds, subjects. I think "Joga" from Homogenic is one of my favorite lyrics by her. Also of note: the first time I ever saw the Sugar Cubes perform I thought she was insane and pathetic. I have since changed my mind on that topic as well.

All these accidents,
That happen,
Follow the dot,
Coincidence,
Makes sense,
Only with you,
You don't have to speak,
I feel.

Emotional landscapes,
They puzzle me,
Then the riddle gets solved,
And you push me up to this

State of emergency,
How beautiful to be,
State of emergency,
Is where I want to be.

All that no-one sees,
You see,
What's inside of me,
Every nerve that hurts,
You heal,
Deep inside of me, oo-oohh,
You don't have to speak,
I feel.

(state of emergency, etc. to end)

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Kings of Leon: Wasted Time at the drive in?

For anybody who wants, Kings of Leon have a MySpace page. Their song "Molly's Chambers" is in an Ipod commercial also.
This song "Wasted Time" struck me immediately because of the inversion of a common cliche. "Time on me is wasted time" puts the emphasis on the time period rather than the subject "me". Now when I read through the lyrics, I'm not exactly certain what he's getting at with the verse, except it's just another rock plea, a speech from singer to listener about his intentions, along the lines of Poison's "Talk dirty to me".
I like the song as a whole more than I like the lyrics by themselves.


It's your life
Don't you let em tell you when to bat your eyes
You're the only one who's gonna sacrifice
Makes no difference if you're right or wrong
Take that ride
But I want your little sister by your side
Maybe little later we can all collide
Do our livin' like a rollin' stone
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted

[Chorus:]
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be

Show your face
Livin' in the shadows like you got no name
Enough to make a little girly go insane
Be my guest to let it out tonight
It's ok
I know all about the little games you play
Shakin' your apple right in my face
Only when you know that I'm beggin' fort a bite
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted

[Repeat Chorus x2]

So won't you show your face (show your face)
Your little apple shake (show your face)
I know the love you gave (show your face)
I know the love you take (show your face)

[Repeat Chorus]
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Intro: A place to admire and discuss song lyrics

Welcome to Moot Pt. A place I recently decided to create for the admiration and discussion of song lyrics. Why? Because I dig lyrics and I want to share. I'm going to start out with some lyrics I like. I may someday discuss lyrics I hate, but I'll probably keep that minimal. Feel free to leave comments of any type. I don't at all mind someone saying "That sucks!" but at least bother to mention WHY you think it sucks. Thanks. Heres to a great discussion!
Now, I was copying some of my LPs to CD-R the other day, and one of the items was "The Stranger" by Billy Joel. So, I'm listening to the album, enjoying the bouncy little guitar riff on "Only the Good Die Young" when it hits me: This song is the story of a teenage Jewish boy trying to get some from his Catholic girlfriend. It's actually a complete laugh riot. "I might as well be the one!"
For some reason I always thought the title referred to James Dean or Jimi Hendrix or something. Anyhow, the words. Discuss.

Come out Virginia, don't let me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
aw But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one

well, They showed you a statue, told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
Aw, but they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done.....
Only the good die young
thats what i said
only the good die young x2

You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
aw But that never hurt no one

So come on Virginia show me a sign
Send up a signal I'll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
Never lets in the sun
Darlin' only the good die young
(woah x5 )
i tell ya
only the good die young x2

You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
You got a brand new soul
mmmm, And a cross of gold
But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information
You didn't count on me
When you were counting on your rosary
(oh woah woah)

They say there's a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it's better but I say it ain't
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
the Sinners are much more fun...

you know that only the good die young
oh woah baby
i tell ya
only the good die young, X2


You say your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
Aww She never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me? oh woah woah

Come out come out come out Virginia dont let me wait,
You catholic girls start much too late
Sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one,
You know that only the good die young

I'm telling you baby
You know that only the good die young
Only the good die young
Only the gooooooooooooooood
Only the good die young
Only the gooooooooooooooood
Only the good die young

As a parallel: from the Butthole surfers "Sweat Loaf":
Daddy, what does regret mean?
Well, son, a funny thing about regret is; it's better to regret something you have done, than to regret something you haven't done.
And as evidence of Billy Joels' pervasive influence throughout the world, I offer this disinfectant: