Neko Case's "My '63" and my recent dreams

**musical mood preference: Neko Case - My 63**

Neko Case has a song called "My '63", a country-esque tune about her 1963 Rambler (picture of similar car). I've been listening to her a lot lately especially while I fall asleep. She provides a good background for sleeping.

Last night, I had a dream about a person (someone I know, I'm sure of it. But I can't quite remember who) who kept telling me how wonderful his/her '63 Rambler was. This is funny to me, because I'm a light sleeper who often has things happening around my sleeping-self intervene in my dreams. Phones ringing, people talking outside my window, even the climate inside my room affect my dreams. Now the music is getting into the game.

At least it makes my dreams a bit more interesting. Without interference such as this, my dreams usualy consist of me doing things I do while I'm awake. For example: I usually dream of sitting in class, or of painting. So arguing with some guy about his 1963 Rambler is much more exciting.

History

**musical mood preference: Sublime - Dont Push (acoustic)**

I never bought my history book for American History II, and I have an exam on Tuesday. I'm currently reading a history book that Miss Jones gave me our senior year because she was retiring and was just going to throw it away. This history book is from the early 80's and calls black people "negroes" and Native Americans "Native Indians".

History of a Free People may not be college level material. I'll have to see how I do on the test before I really judge it though.

Ages

**musical mood preference: Neko Case - Pretty Girls**

How old is too old, exactly? What is an acceptable age gap between a couple? Questions questions.

Doesn't matter really, I'm happy anyway.

Hunter S Thompson

**musical mood preference: Rolling Stones - Sister Morphine**

The original neo-liberal tough guy, HST, has died from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound. Never afraid to speak his mind on any topic, Thompson was an inspiration to many who are outside the realm of what people believe to be normal. His wild lifestyle and self-destructive attitude towards life drew many people to his writing.

Here are some of my particular favorite quotes from HST:

"Is it even vaguely possible that some New Age Republican whore-beast of a false president could actually make Richard Nixon look like a liberal?"

"As your attourney I advise you to tell me where you put the goddamn mescaline."

"I have always loved marijuana. It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits - and millions of Americans agree with me."

"Let's face it--the yo-yo president of the U.S.A. knows nothing. He is a dunce. He does what he is told to do--says what he is told to say--poses the way he is told to pose. He is a Fool."

"We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world - bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are whores for power and oil with hate and fear in our hearts."

Penn State Weekend redux

**musical mood preference: The Commitments Soundtrack**

Another exciting PSU weekend coming up. Hopefully it turns out to be one of the great ones. Back on Sunday to go to the Sean Gallagher benefit.

Anti-VDay Re-cap

**musical mood preference: The Shins - Pink Bullets**

My Valentine's Day (or Single Awareness Day as Brianna referred to it as) was much better than I expected it to be. I spent it at the bar, which in itself didn't make the night, it was the people there who did.

There were only three of us in the entire bar: myself, my bartender friend and her younger sister. We watched the Westminster Dog Show and played dice for a while, then the sister left. It was my friend and I for the last three hours or so. We went and played in the basement of the bar (which happens to be my personal favorite pub). Apparently the basement served as a speak-easy in the 20's and a haven for coke-heads who refused to sleep in the 80s.

The night continued: we played video golf, and enjoyed some herbal refreshment, fooled around a little and laughed a lot. I left around midnight, smiling. It was a nice surprise from what was expected.

Liz Phair is disturbing

In light of the date, I was asking some of my friends what kinda music would be Valentine-ish, in a sexy way, and one of the suggestions was Liz Phair. A female friend of mine recommended that I listen to some of her newer stuff. So I download a few songs, and listen and listen. But I'm not feeling the sexiness... all I'm feeling is astounded by the trashy sexuality of some of the songs. One song in particular: "HWC". HWC = Hot White C.... AHEM! Excuse me. Google it if you really want to know what it is.

Here is an excerpt of the lyrics:

"Face it, one of these days
Without you I'm just another Dorian Gray
It's the fountain of youth
It's the meaning of life
So hot, so sweet, so whet my appetite"

So disturbing

Weekend

**musical mood preference: Janis Joplin - Me&Bobby McGee**

My weekend was eventful. I went out to my cousins Friday afternoon, and then went to the bar. From the bar, I met up with some friends and watched PLUS3 and the Non-Refundables in Plains. It was nice to be out with a group, something I haven't really done for a while. It's usually just me and one or two other people.

Saturday, I worked and then went to JPs wrestling match. After work, I went to the Legion with Pop and onwards to Luzerne later in the night. It was another past-closing night, but a great one all the same. I'm content.

Sunday was a day of sleep and weapons. I slept til after noon, and truthfully didn't get out of bed til after 2. It was delightful. Around 4, I went shooting with my cousin and our friends.

Arthur Miller has died

Arthur Miller is dead

How sad; the many times I have enjoyed his plays (both reading and seeing performed), from the required "Death of a Salesman" to the less known but equally enjoyable "All My Sons". "A View from the Bridge" and "The Crucible" are also class plays.

Arthur Miller, former husband of Marilyn Monroe, has died at 89 years of age, of heart failure.

Regarding the State of the Union Address of February 2, 2005

George Bush has purported himself as being a president who dislikes “small ball”, and has proved himself to be such in the last four years. Personally, it seems that his administration is too focused on these “big” issues, while other comparably important issues slip by under the radar. Namely, these are continually rising medical costs and unaffordable insurance as well as environmental issues and the surging deficit.

America is the only high income nation that lacks universal health care. I find this to be deplorable; with tens of millions of Americans with unsatisfactory medical coverage, I believe it is time to focus on the health of our nation. We may not have to worry about Social Security if health care costs and insurance problems are not stabilized. The president has addressed health case issues in other forums, but I believe that the crisis surrounding this issue deserved a place in this important speech. As a supporter of “big government”, my opinion is that the health of the nation is the responsibility of those elected. The president disagrees with me, as a proponent of “small government, big business.” This is fine; after all, he’s the Yale and Harvard graduate, with four years of presidential experience under his belt. I am not going to attempt to argue with someone exponentially more qualified than I am to form opinions on issues such as this one.

In his fourth State of the Union, the president, a self-proclaimed large issue president, described our country’s current situation as strong and confident, and he, himself, beamed with confidence. Primarily, President Bush focused on two issues: Social Security and Iraq.

The state of Social Security has been a spotlight of the Republicans for a while now, and President Bush seems determined to get something done about it. I believe that he will try, but his privatization plan needs to be fine-tuned before he even attempts to push it through the legislature. It seems feasible in framework that this transition could be successful, but certain issues need to be better addressed. For me, these include: distinction of the disabled receiving Social Security payments, as well as a better definition of what happens to an account if someone dies before they reach the age of disbursement.

The need for reform of Social Security is obvious, even to a relative liberal like me. The ratio of workers to supported individuals on the program has shrunk from around fifteen to one in 1950 to around three to one currently. Something needs to be done to counter the growing retired community, and perhaps the President has the right idea with privatization. As I heard on the CSPAN debate of the President’s plan, this may even be more beneficial to minority and female workers, who typically spend less time paying into Social Security.

Following his administration’s political victory regarding the elections in Iraq the previous weekend, the President was confident in his words regarding the current situation in that area of his policy. I believe that he and his administration are entitled to their confidence after the effort they have put into the war and into winning a peaceful Iraq.

I applaud the President’s highlighting of the good things that have come out of the war on terror. An increase in women’s rights in both Iraq and Afghanistan is something that deserves recognition, as well as an increase in individual liberties in both countries. I was also impressed that the President did not, like so many presidents have before him did, out rightly support only the Israeli state. The president’s pledge of $350 million dollars for Palestinian political and security reform really surprised me.

I was relieved to hear of the proposed scaling back of offensive operations described by the president in his speech. Having friends on the front lines of combat in Iraq makes me very sensitive to issues concerning increased danger to their lives and the lives of American men and women just like them.

It was interesting to me that the President quoted the great Democratic president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the end of his speech. To me it signified the recognition of the great work FDR did during his three full terms, and the work that now needs to be done to build upon his New Deal’s framework. This, according to the President will be done by reforming the Roosevelt-founded Social Security and by spreading liberty to the oppressed nations of this earth. I applaud his ambition and his drive, even if I don’t agree with the semantics of his politics.

The Characters of Wilkes-Barre and Kingston

**musical mood preference: Alice Cooper - Hell Is Living Without You**

There are a number of interesting people who live in or around Kingston/Wilkes-Barre. My particular favorite is the "pole hugger" or "head-banger". His name is Chuck, and as he walks down the street (most often Market Street in both cities), he stops at every single sign-post, tree, telephone pole or bus-stop and hugs it, bangs his head off of it, or rests on it.

My brother JP and his friends frequently attempt to talk to him during their riding exploits on Market St Square in the summer. Some days Chuck is up for normal conversations, some days he isn't. It's really a toss up whether or not he is approachable. But all-in-all, he is a harmless and somewhat amusing guy.

From what I can tell, he is a nice person with a few problems. He's not exactly stupid or mentally challenged, just a person some specific type of OCD. He functions well enough, I mean he walks from Rutter Ave to Wilkes-Barre and back frequently, if not every single day. He always has some money, as I often see him in Tommy's Pizza on Market St buying lunch. So he has the ability to take carry of himself.

If you ever see him, just stand back and watch him for a little while, I guarantee you will be amused.

Vampires of Ireland

There aren't nearly as many vampire-type myths in Irish folklore compared with those of other superstitious cultures. But there are a few prominent instances where the depraved demonic creatures appear. The most frequent is that of the Dearg-due, or Red Blood Sucker, whose most famous alleged is buried near Strongbow's Tree in Co. Waterford. She was purportedly a female of indescribable beauty who died in mysterious circumstances but rose from her grave a few times a year to wreck havoc on the men of surrounding villages. She seduced her victims by dancing until the men were stupified then she would feed on their blood. In Scotland, the vampire legend was called baobhan sith, and lurked in the mountains.

Another Irish vampire legend is Dreach-Fhoula (possibly also seen as Dreach-Shoula or Droch-Fhoula): Pronounced "droc-'ola" and means 'bad' or 'tainted blood' and while it is widely believed to refer to 'blood feuds' between persons or families, it may have a far older history.

During a lecture in 1961, the head of the Irish Folklore Commission, Sean O'Suilleabhain, spoke of a site which he called Dun Dreach-Fhoula or Castle of the Blood Visage. This was supposedly a fortress guarding a lonely pass in the Magillycuddy Reeks in Kerry, and inhabited by blood-drinking shape-shifting fairies. He did not give its exact location for the castle, and cultural historians have spent years rifling thru archives for more specific information.

It might well have been the inspiration for the name Dracula rather than Vlad Dracul. Bram Stoker, after all, never visited Eastern Europe and relied entirely on travelers' accounts.

Abhartach is only one among a few blood-drinking noble and chieftains that populate Irish folklore; and the blood-drinking undead appear briefly in Geoffrey Keating's History of Ireland, written in 1631. Stoker may well have read the legend of Abhartach in another History of Ireland, written by Patrick Weston Joyce and published in 1880. Around the same time, the original copies of Keating's work were on display in the National Museum in Dublin. Stoker probably brought together the myths of Abhartach and that of the Dun Dreach-Fhoula and somehow amagamated it with common vampire mythology.

Central European Vampirism

Since I reserve the right to babble about whatever I feel like on my site, I think today I will seize upon that right to do so. I mean, hell, its in the title! (DRIVEL!) I have other interests and I am going to take this opportunity to express them.

History of Central European Vampires

The roots of vampirism are unknown, they strech back as far as Sumerian civilisation, but the strongest and most influential cultures on present day depictions of the demons are that of early medieval German and Slavic. It is from these stories that we get their deathly aversion to garlic and death by a stake to the heart.

In Slavic folklore the accounts told of depraved spirits, called ippur or a nelapsi, that would attack their former neighbors and livestock. Others of Czech origin mentioned incidents of nightmares accompanied with pain, a feeling of being suffocated, and a squeezing around the neck area upon waking up.

Another vampire-related incident was recorded by Count de Cadreras, who in the 1720s was designated by the Austrian emperor to research suspicious events in a town near the Hungarian border called Haidam. The Count investigated several cases involving people who had been dead up to 30 years who were reported to have returned from the dead to attack their relatives. When the bodies were unearthed, they showed dilatory decomposition including the flow of fresh blood when a primitive autopsy was performed. The Count ordered that the bodies be decapitated and then burned twice again. The paperwork given to the emperor documenting these procedures along with a lengthy account given by the Count to a professor at the University of Fribourg survive to this day. The town of Haidam has never been identified, nor has a place by that name ever been recorded in any other contemporary documentation.

Germany gives us the Blutsueger, or bloodsucker, and the Nosferatu-esque vampirism. The Nachtzehrer were similar to the Slavic vampire in that they were known to be recently deceased people who returned from the grave to attack family members and villagers. Their undead state stemmed from an unusual death, such as a person who died by suicide or accident. They were also associated with epidemic sickness. e.g.: whenever a group of people died from the same disease, the person who died first was labeled to be the cause of the group's death. Nachtzehrers were also believed to chew on their own extremities and cloths until they had been satiated with blood. They would then ascend from of their graves and ravage the bodies of living beings like ghouls.

In southern Germany, it was believed that those who were not baptised were drawn to immoral life and the practise of black magick. These were people who, upon death, became Blutsuegers. Also, people who commit suicide also were supposedly open to this undead state. They appeared pale and resembled a zombie from Dawn of the Dead. Bavarians safeguarded their homes by smearing garlic over their doors and windows and placing hawthorn around their houses and barns. In the folklore, Bluatsaugers could be killed by a stake though the heart and stuffing garlic in their mouths.

In Bulgaria, the people believed that spirits of the dead embarked on a journey immediately after death that visited every place they had visited during their life on earth. Their journey lasted for 40 days and then the spirit went on to its next life. However, if the dead were not properly buried, they may find that their passage to the next world was blocked, and might return to this world as a vampire. The Romanian word for vampire comes straight from the original Slavic word: opyri.

Certain people were prone to becoming vampires in Bulgarian folklore. These included people who died violently, those excommunicated from the church, drunkards, thieves, murderers, and people who practised witchcraft. Tales spread about vampires who returned to life and started their lives over in foreign towns, even so much that they would marry and have children. Their only supposed abnormality was their nightly search for blood to quench their thirst.

Methods of killing vampires include the traditional stake to the heart and a method called bottling, where a man called a djadajii would chase after the vampire with a holy icon such as a crucifix or a picture of Jesus or Mary. The djadadjii would force the vampire towards a bottle that contained its favorite food. Once the vampire was lured into the bottle, it was corked and thrown into a fire until consumed.

Generally Happy

**musical mood preference: The Chieftains & Sinead O'Connor - The Foggy Dew**

I've decided that if it is possible for me to be happy in my current situation, I'm pretty much set for life regarding happiness. I love life, and I generally love people, despite our many shortcomings as a society and culture.

What I lack is money, time and friends. I mean, I have lots of friends, but none in my general vacinity anymore. I'm pretty much alone. I make up for it by hanging out with older people and making friends with people ten years my senior. I spend alot of my weekends with my brothers or at the bar with grandfather or mom or uncles. Isn't this supposed to be the most exciting time of my life?

I need a life. Help me.

Annoyances

**musical mood preference: The Doors - The Changeling*

Two of my current annoyances:

Number one: It really disturbs me, for some reason, when a guy saddles up right next to me in the bathroom to pee, when there at like 10 other open urinals. Please go away.

Number two: My Political Science professor cannot say the word "legislature". She repeatedly says "leh-ghis-lay-tor" and then corrects herself by saying either "legislative body" or slowly attempting to say legislature correctly. It drives me NUTS.

Chuck on the State of Social Security

Anyone who believes the fallacy that the privatization of social security will be good for our country needs only to talk to anyone from Great Britain...they did it and their country went into a debt equal to approximately 25% of their GDP...and what are they doing to fix their problem?...switching to the same system that we currently have...maybe if G.W. Bozo hadn't spent the enormous surplus that social security had on his petty tax breaks, then there wouldn't be a problem...of course, hindsight is always 20/20...he's such a fuckin' clown...


And I completely agree! The surpluses in the final two fiscal years of the Clinton administration (it took nearly six years to recover from HUGE deficits to finally balance the budget) were shamefully wasted on a tax break that only partially benefited the people who need it most: the low and lower middle classes. However, they did benefit those who needed them the least: the upper middle and upper classes.

Social Security is NOT going broke. This is a Republican scare tactic. If the system is managed wisely, instead of being written off, it can be salvaged and even improved. And if it happens to be in trouble, I would first point the finger at the man who spent the surpluses that he did not broker along his wealthy administration.

Bush talked forever about two issues, and Social Security is NOT our biggest social domestic problem at the current time. MEDICAL CARE and INSURANCE should be primary concerns of ALL Americans, regardless of partisanship. Tens of millions of Americans are lacking even the minimal amount of insurance. This is wrong, especially in a nation which purports itself to be the richest and freest nation in the world. We are declining, people. Our infant mortality rates and death rates have gone up while our birth rate is down. The influx of untrained and non-professional immigrants is swelling the stagnant job pool while the professional and university foreigners coming to the US has nearly dried up.

Our economy is in the shitter, the Dollar is down while the GBP and EURO surge, even the YEN has gained on the weakened Dollar. Proud to be an American? Sure I am, but I am embarassed at our current administrations purposeful ignorance towards issues it cannot handle.

Neko Case - Make Your Bed

Make your bed the river young girl
Make your bed the river young girl
Lalalalalalalola
Make your bed the river young girl

Did you come here to meet him, my dear?
You surprised to find only me?
Well I put him to rest at the bend in the river
And the same I require of thee

I'm thick with disease in my madness
Only one thought pacifies me
That the murky black water grinds your bones into sand
When the catfish have stripped off your hide

Make your bed the river young girl
Make your bed the river young girl
I know you can't swim, but I'll tuck you in
Make your bed the river young girl

Go down as his trembling bride
For to quell all his fury inside me
And if there's a chance that the Lord recognize you
Pray he has more mercy than I

Make your bed the river young girl
Make your bed the river young girl
I know you can't swim, but I'll tuck you in
Make your bed the river young girl

Make your bed the river young girl

Happy Birthday James Joyce

*musical mood preference: David Bowie - Rebel Rebel**

Quotes from James Joyce, on this, his 123rd birthday
History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.
-Ulysses, page 34

He even ran away with hunself and became a farsoonerite, saying he would far sooner muddle through the hash of lentils in Europe than meddle with Irrland's split little pea.
-Finnegans Wake

You were bred, fed, fostered and fattened from holy childhood up in this two easter island ... and now, forsooth, a nogger among the blankards of this dastard century, you have become of twosome twiminds forenenst gods, hidden and discovered, nay, condemned fool, anarch, egoarch, hiresiarch, you have reared your disunited kingdom on the vacuum of your own most intensely doubtful soul.
-Finnegans Wake

Ulysses was banned in its unabridged form in the United states for 11 years after publication. The decision which overturned that censorship was delivered by Judge Wosley. Here is part of his rendering:

"In respect to the recurrent emergence of the theme of sex in the minds of his characters, it must always be remembered that his locale was Celtic and his season Spring."

"Why all this fuss and bother about the mystery of the unconscious? What about the mystery of the conscious? What do they know about that?"
-James Joyce, 1919

I'd like a language which is above all languages, a language to which all will do service. I cannot express myself in English without enclosing myself in a tradition."
- James Joyce

"To me, an Irish safety pin is more important than an English epic."
-James Joyce

"A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery."
-Ulysses

Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honored by posterity because he was the last to discover America.
-James Joyce

The artist, like the God of the creation, remains within or behind or beyond or above his handiwork, invisible, refined out of existence, indifferent, paring his fingernails.
-Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man


Posts from me about Joyce:
Joycean Wit - Quote and Commentary
Romanticism from Joyce - a short excerpt with commentary
Cultural Conflict in James Joyce's "The Dead"
Verbal Softcore Pornography from James Joyce
James Joyce's "The Dead" and Ibsen's A Doll's House - A Comparison
James Joyce's "The Dead" and Ibsen's A Doll's House - A Comparison (Part 2)

Neko Case - Andy

Andy, the Summer's over
I never noticed
Did you really think you'd leave so fast?
This morning was feeling colder
We're one year older
Did you really think we'd feel so bad?
Andy, it scares me sober
To think it's over
Did you really think we'd feel so bad?
Did you really think we'd feel so bed
It helped me thru the Spring
Just think about what it might become
Woke to find it had been here & gone
Andy, the Summer's over
I never noticed
Did you really think you'd leave so fast?

Neko Case - Things That Scare Me

Flourescent nights engage
Black birds frying on a wire
Same birds that followed me
To school when I was young
Were they trying
To tell me something?
Were they telling me to run?

The hammer clicks in place
The world is gonna pay
Right down in the face of god & his saints
Claim your soul is not for sale
I'm a dying breed who still believes
Haunted by American dreams

Neko Case - No Need To Cry

Lie in bed and ignore the TV
Watch the clouds sift through the aero
And you’ll be in my arms again
There’s no need to cry

Of all the things so bittersweet
You’re the first thing I see in morning and in sleep
And you’ll be in my arms again
There’s no need to cry

Years have been lost but can never be replaced
But my thoughts are with you
Tied to that interstate
And you’ll be in my arms tonight

There’s no need to cry

Neko Case - Look For Me (I'll Be Around)

When you tire of all the bright lights
Haste that’s killing and you’re willing to stay home nights
When your feet are back on the solid ground
Look for me, I’ll be around

When the new crowd starts to bore you
Just remember there is someone to adore you
When you're weary of nights out on the town
Look for me, I’ll be around

May not seem exciting the way those others do
I’m emotion, my devotion
You will need some day as I need you

When the kicks go that it brings you
You will hanker for an anchor just to cling to
When you’ve lived it up till it’s got you down
Look for me, look for me
Look for me, I’ll be around

Neko Case - Alone & Foresaken

We met in the springtime
When blossoms unfold
The pastures were green and
Meadows were gold

Our love was in flower as summer grew on
A love like the leaves has wither and gone
The roses have faded
There’s frost at my door
The birds in the morning don’t sing anymore

The grass in the valley has started to die
Out in the darkness the whippets will cry

Alone and forsaken
Oh lord if you hear me then hold to my hand
Oh please understand

Where has she gone to, oh where can she be
She may have forsaken some other like me
She promised to honor, to love and obey
Each vow was a plaything that she threw away

The darkness is falling
The sky has turned gray
A hound in the distance is starting to bay

I wonder, I wonder what she’s thinking of
Forsaken, forgotten without any love

Alone and forsaken
By Fate and by man
Oh lord if you hear me then hold to my hand
Oh please understand
Oh please understand

Neko Case - Thanks A Lot

Thanks
Thanks a lot
I got a broken heart
That's all I've got
You made me cry
Now I cried a lot
I lost your love baby
Thanks a lot

You told our friend
As I was passin' by
That you're not sorry
That you made me cry
You said I deserve
Just what I got
Well if that's how you feel babe
Thanks a lot
Thanks
Thanks a lot
I got a broken heart
That's all I've got You made me cry
Now I cried a lot
I lost your love baby
Honey, thanks a lot

You wanted a fool
& I played the part
Now all I've got is a broken heart
We loved a little
& laughed a lot
Then you were gone
Honey thanks a lot
Thanks
Thanks a lot...

Set Out Running - Neko Case

Want to get it all behind me
You know everything reminds me
I can't be myself without you
Want to crawl deep inside
Springs inside my trails
Will cry my dirty secrets
Cuz I just can't shake this feeling
That I'm nothing in your eyes

And if I knew heartbreak was coming
I would've set out running
Past the city houses
And the ditches on the highway
Read between the seasons
Under the bridges in valleys
Til the winds out on the praries
Whip the tears from my eyes

Want to get it all behind me
You know everything reminds me
I can't be myself without you
Want to crawl deep inside
Springs inside my trails
Will cry my dirty secrets
Cuz I just can't shake this feeling
That I'm nothing in your eyes

And if I knew heartbreak was coming
I would've set out running
Across the muddy river
And the smokestacks on the bank
Swallow their horizon
Hunger beyond hunger
Til the cloudy blue Pacific
Took the air in my lungs

And if I knew heartbreak was coming
I would've set out running
Cuz I just can't shake this feeling
That I'm nothing in your eyes.

Ghost Wiring - Neko Case

What's happened at home since I've gone away?
Needle drops off the chart, and the leaves gently sway
Low ceiling moves in and circles the bay
Rain wakes the trees
Sounds counted so many days, so many days

Wet shoes drag you off to school, shoes that never dry
Crows curse and beat their wings
Why can't you be smarter girl?
Lift up your face

Don't feel sorry for yourself
I'll always wait for you
Ghost is the lightshow at night
On the Grand Coulee Dam
The river is watching you
At the drive-in tonight.
Who do they comfort now?
Since I've gone away...

In California - Neko Case

In California, I dream of snow
& all the places we used to go
With the night falling down
With the night falling down
I'm living in Korea-town
Waking to the sounds of car-alarms

I remember your face when I showed you the ticket
Said you were happy for me, your heart wasn't in it
Just a phone call away, now there's nothing to say
As the days roll by disconnected
In the land where the sun is shining
I'm crying alone, palm trees are laughing at me
Another fool playing songs that don't matter
For people who don't chatter endlessly

Another suicide on the 405
The Black Dahlia, she smiles and smiles
Its the same old town that bled her dry
One more start and one more try
Bound to make it do or die

Take a walk to balmy brae, try to wash these dreams away
They tell me LA's beautiful when it rains

We've Never Met - Neko Case

Oh my darling, oh my darling
How can you forget?
All the love we had between us
Now its like we've never met

Oh it kills me, how it kills me
When I think how happy you are
You were golden, I was blind
With your poison in my blood
Bittersweet are the memories
That make lovers part
But I'd trade all the memories
Just to have your heart and mine

Everybody talking to me
But they just can't explain
Disappeared from all the pages
Now nothing seems the same
Was a time I thought I knew you
When I looked you in the eye
Now the same eyes look right thru me
You're too cool to see my cry

Oh my darling, oh my darling
How can you forget?
All the love we had between us
Now its like we've never met
You were golden, I was blind
Now its like we've never met

Outro With Bees - Neko Case

How's hope feeling today?
Tired and sick of this place
Red wine is fast
At the lip of your glass
Saying I'm going to ruin
Everything
Everything
So its better my sweet
That we hover like bees
Cuz there's no sure footing
No love, I believe

Hatful of Hollow

The Smiths' album "Hatful of Hollow" is easily one of my favorite albums of all time. I adore Morrissey's self-deprecating and painfully expressive lyrics compounded with Marr's catchy indie riffs; they meld to make a perfect match.

Several cuts from Hatful of Hollow are BBC Peel session versions of songs from the self-titled album, though the versions on the former are nervy and raw in comparison with the original. I actually like the feel of the Hatful songs better than the original. I think you get a better feel for Morrissey's raw emotion from these less packaged tracks.

Now, I'm gonna start a song by song of the album:

1. William It Was Really Nothing
An upbeat and somewhat comical song, this was a perfect start to a near-perfect album. The opening lines remain my favorite:
"The rain falls hard on a humdrum town This town has dragged you down"

2. What Difference Does It Make
Just as the lyrics of the song claim, Morrissey sounds the part as "sick and tired". The song was apparently a message to an indifferent love interest. My favorite lines are:
"The devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and I lied and why? Because you asked me to"

**more later