Something has to change
Undeniable dilemma
Boredom's not a burden
Anyone should bear
Constant over-stimulation numbs me
But I would not want you any other way

Theme: Food: Strawberry Alarm Clock "Incense and Peppermints"

Released in 1967, "Incense and Peppermints" is psychedelic pop band, Strawberry Alarm Clock's, biggest hit. Though Strawberry Alarm Clock is often seen as a one-hit-wonder, the band made a significant contribution in the development of American 'bubblegum' music.

Theme: Food: The Beatles "Savoy Truffle" and "Wild Honey Pie"

Harrison's "Savoy Truffle" (1968) has been said to have been inspired by good friend, Eric Clapton's, addiction to chocolate. The lines "but when the pain comes through, you're gonna know and how" and "But you'll have to have them all pulled out after the savoy truffle" refer to the possibility of painful cavities.

On the same album we can hear "Wild Honey Pie" (Lennon/McCartney 1968). An...experimental piece.

Theme: Food: Lonnie Donegan "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight)"

I like food, you like food, let's talk about food.

Lonnie Donegan, also known as the 'King of Skiffle', is one of the most influential English artists of the 1950s. Skiffle, a type of music with jazz, country, folk, and blues influences, is usually performed with homemade instruments, making it easy for people to form their own skiffle bands. After Lonnie Donegan shot to stardom in the mid 50s, over 50,000 skiffle groups were formed in Britain.

Here is one of Donegan's most famous songs: "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight)?" (1958)

Theme: Walls: Pink Floyd "The Wall", Pt 2

The second half of "The Wall" album begins with Pink, who is now almost completely isolated in "Hey You" and "Is There Anybody Out There?". Pink, trapped behind the wall, still has enough feeling to cry out and ask for help.

Hey you, out there on your own
Sitting naked by the phone
Would you touch me?
Hey you, with you ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out
Would you touch me?
Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home.

No one answers Pink's calls for help and he realizes that he is completely isolated. As per The Wall tradition, a piece of the wall moves out, becoming a small platform with a chair and a tv. Waters sits in the chair and sings "Nobody Home". 

Hidden behind the wall, Pink begins to have hallucinations of becoming a fascist dictator performing concerts at rallies with "Vera", "Bring the Boys Back Home", "Waiting for the Worms", etc. Pink puts 'undesirables' on trial, telling them to get out.

Are there any queers in the theater tonight?
Get them up against the wall!
There's one in the spotlight, he don't look right to me,
Get him up against the wall!
That one looks Jewish!
And that one's a coon!
Who let all of this riff-raff into the room?
There's one smoking a joint,
And another with spots!
If I had my way,
I'd have all of you shot!

Pink eventually puts himself on trial, and his own inner judge commands him to tear down the wall, but not before his mother, teacher, and wife have their say during "The Trial". 

 Since, my friend, you have revealed your
Deepest fear,
I sentence you to be exposed before
Your peers.
Tear down the wall!

At this point in live shows, the entire wall is torn down, revealing the band. The band plays the last song, "Outside the Wall", in all of the rubble.

 All alone, or in two's,
The ones who really love you
Walk up and down outside the wall.
Some hand in hand
And some gathered together in bands.
The bleeding hearts and artists
Make their stand.
And when they've given you their all
Some stagger and fall, after all it's not easy
Banging your heart against some mad bugger's wall.

 Listen to the album carefully, there are many tiny details in the songs, which only adds to its amazingness.

Theme: Walls: Pink Floyd "The Wall", Part 1

(One of the most amazing live productions ever, ever.)

"The Wall", released in 1979, was written during a time of great tension between the band members- mostly Roger Waters vs. the rest of the band. I believe the idea for "The Wall" resulted partly from Waters' frustration with Pink Floyd concert goers. People came to their concerts to be seen and to party-- No one came for the music anymore. At one show while the band was playing, fans lit off fireworks into the crowd (Waters momentarily stopped the show to yell at the audience), and another show Waters spit on a fan (which he now admits was a very harsh thing to do) who attempted to climb onto the stage.

During these events, Waters felt there was a 'wall' between the band and the audience, giving him the idea to build a physical wall between band members and audience during shows.

"The Wall" is a four-sided concept album that follows the character Pink through isolation and abandonment, all symbolized by the metaphorical wall. The story begins with young Pink's father going off to war during "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt 1". Pink's father dies in war (as did young Waters') and the first bricks in the wall are put into place.

Daddy's flown across the ocean
Leaving just a memory
Snapshot in the family album
Daddy what else did you leave for me?
Daddy, what'd'ja leave behind for me?!?
All in all it was just a brick in the wall.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall.

Young Pink is also tormented by teachers in school "The Happiest Days of Our Lives"; adding more bricks to the wall.

By pouring their derision

Upon anything we did
And exposing every weakness
However carefully hidden by the kids
But in the town, it was well known
When they got home at night, their fat and
Psychopathic wives would thrash them
Within inches of their lives.

 

Pink's mother becomes overly protective of him in "Mother" (Of course mama'll help to build the wall)

Mother do you think she's good enough -- to me?
Mother do you think she's dangerous -- to me?
Mother will she tear your little boy apart?
Mother will she break my heart?

Hush now baby, baby dont you cry.
Mama's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you.
Mama wont let anyone dirty get through.
Mama's gonna wait up until you get in.
Mama will always find out where you've been.

 

The wall continues to to be built: As Pink grows up and becomes a rock star, his marriage deteriorates (Night after night, we pretend its all right) due to infidelity on both Pink and his wife's part (Will some cold woman in this desert land make me feel like a real man?), physical abuse (I need you, babe, to put through the shredder in front of my friends, oooh babe), and drug abuse. All the while, Pink's mental and emotional wall is nearing completion.

During live productions of this album, animations would be projected onto the physical wall being built in front of the band. As the last song on the first half of the album began, there would be one small space left in the wall for Waters to look out into the audience and sing "Goodbye, Blue Sky". As he finished the song, the last brick would be put into place, completing the wall.

Theme: Walls: Simon and Garfunkel "I Am A Rock"

Every once in a while we put up walls to prevent others from getting close to us and "I Am A Rock" (Simon, Garfunkel 1965) illustrates this perfectly. If you have no emotional attachments, you never get hurt, right? The singer needs only his books and poetry to keep him company:

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me; 

I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island. 

 

I am reminded of Penny Lane's character from 'Almost Famous' (dir. Cameron Crowe 2000) when she says: "I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriously, ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends."

 

 

It's getting to the point where I am no fun anymore, I am sorry.
Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud, 'I am lonely.'
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard

Crosby, Stills, & Nash: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

Theme: The Queen: Ringo Starr "Elizabeth Reigns"

Although Ringo isn't calling the British government a 'fascist regime', "Elizabeth Reigns" (Starkey/Hudson/Burr/Dudas/Grakal 2002) from his 2003 solo album "Ringo Rama"  nostalgically pokes fun at Queen Elizabeth in a much less aggressive manner than the Sex Pistols.


A letter unsent
entombed in cement
and hung from the hanging tree
God save the Queen
if you know what I mean
we don't really need a king.

Six hundred servants
use her detergent
scrubbing the palace floor
and all of your sins are
as big as the Windsors
so lets point our fingers
no more.

Theme: The Queen: Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen"

"God Save the Queen" (1977) was released during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee-- the anniversary to her accession to the throne, which was celebrated with large-scale parties and parades throughout England.

"God Save the Queen" is seen as an attack on the Queen, when it is actually an attack on the entire British government (the "facist regime"). The Sex Pistols were one of the first bands to publicly (through this song) criticize the Queen and the British government. (Such a scandal!). Funnily enough, even as the royal family received much support from the people, "God Save the Queen" sold enough copies during the Silver Jubilee to skyrocket to #1 on the UK Pop Charts.

God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron
Potential H-bomb

God save the queen
She ain't no human being
There is no future
In England's dreaming

Don't be told what you want
Don't be told what you need
There's no future, no future,
No future for you

Music Depression.

It is ironic that I am coming out of my music depression with depressing music.

Theme: Pigs: Nine Inch Nails "Piggy"

What is it with pigs and concept albums...? Nine Inch Nails "Piggy" (Reznor 1994). The song/title was inspired by Charles Manson, The Beatles' song "Piggies", and murdered actress Sharon Tate (whose murderers scrawled the word "PIG" on the front door in blood after killing Tate).

All of my fears came true
black and blue and broken bones you left me here I'm all alone
my little piggy needed something new
nothing can stop me now
I don't care anymore
nothing can stop me now
I just don't care

Theme: Pigs: Pink Floyd "Pigs (Three Different Ones)"

Yes, I am doing another Pink Floyd 'pigs' song because I think "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" (Waters 1977) is important lyrically and conceptually.

In the concept album ''Animals", Roger Waters puts humans into three categories: Dogs, Pigs, and Sheep. The three verses in "Pigs" each represent a different pig-identity. The second verse is a little ambiguous, but I believe it is referring to conservative politician, Margaret Thatcher:

Bus stop rat bag, ha ha, charade you are
You fucked up old hag, ha ha, charade you are
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass
You're nearly a good laugh
Almost worth a quick grin
You like the feel of steel
You're hot stuff with a hat pin
And good fun with a hand gun
You're nearly a laugh
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.

Waters does not leave the listener guessing as to who is he talking about. He calls out directly to Mary Whitehouse ("Hey, you, Whitehouse"), a campaigner and prominent conservative political figure who fought for censorship. Obviously, the Floyd were not thrilled with this:

Hey you Whitehouse, ha ha, charade you are
You house proud town mouse, ha ha, charade you are
You're trying to keep our feelings off the street
You're nearly a real treat
All tight lips and cold feet
And do you feel abused?
You gotta stem the evil tide
And keep it all on the inside
Mary you're nearly a treat
Mary you're nearly a treat
But you're really a cry.

Theme: Pigs: Pink Floyd "Pigs On the Wing (Parts 1&2)"

One of the sweeter songs from one of my favorite bands. Pink Floyd's "Pigs On The Wing (Parts 1&2)" (Waters 1977) is a two-part song that bookends their 1977 concept album "Animals". These affectionate songs are in stark contrast to the rest of the album's tracks, but are important, nonetheless.
Waters introduces the album in Part 1 and defines himself as a 'dog' that has finally found love and comfort in Part 2.

You know that I care what happens to you
And I know that you care for me too
So I don't feel alone
Of the weight of the stone
Now that I've found somewhere safe
To bury my bone
And any fool knows a dog needs a home
A shelter from pigs on the wing

Theme: Pigs: The Beatles "Piggies"

This week pigs have the opportunity to be a part of this blog. I'm not particularly partial towards pigs, but I will be for this week.

The Beatles' 1968 self-titled album, 'The Beatles', which is commonly referred to as 'The White Album' is the band's ninth studio album.
Harrison's song "Piggies", a social commentary on the bourgeoisie, appears on Side 2 of the album. "Piggies" has also been thought to be a criticism on police, who are also known as 'pigs'.


Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon.

Theme: Sunday: U2 "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"

Another political and anti-violence song by U2, "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" (1983). This song visits the 1972 'Bloody Sunday' incident that took place in Northern Ireland where 26 unarmed civil rights protesters were shot. Thirteen of them killed immediately.

I really love the line "How long, how long must we sing this song?" Countless civil rights movements and actions have take place and yet there are many people who are still fighting for basic civil rights-- how long must we sing the song of equality and peace.

And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die

Theme: Sunday: Califone "Sunday Noises"

Califone's "Sunday Noises". Beautiful.

Theme: Sunday: The Monkees "Pleasant Valley Sunday"

The Monkees are often criticized not only for 'being a rip-off of the Beatles', but for the rumor that none of the members played their own instruments or wrote their own music. The first criticism is for you to decide. The second is not a fair accusation. Even before the Monkees, Mike and Peter were playing music themselves. The four are credited as writers and musicians on quite a few of the Monkees' songs and even toured together as a band (once with Jimi Hendrix as the opener).Each member now has their own solo work, written and played themselves, along with their respective bands.

However, the Monkees' song I have for you this week is not written by the Monkees, but by the famous songwriting team Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Here is "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (1967).

Theme: Sunday: Morrissey "Every Day Is Like Sunday"

Morrissey's "Every Day Is Like Sunday" (Morrissey/Street 1988) comes from his debut solo album Viva Hate (1988). Inspired by Nevil Shute's novel On the Beach, which is about a group of people in Australia waiting for devastation (Armageddon) along the beachside.

Trudging slowly over wet sand
Back to the bench where your clothes were stolen
This is the coastal town that they forgot to close down
Armageddon, come Armageddon, come, Armageddon, come
Every day is like Sunday
Every day is silent and gray

Theme: Sunday: Velvet Underground "Sunday Morning"

The Velvet Underground's opening track  "Sunday Morning" (Reed/Cale 1966) on their debut album The Velvet Underground and Nico is one of the few Velvet Underground songs not describing the gross, perverted, drugged up, underbelly of city life- topics the band is infamous for writing about. Instead, ''Sunday Morning" has a more accessible and professional sound to it and is lyrically sweet.

Sunday morning
It's just the wasted years so close behind
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
It's nothing at all

Theme: Sunday: Queen "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon"

This week's theme: Sunday.

First off, Queen's short little ditty "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon" (Mercury 1975).

Theme: Midnight: The Killers "Midnight Show"

The Killers' "Midnight Show" is the second song in what Killers' fans call the 'Murder Trilogy'. (the first song being "Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf", and the third being "Jenny Was A Friend of Mine"). The trilogy follows the singer and the murder of his girlfriend.

Oh crashing tide can't hide a guilty girl (The water isn't enough to hide her body)
With jealous hearts that start with gloss and curls
I took my baby's breath beneath the chandelier (He killed her under the stars)
Of stars in atmosphere
And watch her disappear
Into the midnight show (He watched her die)

Theme: Midnight: Hedwig and the Angry Inch "Midnight Radio"

If you have never seen the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Mitchell 2001) then I suggest you head to the nearest Blockbuster (or Netflix, if you prefer) and get it. Originally performed live on stage, Hedwig was adapted to a film in 2001.

Hedwig is a beautiful and touching story of  an MtF (male-to-female) up-and-coming rock star who has her songs stolen by songwriting partner, and now enemy, Tommy Gnosis. The film follows Hedwig through her musical journey of regaining fame, love, and self-worth.

"Midnight Radio" (Trask/Mitchell 1999) is one of the last songs/scenes of the film (Hedwig being the singer, in 'male form' in this scene).

Theme: Midnight: Tom Waits "Midnight Lullaby"

Tom Waits' "Midnight Lullaby". A sweet little lullaby about gumdrops, dream land, and the British Isles.

Theme: Midnight: The Allman Brothers Band "Midnight Rider"

"Midnight Rider" (Allman/Payne 1970) by the Allman Brothers Band takes themes of desperation, determination, and being on the run; themes commonly heard in folk and blues songs.

And I don't own the clothes I'm wearing
And the road goes on forever
And I've got one more silver dollar
But I'm not gonna let them catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the midnight rider.

"Midnight Rider" is not dark, but does contain ideas of mystery and the lonesome wanderer-- themes that also surround the image of 'midnight'.

Theme: Midnight: Wilson Pickett "Midnight Hour"

The theme for the week will be Midnight. Generally, midnight is considered to be a time of change; it is the time where night transitions into morning. It is a time of mystery, chaos, and darkness.


Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour" (Pickett/Cropper 1965) is considered to be one of the top 500 songs of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.
While midnight is often thought of as a time of mystery and suspense, Pickett sees midnight in lighter terms. For Pickett, midnight is a time to show your love and witness the twinkle of the stars.

I'm gonna wait till midnight hour
That’s when my love comes tumbling down
I’m gonna wait, way in the midnight hour
That’s when my love begins to shine
Just you and I…Ooh Baby

Theme: America: Violent Femmes "America Is"

There is one last post I want to do with our 'America' theme before moving on to this week's theme.

 The Violent Femmes "America Is" (1993) is yet another song calling America out on the 'American dream bullshit'. The Violent Femmes call America a hypocrite, and attempt to prove this statement by telling us to Look at the Indians/Look at the Blacks/Look at the figures /Look at the facts.

The American Dream is supposedly something that everyone can attain if they work hard enough. If this is the case, then why are there such major discrepancies in all areas of life between the different racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.?  

Look at the figures /Look at the facts.
[...]
American dream is only a dream.

Theme: America: Funkadelic "America Eats Its Young"

"America Eats Its Young" is definitely worth mentioning. Funkadelic, fathers of the heavy funk sound, describe America as a "bitch"  that "suck[s] the brains" of her "great grandsons and daughters." Give it a listen.

Theme: America: Gogol Bordello "American Wedding"

Gogol Bordello, a 'gypsy punk' band from Manhattan's Lower East Side, pokes fun at the seemingly lack of celebration surrounding American weddings in the song "American Wedding" (2007).
Eugene asks where the 3-day supply of marinated herring and vodka are, and warns against the grand ennui that is an American wedding.

Nothing gets these people going
not even Gypsy Kings
nobody talks about my Supertheory
of Supereverythings!
So be you Donald Trump
Or be an anarchist
Make sure that your wedding
Doesn't end up like this

Theme: America: David Bowie "I'm Afraid of Americans"

On Bowie's song "I'm Afraid of Americans" (Bowie/Eno 1997), he has been quoted as saying "It's not as truly hostile about Americans as say "Born in the U.S.A.": it's merely sardonic. I was traveling in Java when [its] first McDonald's went up: it was like, "for fuck's sake." The invasion by any homogenised culture is so depressing, the erection of another Disney World in, say, Umbria, Italy, more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life." (Teenagewildlife.com. 1999-06-25. http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Reviews/Albums/E/PressRelease.html.)
Basically, it's a fear of colonization and is just as relevant today as it was 14 years ago.

Johnny wants a plane.
Johnny wants to suck on a coke.
Johnny wants a woman, and
Johnny wants to think of a joke.

Theme: America: Bruce Springsteen "Born in the U.S.A."

To celebrate our nation's official birthday, I thought we could do 'America' as our weekly theme.


First up: Bruce Springsteen. When "Born in the U.S.A." (Springsteen 1984) was released, President Ronald Reagan saw this as an opportunity to use Springsteen's song as America's new theme song. To Reagan, the song was a way to revitalize a patriotic American-masculinity. Obviously Reagan was not listening to anything but the chorus "Born in the U.S.A."

If you take a listen to each verse, you can see that the song is very anti-war and somewhat anti-American, as in America's bad and unwelcoming reception of returned Vietnam soldiers:

I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man

[...]

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"


Born in the U.S.A., man.

Theme: Guns: Gorillaz "Kids With Guns"

"Kids With Guns" (Albarn, Hewlett, et all., 2006) is obviously about kids...with guns. I cannot decide on which interpretation of this song fits better: A. The amount of exposure kids have to guns and violence, i.e. on the news, video games, songs, etc, and how we believe that exposure affects them, or B. Young 'kids' in the army who are handed guns and asked to use them.

Either way, it's "turning us into monsters."

Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Taking over
But it won't be long
They're mesmerized
Skeletons
Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Easy does it, easy does it, they got something to say no to

Theme: Guns: Nirvana

 
The word 'gun' is heard in a few Nirvana songs: "In Bloom" (And he likes to sing along/ And he likes to shoot his gun), "Son Of A Gun", "Come As You Are" (And I swear that I don't have a gun/ No, I don't have a gun). As in the case with the Beatles' song, "Happiness Is A Warm Gun", the guns in each song have multiple interpretations: sex, violence, drugs, an actual gun...take your pick.

Theme: Guns: Artists Victims of Gun Violence

During our weekly theme of "Guns" I think it is important to remember those artists who were injured and/or killed because of gun violence.

Sam Cooke, 1931-1964. Shot and killed by hotel manager, Bertha Franklin.
Bob Marley, shot, but not killed in 1976.
John Lennon, 1940-1980. Shot and killed by crazed fan, Mark David Chapman
Marvin Gaye, 1939-1984. Fatally shot by his own father, Marvin Gaye Sr.
Selena, 1971-1995. Fatally shot by fan club president, Yolanda Saldívar.
Tupac Shakur, 1971-1996. Killer unknown
Biggie Smalls, 1972-1997. Murder remains unsolved.
Dimebag Darrell, 1966-2004. Shot and killed by crazed fan, Nathan Gale.

Just to name a few...

Theme: Guns: Phil Spector

One person in the music industry who stands out when talking about guns is...You guessed it- Phil Spector! As a well known record producer, songwriter, and session musician, who worked with many famous artists including girl groups (The Crystals, The Ronettes, etc), John Lennon, and Ben E. King, Spector is also known for the Wall of Sound, aka, dense layers of music, usually orchestral, which created a very full sound- a wall of sound.


In the past few years, however, Spector's name has also been tied to guns and violence. Convicted of shooting and killing actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, Spector has not been able to separate himself from the words 'gun violence', especially due to testimonies of other women who claimed they had been held at gunpoint by Spector.

Theme: Guns: The Guess Who "Guns, Guns, Guns"

The anti-hunting theme of the Guess Who's "Guns, Guns, Guns" (Cummings 1972) is painfully discernible; all probably due to the fact that this band from Canada witnessed the decimation and possibly near extinction of wild animals in their country (just a guess...).

Eagle all gone, and no more caribou Guns, guns, guns You be the red king, I’ll be the yellow pawn. God speed Mother Nature Never really wanted to say good-bye.

Another Guess Who song containing an environmentalist theme is their 1970 single "Share the Land" (Cummings).
I find it interesting that a song called "Guns, Guns, Guns" in the 1970s is an anti-hunting theme and not about war.

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Theme: Guns: David Bowie "Running Gun Blues"

It is not unheard of for people in the Army to get a little gun crazy. I'm sure it is easy to dehumanize yourself and 'the enemy' in combat situations. "Running Gun Blues" (Bowie 1970) takes being gun crazy to another level. He calls it his 'instinct' to sneak out of bed at night and cut down the "gooks" and even a few civilians.

I count the corpses on my left, I find I'm not so tidy
So I better get away, better make it today
I've cut twenty-three down since Friday
But I can't control it, my face is drawn
My instinct still emotes it

I slash them cold, I kill them dead
I broke the gooks, I cracked their heads
I'll bomb them out from under the beds
But now I've got the running gun blues.

James Madison (The Federalist Papers) seems to think that "Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." If Bowie tells the truth, the government shouldn't trust us with arms...

Theme: Guns: The Beatles' "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"

In many cases the word 'gun' can take on multiple interpretations. This is especially true for the Beatles' "Happiness is a Warm Gun" (Lennon/McCartney 1968). One evaluation of the gun in "Happiness" has been said to be a metaphor for Lennon's 'sexual appetite' at the time. Lennon has admitted the relation between guns and sex: "that was the beginning of my relationship with Yoko and I was very sexually oriented then" (Sheff 188).

When I hold you in my arms
And I feel my finger on your trigger
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because happiness is a warm gun.

Another metaphor of the 'warm gun' or 'loaded gun' is heroin (Lennon had well documented stints with heroin, at the time); although I believe the sexual interpretation to be more likely.

Lastly, in the film Across the Universe (Julie Taymor 2007) the gun is interpreted literally. The film takes place in what we assume to be the Vietnam War era and one of the main characters, Max, is in the hospital due to war (gunshot?) injuries.

Happiness is a warm gun,
Bang, bang, shoot, shoot.

Not-so fun fact: Ironically, Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in 1980 in the street outside of his apartment.

Theme: Vietnam War: Neil Young "Ohio"

All protesting was not peaceful back in the states. On May 4, 1970, students were protesting the American invasion of Cambodia when the Ohio National Guard were called in. At one point the guardsmen shot into the crowd of unarmed protesters and killed 4 students in what has come to be known as the Kent State Massacre (aka May 4 Massacre).
"Ohio" (1970) by Neil Young was written in response to the Kent State Massacre.

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Theme: Vietnam War: Country Joe and the Fish 'I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'

For a song that sounds like it came from the circus, the lyrical content of Country Joe and the Fish's 'I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag' (McDonald 1967) is quite humorless and in-your-face.

Well, come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, don't hesitate,
Send 'em off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

McDonald addresses his concerns to parents, generals, and Wall Street, in the name of Uncle Sam, and sarcastically invites young men to join the army:

Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

The childish sound of the song may deter listeners from paying attention to the lyrics, but the lyrics reel the listeners back in with the sarcastic line that ends each phrase: Open up the pearly gates...whoopie! we're all gonna die!

Fun fact: The recorded version begins with the 'Fish Cheer' ("Gimme an F! F! Gimme an I! I...). In a few live versions the band altered the 'Fish Cheer' to be the 'Fuck Cheer' ("Gimme an F! F! Gimme a U! U!...) and in 1970 McDonald was arrested for doing the altered version in public and charged with obscenity.

Found this on Yahoo!Answers…

“Grunge is like the mellow, depressed little brother of metal. Metal is like the fast, heavy, leather-clad son of hard rock. Punk is like metal’s angry, delinquent brother with ADHD, and hard rock is the father of them all.”

What do you think?

“The album uses the sun and the moon as symbols, the light and the dark, the good and the bad, the life force as opposed to the death force. I think it’s a very simple statement saying that all the good things life can offer are there for us to grasp, but that the influence of some dark force in our nature prevents us from seizing them. The song addresses the listener and says that if you, the listener, are affected by that force, and if that force is a worry to you, well I feel exactly the same too. The line ‘I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon’ is me speaking to the listener, saying, ‘I know you have these bad feelings and impulses because I do too and one of the ways I can make direct contact with you is to share with you the fact that I feel bad sometimes.’”

—	Roger Waters on Dark Side of the Moon

Theme: Vietnam War: Phil Ochs 'Draft Dodger Rag'

I find Phil Ochs to be very underrated. In my time listening and looking up information on Bob Dylan and other folk artists and protest songs of the time, I had not once come across Phil Ochs. The first time heard of Mr. Ochs was in Stephen King's novella/collection of 3 short stories 'Heart's in Atlantis'. The constant playing of Phil Ochs' "I Ain't Marching Anymore" by the characters in the story made me think I should give Mr. Ochs a try. I'm glad I did.

''Draft Dodger Rag" (Ochs 1965) is a satirical take on the extremes men would go to in order to avoid being drafted in the Vietnam war(-- literally 'dodging the draft- 'draft dodgers'):

Sarge, I'm only 18, I got a ruptured spleen,
and I always carry a purse.
I got eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat
and my asthma's getting worse.
Yes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear,
and my poor old invalid aunt.
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to school,
and a-working in a defense plant.

Tens of thousands of men, with good reason, attempted to avoid the war using all types of reasoning, from allergies to homosexuality.

I've got a dislocated disc and a wracked up back
I'm allergic to flowers and bugs.
And when the bombshell hits, I get epileptic fits
And I'm addicted to a thousand drugs.
I got the weakness woes, I can't touch my toes
I can hardly reach my knees
And if the enemy came close to me
I'd probably start to sneeze.

Theme: Vietnam war: CCR 'Fortunate Son'

Ah, the Vietnam war. An obvious choice for a weekly theme, but an important one, nonetheless. Although the U.S. never officially declared war on Vietnam, the Vietnam war remains one of the most unpopular wars in American history (following behind the current Afghan/Iraq war). Nearly 60,000 (American) deaths and 350,000 casualties later, the U.S. finally decides to pull out of the Vietnam war in 1975.

Numerous artists wrote on Vietnam, though nearly all are protest/anti-war songs.


Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Fortunate Son' (Fogerty, 1969) shows the hypocrisy of the war and, more specifically, of the draft. Fogerty sings of rich men (senator's sons) creating laws, ushering the country into war, and then buying their way out of the draft, ultimately putting someone else in their place:

Some folks are born, silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house look like a rummage sale, yes.

I believe CCR, like many others during this time, are angry at the hypocrisy of the government and it's failure to take responsibility in addition to cold, and even violent, responses towards protesters.

CCR ain't no fortunate sons.

Yoko Ono Theme: The Beatles

Written by Lennon and recorded by John and Paul without the other 2 Beatles, "The Ballad of John and Yoko" (Lennon/McCartney1969) became the Beatles 17th and final #1 single in the UK.
This song is an obvious choice for our Yoko Ono theme, but an enjoyable one, nonetheless.

The title of the song tells us all we need to know. John and Yoko were married March 20, 1969 and this song describes all of the events surrounding their marriage: marriage arrangements, a bed-in for peace, bagism, the press' involvement, etc.

Fun fact: this song was banned in several countries for the use of the word 'Christ'.

Yoko Ono Theme: Roger Waters

This next song following the them of 'Yoko Ono' is by one of my all-time favorite artists. Roger Waters' 1984 solo album, 'The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking', follows the Floydian tradition of releasing concept albums.
This particular album, which happens to feature Eric Clapton on guitar, explores the dream of a middle-aged man having a mid-life crisis. The song titles tell you the exact time a part of the dream is occurring. For example, the first song is titled "4:30AM (Apparently They Were Traveling Abroad)", indicating that the dream begins at 4:30 in the morning.

However, an analysis of the entire album is not what I am writing about today.
Back to Yoko Ono!

I don't have much to say about this lyric from the title track "5:01AM (The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, Pt. 10)", but I find it interesting nonetheless:

I'm standing on the leading edge
The Eastern seaboard spread before my eyes
"Jump!" says Yoko Ono
"I'm too scared and too good looking," I cried
"Go on," she says "Why don't you give it a try?
Why prolong the agony? All men must die."

And

Did you understand the music, Yoko
Or was it all in vain?
Bitch said something mystical
So I stepped back 'round the curb again.

If I remember correctly, these lyrics are based on an actual dream that Waters' drummer, Andy Newmark, had.

This post is due to a moment of nostalgia. It was the childish Beatles' song "Yellow Submarine" (of all things!) that gave me a much needed push into a whole new world of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCsYDZ2M04M

Themes

Every week I will choose a theme and discuss songs/albums/artists in relation to that theme. Every song has endless interpretations. These comments are my own interpretations of songs/albums/artists' intentions. This week's theme is: Yoko Ono.

Comments, questions, and (respectful) criticisms on each weekly topic are welcome, as well as suggestions for weekly themes.




















Since the late 1960s Yoko Ono has been commonly called the person who broke up the Beatles. I do not agree with this and I do not disagree with it. Obviously John Lennon was completely enthralled by Yoko's every move, so much so that he cheated on his first wife, Cynthia, with her. Lennon brought her to the recording studio and even put a bed in the studio for to sleep on when she was sick. However annoying this may have seemed to the other Beatles, I don't believe that Yoko is what ultimately broke them up. The lads were growing up and had their own lives and families to deal with.

The first song I will discuss is "Be My Yoko Ono" by Barenaked Ladies
At first listen I thought the BnLs were making fun of John and Yoko's relationship, especially when they make fun of Yoko's singing, but after another listen I realized the BnLs were admiring their relationship (in a comical way):

"Isn't it beautiful to see two people so much in love?"

"If I was John and you were Yoko,
I would gladly give up musical genius,
just to have you as my very own, personal Venus."

Sometimes I think people forget that John and Yoko did what they did out of love, not to purposefully annoy people.

George Roger Waters v. Andrew Lloyd Webber

"We cower in our shelters
With our hands over our ears
Lloyd-Webber's awful stuff
Runs for years and years and years
An earthquake hits the theater
But the operetta lingers
Then the piano lid comes down
And breaks his fucking fingers
It's a miracle."

I've always wondered what this harsh commentary on Andrew Lloyd Webber from Roger Waters' song, "It's A Miracle", was all about. Yesterday (I think) I figured it out. Not only does Waters think Lloyd Webber's music is shallow, rubbish, and has no value, "Waters [also] asserted that Webber had plagiarized music from Pink Floyd's "Echoes" for sections of the musical The Phantom of the Opera."

Once I listened to both tracks, I realized that the similarities between the two are uncanny.
I don't know if this quote from Waters is for real, but it is amusing: "I couldn't believe it when I heard it. It's the same time signature - it's 12/8 - and it's the same structure and it's the same notes and it's the same everything. Bastard. It probably is actionable. It really is! But I think that life's too long to bother with suing Andrew fucking Lloyd Webber. I think that might make me really gloomy."

As if Waters isn't already a gloomy sort.

Music Menu

If music were a menu:

British Invasion: Tea, cakes, and meat pie.

Motown:Something processed, like a McDonald’s happy meal.

Soul: Home-cooked meal and dessert at a Mom & Pop restaurant.

Psychedelic Rock: Some exotic food you eat with your hands…followed by sex and drugs.

Progressive Rock: A fancy seven course meal with multiple spoons, knives, and forks, combined with intellectual discussions on religion, government, society, etc...

Punk: Meat and potatoes tinfoil dinner over a hobo fire.

Hardcore: Food found in a dumpster.

Death Metal: Rotting prison food with maggots.

Grunge:Your parents forgot to feed you and so you didn’t eat.

Other suggestions/genres?
Cr: Prof. Martinez

“Half of what I say is meaningless,
But I say it just to reach you”