One of the
most classic aspects of New York City is songs played on the trains. I’m not
referring to everyone’s iPods that have now replaced the New York Times or Mitch
Albom’s new inspirational, yet not really inspirational at all, book – or
whatever reading material that riders used to use to avoid staring at all the
other riders. I’m talking about the bum that walks on the train who has no grasp
of our reality anymore, but has the guitar strapped to his back – and starts
singing “Nowhere Man” (Song #1). Now, I know I just called him a bum, but
singing a song about me was just straight-up rude. Here I am on my way to the
interview stage of NYC Teaching Fellows – “Oh, Garrett, you’ve gotten an
interview to teach…good for you…what are you gonna teach?”…-“No…no…not a real
interview…interview to get into……well, who really cares…I’m trying to tell a
story here.” …I am on a train to my future of being a History teacher and by the
voice of this here writing you can tell I’m pursuing this career with vengeance.
People say to not dwell on the past, but I can’t help it. I’m very nostalgic and
I want to teach History! So, MC Bum is playing “Nowhere Man” and he asked,
“Isn’t he a bit like you and me”, and the person next to me and I look at each
other, shook our heads, smiled in agreement like the losers in the audience of a
comedy club that clap and shake their heads at each other instead of fucking
laughing… …It was pretty cool though because that’s exactly how I felt on my way
to an interview for a career I really will never per say pursue. One day I’ll
eventually find myself in front of a high school class, living “Nowhere Man” and
telling tomorrow’s leaders how the American Civil War was a myth – slavery still
exists and my buddy Nate is in South Carolina right now trying to secede from
the Union…I’m even living that song right now as I write. Did I ever pursue
living alone in NYC, a city filled with 8 million people who I don’t know, and
while watching Desperate Housewives (yeah I fucking watch it, Eva Longoria is
one of the greatest of all time), writing an excerpt for my new blog that I’m
thinking of calling “Songs on Trains”…yaw, this is what I pursued since I was
12, playing shortstop for the Little League Cardinals – then a “Nowhere Little
Shit Wiseass”…and I’m still a wiseass. George Bush will enjoy this one. I’m a
wiseass because instead of reading books, I sit on them… …but here I am writing
for this blog and in all honesty, music is often played on NYC trains and it
fascinates me. Yeah, I just got a ruling. I can say fascinating. Hearing
“Nowhere Man” actually made me relax and just say fuck it…let’s do this five
minute teaching lesson and whatever happens, happens. I’m not saying it made my
day or any sentimental crap like that. What made my day was finishing my lesson
about the Civil War and then getting to stare at the cleavage sitting in the
next desk while others presented their lessons… …for now I’m just going to write
anecdotes about songs on trains and who knows, maybe it will lead somewhere –
for now I’m waiting for that bum to get back to me so I can interview him about
why he chose “Nowhere Man”, and plus, he’s supposed to teach me how to play
guitar. I gave him my email…all-n-together now – Beatles – “Nowhere Man”
He's a
real nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans for
nobody.
Doesn't have a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a
bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man, please listen,
You don't know what you're
missing,
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command.
He's as blind as he can be,
Just sees what he wants to see,
Nowhere Man can you see me at all?
Doesn't have
a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man, don't worry,
Take your time, don't hurry,
Leave it all till
somebody else lend you a hand.
He's a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere
Land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.
Gman Music...
created by Garrett Kennedy
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Jonathan Richman Live @ The Knitting Factory
Last Saturday I went to see Jonathan Richman at the Knitting Factory in NYC. It has taken a week to write this and that’s the kind of affect the performance had on me. I was entertainted, but saw more of a comedian than a musician…don’t jump to conclusions on me yet though…I enjoyed myself…The Knitting Factory was a small venue (approx. 200 peeps there), a pretty cool place to see live music, most of crowd was mid-30s-40s…all that thought JR was hilarious…however, as funny as we think he is, we showed up to hear his music…recognizable songs for me were “Dancing at the Lesbian Bar” and “Pablo Picasso” (‘never called an asshole’)…both two very funny songs, but JR isn’t Adam Sandler and we listen to these songs for the music and then additional chuckles…JR was joined only by a drummer…we’ll call him “boy” and he didn’t add much…and unfortunately JR’s instrumentation didn’t either……playing off the crowds enthusiasm for comedy, JR spun his g-tar around often, doing some comical dances…I don’t give out thumbs or anything, but I’ll just say I don’t know the last song JR played or whether he got an encore…I left before that could happen…after I finished my 6 buck Boddingtons…I will certainly check out future bands playing at the Knitting Factory again…and would like to eventually see Jonathan Richman with a band…
...lil sidebar...
...oh yeah...picked up Norah Jones' "Not Too Late", and Regina Spektor's "Begin to Hope" today...I know...I have got to work on my transitions from paragraph to paragraph...I'm just pretty excited about my purchase...too early to give full reviews...but after first listen...Norah adds another solid performance with her first album with all her own lyrics...seems a little more comical and freewheelin...also gets a little political on songs "Sinkin' Soon" and "My Dear Country"...I like...if you're a musician nowadays and don't come out with at least A token political song then you're no longer a musician...
...and Regina I have never heard before...her single "Fidelity" is a song my punkrockin' bro will say he doesn't like, but if you have ears, you fooking like it!...they say...and by they you know exactly who (whom?...what is the damn rule?) I'm referring to...THEY say Regina is anti-folk...and I will correct THEY because nobody really claims to be anti-folk...that's just corny - that is off the cob and G don't like corn off the cob...she definitly makes pop music but it's still good...I'll add to this after more listens if it is necessary...although I'm about to add pictures...two of them...so that will add 2,000 more words...that should be enough...later...one love?...
...lil sidebar with Obama, Ms. Jones, and de Grammys...
60 Minutes
...eh more like…more like 40 minutes because of the commercials…and eh more like 30 minutes because some of the topics just aren’t interesting…eh and more like 20 minutes because the actual headlining topics turn out to be not so great as advertised…mide as well just watch advertisements for the headlining topics…and after that it ends up being a 1 minute segment and we can conclude Barack Obama rhymes with Osama and he used mary jane (inhaled because he ain’t inhale although his middle name is Hussein) and used candy…and Norah Jones um…on the next 60 minutes…Grammy’s following and this time we promise real music and this is obvious by having Justin Timberlake as the spokesman for music’s biggest stage (I thought their actually concerts were) and Justin doing his version of American Idol...
...eh more like…more like 40 minutes because of the commercials…and eh more like 30 minutes because some of the topics just aren’t interesting…eh and more like 20 minutes because the actual headlining topics turn out to be not so great as advertised…mide as well just watch advertisements for the headlining topics…and after that it ends up being a 1 minute segment and we can conclude Barack Obama rhymes with Osama and he used mary jane (inhaled because he ain’t inhale although his middle name is Hussein) and used candy…and Norah Jones um…on the next 60 minutes…Grammy’s following and this time we promise real music and this is obvious by having Justin Timberlake as the spokesman for music’s biggest stage (I thought their actually concerts were) and Justin doing his version of American Idol...
Grammy’s
…the Police are back…New Orleans wondering when the governments coming back…I bet that Stung…some bands say they are back and get the response of - why?...Roxanne must be confused – other than being a garden tool, she doesn’t know whether to turn on the red light or not…
…Chicks with – watch yo mouth…Dixie Chicks perform “Not Ready to Make Nice” and introduced by Joan Baez…where’s Bob???...think I asked same question last year...don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for Timberlake to perform…in fact, I will not wait…I’m gonna put it on mute and put my Justin CD on until he performs live...
…now, the Dixie Chicks aren’t my favorite musical flavor, but I’d rather see them perform the whole show than see Timber (Lake and Land) or Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas…I’m gonna throw up during these performances…well maybe not during Beyonce…sexual chocolate…sexual chocolate…
…performances I’m truly looking forward to are Corrine Bailey Rae, the Chili Peppers and John Mayer…let’s get a surprise appearance by Ben Harper, Dylan, Jack White…or Cat Power…fooking shit…
…well…Justin Timberlake was Justin Timberlake…I like the dude…he’s actually pretty funny and has a resume of females all dudes would love to have – but his music simply…sucks…he probably knows it though…wish the Grammy’s did…come on Grandma…
Fergie (female from Black Eyed Peas)…sounds like an overgrown bush…
Corrine, John and John are performing together – I’m pretty excited…I respect John Legend; he serves himself better by surrounding himself with the likes of Rae and Mayer…not exactly a collaboration on the performance, but cool to see them on stage together…little disappointed Mayer played “Gravity”…has better and newer songs from album “Continuum”…but I don’t decide these things…maybe someday......we will all be free…
…Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice” wins song of year…Cat Power’s “The Greatest” album I guarantee has a better song; every track is probably better, but at least these Chicks with – shut yo mouth…say something…
…Mary J. Blige to you but I just go with Mary J. because I’m Ryan Seacrest…not a huge fan of Mary…but hey…she’s a recovered drug addict and now is performing at the Grammy’s and that’s why she performs the way she does…good for her…moving on…without the Crest of Sea…
…stopped watching for an hour until Christina Aguilera performed…why does she perform like that, which again isn’t my musical flavor, but still good…and still insist on making really shitty songs?...-“it’s a man’s world”…oh ok…
…not an everyday fan of Ludacris but “Runaway Love” ain’t a bad song…good for him for finally saying something in a rap song…still shouldn’t be Grammy worthy…
…interest faded as the best music of the year never showed up…
Saturday, March 10, 2012
...The Raveonettes' Concert..
About a month ago, JK and I (G-Man) went to a concert of his choice, The Raveonettes…they were visiting NYC and that night played in Brooklyn, our home borough, at “Southpaw”…a solid venue for a concert, small enough to get a good spot for viewing, but large enough to leave room in between the smelly stranger you got stuck standing next to…going into the concert, I remained open-minded because that’s just the way that I am…this was JK’s band, and previously I’d listened to the Raveonettes…I liked the music, but was turned off by the apparent voice distortion of vocalists, Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo…JK advised, “When in doubt, just stare at Ms. Foo…she never fails to entertain”…and I quickly observed she was sporting the cleavage for tonight…how thoughtful…
…We got there an hour early for entrance into “Southpaw”…this was to get good spots, and to throw down drinks…another method to create entertainment for self in case the music didn’t supply enough…we maintained by the bar, and I was leaning against it, showing off my backside, for I was wearing my new pair of tighter jeans…JK hit me on the shoulder, which I didn’t appreciate, but he did so to point out that Sharin Foo just walked by…I forgave him…he had informed me that she was white and Asian, a deadly combo, but I didn’t believe it until now…me and Tokyo Rose will make beautiful kid’s…that is for sure…
…A question for Microsoft Word…why does one have to capitalize Asian, but not white?...furthermore…
…Ms. Foo proceeded to sell merchandise to the suckers that were lured by her attractiveness…not sure whether the white or Asian magnet was more powerful tonight…
…Ms. Foo put away the t-shirts and headed for the stage…the concert started and JK and I had a solid spot…one diagonal to the stage and next to the bar…a quick slap to Charlie the bartender and we wouldn’t miss a note while maintaining the drunken zone we had achieved pre-concert…
…Seeing the Raveonettes live changed my mind…as said before, I had liked the music, but seeing them live subtracted the distortion from their voices, equaling some pretty cool music…I imagine their music is similar to parents, fans of 50s and 60s music, seeing their kids create their own version of that era…I’m now a fan of the Raveonettes…unfortunately, the burned copy of their CD JK had is all scratched and not listenable...this is not due to JK being a DJ…the Raveonettes had a real nonchalant vibe to them, in a good way, ending one song and quickly going into the next…
…What ruined the night was what I thought would make it…being next to the bar turned me into the doorway between concert and drink – so the whole concert I heard “Excuse Me, Sorry”…I almost began thinking this was a Raveonettes' classic their fans wanted to hear…but whatever, I now have a new band to waste money on…I recommend seeing the Raveonettes live, along with “Southpaw” as a venue…but…I can’t believe I’m giving this advice…stay away from the bar?...
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Bob Dylan's Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie - best thing ever written
Below is Bob Dylan’s Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie followed by something I wrote (Cliché) that wouldn’t have been written without me hearing Last Thoughts. I didn’t write it as a reaction, or because of, but more so I wrote it and then looked back and realized Dylan’s influence. I have so much to say about this spoken word, but don’t want to say too much – because chances are my words wouldn’t add anything to it. For now, please take my suggestion and FIRST LISTEN to Bob recite it before you read it. His voice still resonates with me – from the first time I accidentally came across this and heard it – to now, and every time my conscience wants to start questioning what I’m doing with my life…the backstory – Woody Guthrie was sick, in his last days, and Dylan was asked to write something about Guthrie…this is what came of it…Enjoy?...
Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie link
Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie by Bob Dylan
When yer head gets twisted and yer mind grows numb
When you think you're too old, too young, too smart or too dumb
When yer laggin' behind an' losin' yer pace
In a slow-motion crawl of life's busy race
No matter what yer doing if you start givin' up
If the wine don't come to the top of yer cup
If the wind's got you sideways with with one hand holdin' on
And the other starts slipping and the feeling is gone
And yer train engine fire needs a new spark to catch it
And the wood's easy findin' but yer lazy to fetch it
And yer sidewalk starts curlin' and the street gets too long
And you start walkin' backwards though you know its wrong
And lonesome comes up as down goes the day
And tomorrow's mornin' seems so far away
And you feel the reins from yer pony are slippin'
And yer rope is a-slidin' 'cause yer hands are a-drippin'
And yer sun-decked desert and evergreen valleys
Turn to broken down slums and trash-can alleys
And yer sky cries water and yer drain pipe's a-pourin'
And the lightnin's a-flashing and the thunder's a-crashin'
And the windows are rattlin' and breakin' and the roof tops a-shakin'
And yer whole world's a-slammin' and bangin'
And yer minutes of sun turn to hours of storm
And to yourself you sometimes say
"I never knew it was gonna be this way
Why didn't they tell me the day I was born"
And you start gettin' chills and yer jumping from sweat
And you're lookin' for somethin' you ain't quite found yet
And yer knee-deep in the dark water with yer hands in the air
And the whole world's a-watchin' with a window peek stare
And yer good gal leaves and she's long gone a-flying
And yer heart feels sick like fish when they're fryin'
And yer jackhammer falls from yer hand to yer feet
And you need it badly but it lays on the street
And yer bell's bangin' loudly but you can't hear its beat
And you think yer ears might a been hurt
Or yer eyes've turned filthy from the sight-blindin' dirt
And you figured you failed in yesterdays rush
When you were faked out an' fooled white facing a four flush
And all the time you were holdin' three queens
And it's makin you mad, it's makin' you mean
Like in the middle of Life magazine
Bouncin' around a pinball machine
And there's something on yer mind you wanna be saying
That somebody someplace oughta be hearin'
But it's trapped on yer tongue and sealed in yer head
And it bothers you badly when your layin' in bed
And no matter how you try you just can't say it
And yer scared to yer soul you just might forget it
And yer eyes get swimmy from the tears in yer head
And yer pillows of feathers turn to blankets of lead
And the lion's mouth opens and yer staring at his teeth
And his jaws start closin with you underneath
And yer flat on your belly with yer hands tied behind
And you wish you'd never taken that last detour sign
And you say to yourself just what am I doin'
On this road I'm walkin', on this trail I'm turnin'
On this curve I'm hanging
On this pathway I'm strolling, in the space I'm taking
In this air I'm inhaling
Am I mixed up too much, am I mixed up too hard
Why am I walking, where am I running
What am I saying, what am I knowing
On this guitar I'm playing, on this banjo I'm frailin'
On this mandolin I'm strummin', in the song I'm singin'
In the tune I'm hummin', in the words I'm writin'
In the words that I'm thinkin'
In this ocean of hours I'm all the time drinkin'
Who am I helping, what am I breaking
What am I giving, what am I taking
But you try with your whole soul best
Never to think these thoughts and never to let
Them kind of thoughts gain ground
Or make yer heart pound
But then again you know why they're around
Just waiting for a chance to slip and drop down
"Cause sometimes you hear'em when the night times comes creeping
And you fear that they might catch you a-sleeping
And you jump from yer bed, from yer last chapter of dreamin'
And you can't remember for the best of yer thinking
If that was you in the dream that was screaming
And you know that it's something special you're needin'
And you know that there's no drug that'll do for the healin'
And no liquor in the land to stop yer brain from bleeding
And you need something special
Yeah, you need something special all right
You need a fast flyin' train on a tornado track
To shoot you someplace and shoot you back
You need a cyclone wind on a stream engine howler
That's been banging and booming and blowing forever
That knows yer troubles a hundred times over
You need a Greyhound bus that don't bar no race
That won't laugh at yer looks
Your voice or your face
And by any number of bets in the book
Will be rollin' long after the bubblegum craze
You need something to open up a new door
To show you something you seen before
But overlooked a hundred times or more
You need something to open your eyes
You need something to make it known
That it's you and no one else that owns
That spot that yer standing, that space that you're sitting
That the world ain't got you beat
That it ain't got you licked
It can't get you crazy no matter how many
Times you might get kicked
You need something special all right
You need something special to give you hope
But hope's just a word
That maybe you said or maybe you heard
On some windy corner 'round a wide-angled curve
But that's what you need man, and you need it bad
And yer trouble is you know it too good
"Cause you look an' you start getting the chills
"Cause you can't find it on a dollar bill
And it ain't on Macy's window sill
And it ain't on no rich kid's road map
And it ain't in no fat kid's fraternity house
And it ain't made in no Hollywood wheat germ
And it ain't on that dimlit stage
With that half-wit comedian on it
Ranting and raving and taking yer money
And you thinks it's funny
No you can't find it in no night club or no yacht club
And it ain't in the seats of a supper club
And sure as hell you're bound to tell
That no matter how hard you rub
You just ain't a-gonna find it on yer ticket stub
No, and it ain't in the rumors people're tellin' you
And it ain't in the pimple-lotion people are sellin' you
And it ain't in no cardboard-box house
Or down any movie star's blouse
And you can't find it on the golf course
And Uncle Remus can't tell you and neither can Santa Claus
And it ain't in the cream puff hair-do or cotton candy clothes
And it ain't in the dime store dummies or bubblegum goons
And it ain't in the marshmallow noises of the chocolate cake voices
That come knockin' and tappin' in Christmas wrappin'
Sayin' ain't I pretty and ain't I cute and look at my skin
Look at my skin shine, look at my skin glow
Look at my skin laugh, look at my skin cry
When you can't even sense if they got any insides
These people so pretty in their ribbons and bows
No you'll not now or no other day
Find it on the doorsteps made out-a paper mache?
And inside it the people made of molasses
That every other day buy a new pair of sunglasses
And it ain't in the fifty-star generals and flipped-out phonies
Who'd turn yuh in for a tenth of a penny
Who breathe and burp and bend and crack
And before you can count from one to ten
Do it all over again but this time behind yer back
My friend
The ones that wheel and deal and whirl and twirl
And play games with each other in their sand-box world
And you can't find it either in the no-talent fools
That run around gallant
And make all rules for the ones that got talent
And it ain't in the ones that ain't got any talent but think they do
And think they're foolin' you
The ones who jump on the wagon
Just for a while 'cause they know it's in style
To get their kicks, get out of it quick
And make all kinds of rnoney and chicks
And you yell to yourself and you throw down yer hat
Sayin', "Christ do I gotta be like that
Ain't there no one here that knows where I'm at
Ain't there no one here that knows how I feel
Good God Almighty
THAT STUFF AIN'T REAL"
No but that ain't yer game, it ain't even yer race
You can't hear yer name, you can't see yer face
You gotta look some other place
And where do you look for this hope that yer seekin'
Where do you look for this lamp that's a-burnin'
Where do you look for this oil well gushin'
Where do you look for this candle that's glowin'
Where do you look for this hope that you know is there
And out there somewhere
And your feet can only walk down two kinds of roads
Your eyes can only look through two kinds of windows
Your nose can only smell two kinds of hallways
You can touch and twist
And turn two kinds of doorknobs
You can either go to the church of your choice
Or you can go to Brooklyn State Hospital
You'll find God in the church of your choice
You'll find Woody Guthrie in Brooklyn State Hospital
And though it's only my opinion
I may be right or wrong
You'll find them both
In the Grand Canyon
At sundown
====
Cliché by Garrett Kennedy
When walking the city streets
You catch a glimpse of your reflection
Off a store window
Yeah, you feel cliché
Concluding in your mind that -
Yes, this is exactly how I planned on looking at this young age
It is your prime
Your smile shine from the sarcasm
Proceeded by the realization
You can’t afford what’s beyond your reflection
And you’re no longer laughing
Continuing your walking
That is in no particular direction
To only change your step
Because of the poverty lying
Next to the luxury clothing store
And somehow because of other’s lesser situation
Your facial expression’s restored
Not to confidence, but more so it’s monotone
Like you’re bored
But you’re no longer adolescent
And recently you’ve realized
That’s the only time when you have time to be bored
You wish you could afford some of that
Rather than that sweater that was on that rack
That was beyond your reflection
And yes, you have changed your perception
As you reflected that the once needed sweater –
With the horse
When taken out of the store and stored in your own closet
Well, it ain’t that needed anymore
So you ask what else does this life have in store
Keep walking and learn some more
Keep walking and learn some more
(short pause)…
Go to school
Learn the golden rule
Forget it the day after graduation
You should have learned patience
But didn’t
And now all you feel is -
The constant act of being on the run
You want to be like those writers
That make your mind run
But don’t know they’re always
“In the constant act of becoming” -
Vonnegut
And you don’t just want something, no
You still want everything under the sun
But sometimes it gets cold
And you don’t know your role
And all they can give you as advice is to -
Just keep rolling
So you tell yourself to
Just keep writing
And reading
And maybe it’ll add up to that arithmetic
If that’s what you’re after anyways
Spending many days in this haze
Just to make it sound inspiring, it’s a poetic phase
Leading you to the man
If he asks you, “How does it feel?”
You keep quiet, you keep it concealed
Everyone running ‘round trying to keep real
When if it’s happening - it’s oh too real
Talk is cheap
And people will pay millions to let mouths run
Just don’t let the chatter make you run from
Whatever it is you’re chasing
And question whether what you’re chasing is real
Sooner, but more likely later
It will be revealed
Clocks stole hours away as you wondered
What could have been
You’re guilty of thy sin whether or not in thy religious bin
Hindering your within
It’s known that it’s within you
From your mother to friend
To the stranger lying back then
It’s the places our minds are in
Nobody knows how to deal with the questioning
But all have ideas
Fears - keeping you from pursuing
Not ruining life, but also not truly living life
There is so much more you could be giving this world
But - but you just don’t know
(short pause)
I just don’t know
All this stuff that makes life rough
It feels like it’s shoved in your face
No matter where you go you feel liked your chased
Don’t look in the mirror as much anymore
You don’t recognize the face
Did you waste that day
That too fast became yesterday
Should you stay for one more drink
When on the brink of something
But, but you feel it slipping
You just can’t poeticize the description
Can you poeticize a prescription?
There certainly ain’t no doctor that can prescribe a prescription
That will get me back to the days of living
And neither will that sweater
And I know that was beyond your reflection
Until now
Find time to afford this.
Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie link
Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie by Bob Dylan
When yer head gets twisted and yer mind grows numb
When you think you're too old, too young, too smart or too dumb
When yer laggin' behind an' losin' yer pace
In a slow-motion crawl of life's busy race
No matter what yer doing if you start givin' up
If the wine don't come to the top of yer cup
If the wind's got you sideways with with one hand holdin' on
And the other starts slipping and the feeling is gone
And yer train engine fire needs a new spark to catch it
And the wood's easy findin' but yer lazy to fetch it
And yer sidewalk starts curlin' and the street gets too long
And you start walkin' backwards though you know its wrong
And lonesome comes up as down goes the day
And tomorrow's mornin' seems so far away
And you feel the reins from yer pony are slippin'
And yer rope is a-slidin' 'cause yer hands are a-drippin'
And yer sun-decked desert and evergreen valleys
Turn to broken down slums and trash-can alleys
And yer sky cries water and yer drain pipe's a-pourin'
And the lightnin's a-flashing and the thunder's a-crashin'
And the windows are rattlin' and breakin' and the roof tops a-shakin'
And yer whole world's a-slammin' and bangin'
And yer minutes of sun turn to hours of storm
And to yourself you sometimes say
"I never knew it was gonna be this way
Why didn't they tell me the day I was born"
And you start gettin' chills and yer jumping from sweat
And you're lookin' for somethin' you ain't quite found yet
And yer knee-deep in the dark water with yer hands in the air
And the whole world's a-watchin' with a window peek stare
And yer good gal leaves and she's long gone a-flying
And yer heart feels sick like fish when they're fryin'
And yer jackhammer falls from yer hand to yer feet
And you need it badly but it lays on the street
And yer bell's bangin' loudly but you can't hear its beat
And you think yer ears might a been hurt
Or yer eyes've turned filthy from the sight-blindin' dirt
And you figured you failed in yesterdays rush
When you were faked out an' fooled white facing a four flush
And all the time you were holdin' three queens
And it's makin you mad, it's makin' you mean
Like in the middle of Life magazine
Bouncin' around a pinball machine
And there's something on yer mind you wanna be saying
That somebody someplace oughta be hearin'
But it's trapped on yer tongue and sealed in yer head
And it bothers you badly when your layin' in bed
And no matter how you try you just can't say it
And yer scared to yer soul you just might forget it
And yer eyes get swimmy from the tears in yer head
And yer pillows of feathers turn to blankets of lead
And the lion's mouth opens and yer staring at his teeth
And his jaws start closin with you underneath
And yer flat on your belly with yer hands tied behind
And you wish you'd never taken that last detour sign
And you say to yourself just what am I doin'
On this road I'm walkin', on this trail I'm turnin'
On this curve I'm hanging
On this pathway I'm strolling, in the space I'm taking
In this air I'm inhaling
Am I mixed up too much, am I mixed up too hard
Why am I walking, where am I running
What am I saying, what am I knowing
On this guitar I'm playing, on this banjo I'm frailin'
On this mandolin I'm strummin', in the song I'm singin'
In the tune I'm hummin', in the words I'm writin'
In the words that I'm thinkin'
In this ocean of hours I'm all the time drinkin'
Who am I helping, what am I breaking
What am I giving, what am I taking
But you try with your whole soul best
Never to think these thoughts and never to let
Them kind of thoughts gain ground
Or make yer heart pound
But then again you know why they're around
Just waiting for a chance to slip and drop down
"Cause sometimes you hear'em when the night times comes creeping
And you fear that they might catch you a-sleeping
And you jump from yer bed, from yer last chapter of dreamin'
And you can't remember for the best of yer thinking
If that was you in the dream that was screaming
And you know that it's something special you're needin'
And you know that there's no drug that'll do for the healin'
And no liquor in the land to stop yer brain from bleeding
And you need something special
Yeah, you need something special all right
You need a fast flyin' train on a tornado track
To shoot you someplace and shoot you back
You need a cyclone wind on a stream engine howler
That's been banging and booming and blowing forever
That knows yer troubles a hundred times over
You need a Greyhound bus that don't bar no race
That won't laugh at yer looks
Your voice or your face
And by any number of bets in the book
Will be rollin' long after the bubblegum craze
You need something to open up a new door
To show you something you seen before
But overlooked a hundred times or more
You need something to open your eyes
You need something to make it known
That it's you and no one else that owns
That spot that yer standing, that space that you're sitting
That the world ain't got you beat
That it ain't got you licked
It can't get you crazy no matter how many
Times you might get kicked
You need something special all right
You need something special to give you hope
But hope's just a word
That maybe you said or maybe you heard
On some windy corner 'round a wide-angled curve
But that's what you need man, and you need it bad
And yer trouble is you know it too good
"Cause you look an' you start getting the chills
"Cause you can't find it on a dollar bill
And it ain't on Macy's window sill
And it ain't on no rich kid's road map
And it ain't in no fat kid's fraternity house
And it ain't made in no Hollywood wheat germ
And it ain't on that dimlit stage
With that half-wit comedian on it
Ranting and raving and taking yer money
And you thinks it's funny
No you can't find it in no night club or no yacht club
And it ain't in the seats of a supper club
And sure as hell you're bound to tell
That no matter how hard you rub
You just ain't a-gonna find it on yer ticket stub
No, and it ain't in the rumors people're tellin' you
And it ain't in the pimple-lotion people are sellin' you
And it ain't in no cardboard-box house
Or down any movie star's blouse
And you can't find it on the golf course
And Uncle Remus can't tell you and neither can Santa Claus
And it ain't in the cream puff hair-do or cotton candy clothes
And it ain't in the dime store dummies or bubblegum goons
And it ain't in the marshmallow noises of the chocolate cake voices
That come knockin' and tappin' in Christmas wrappin'
Sayin' ain't I pretty and ain't I cute and look at my skin
Look at my skin shine, look at my skin glow
Look at my skin laugh, look at my skin cry
When you can't even sense if they got any insides
These people so pretty in their ribbons and bows
No you'll not now or no other day
Find it on the doorsteps made out-a paper mache?
And inside it the people made of molasses
That every other day buy a new pair of sunglasses
And it ain't in the fifty-star generals and flipped-out phonies
Who'd turn yuh in for a tenth of a penny
Who breathe and burp and bend and crack
And before you can count from one to ten
Do it all over again but this time behind yer back
My friend
The ones that wheel and deal and whirl and twirl
And play games with each other in their sand-box world
And you can't find it either in the no-talent fools
That run around gallant
And make all rules for the ones that got talent
And it ain't in the ones that ain't got any talent but think they do
And think they're foolin' you
The ones who jump on the wagon
Just for a while 'cause they know it's in style
To get their kicks, get out of it quick
And make all kinds of rnoney and chicks
And you yell to yourself and you throw down yer hat
Sayin', "Christ do I gotta be like that
Ain't there no one here that knows where I'm at
Ain't there no one here that knows how I feel
Good God Almighty
THAT STUFF AIN'T REAL"
No but that ain't yer game, it ain't even yer race
You can't hear yer name, you can't see yer face
You gotta look some other place
And where do you look for this hope that yer seekin'
Where do you look for this lamp that's a-burnin'
Where do you look for this oil well gushin'
Where do you look for this candle that's glowin'
Where do you look for this hope that you know is there
And out there somewhere
And your feet can only walk down two kinds of roads
Your eyes can only look through two kinds of windows
Your nose can only smell two kinds of hallways
You can touch and twist
And turn two kinds of doorknobs
You can either go to the church of your choice
Or you can go to Brooklyn State Hospital
You'll find God in the church of your choice
You'll find Woody Guthrie in Brooklyn State Hospital
And though it's only my opinion
I may be right or wrong
You'll find them both
In the Grand Canyon
At sundown
====
Cliché by Garrett Kennedy
When walking the city streets
You catch a glimpse of your reflection
Off a store window
Yeah, you feel cliché
Concluding in your mind that -
Yes, this is exactly how I planned on looking at this young age
It is your prime
Your smile shine from the sarcasm
Proceeded by the realization
You can’t afford what’s beyond your reflection
And you’re no longer laughing
Continuing your walking
That is in no particular direction
To only change your step
Because of the poverty lying
Next to the luxury clothing store
And somehow because of other’s lesser situation
Your facial expression’s restored
Not to confidence, but more so it’s monotone
Like you’re bored
But you’re no longer adolescent
And recently you’ve realized
That’s the only time when you have time to be bored
You wish you could afford some of that
Rather than that sweater that was on that rack
That was beyond your reflection
And yes, you have changed your perception
As you reflected that the once needed sweater –
With the horse
When taken out of the store and stored in your own closet
Well, it ain’t that needed anymore
So you ask what else does this life have in store
Keep walking and learn some more
Keep walking and learn some more
(short pause)…
Go to school
Learn the golden rule
Forget it the day after graduation
You should have learned patience
But didn’t
And now all you feel is -
The constant act of being on the run
You want to be like those writers
That make your mind run
But don’t know they’re always
“In the constant act of becoming” -
Vonnegut
And you don’t just want something, no
You still want everything under the sun
But sometimes it gets cold
And you don’t know your role
And all they can give you as advice is to -
Just keep rolling
So you tell yourself to
Just keep writing
And reading
And maybe it’ll add up to that arithmetic
If that’s what you’re after anyways
Spending many days in this haze
Just to make it sound inspiring, it’s a poetic phase
Leading you to the man
If he asks you, “How does it feel?”
You keep quiet, you keep it concealed
Everyone running ‘round trying to keep real
When if it’s happening - it’s oh too real
Talk is cheap
And people will pay millions to let mouths run
Just don’t let the chatter make you run from
Whatever it is you’re chasing
And question whether what you’re chasing is real
Sooner, but more likely later
It will be revealed
Clocks stole hours away as you wondered
What could have been
You’re guilty of thy sin whether or not in thy religious bin
Hindering your within
It’s known that it’s within you
From your mother to friend
To the stranger lying back then
It’s the places our minds are in
Nobody knows how to deal with the questioning
But all have ideas
Fears - keeping you from pursuing
Not ruining life, but also not truly living life
There is so much more you could be giving this world
But - but you just don’t know
(short pause)
I just don’t know
All this stuff that makes life rough
It feels like it’s shoved in your face
No matter where you go you feel liked your chased
Don’t look in the mirror as much anymore
You don’t recognize the face
Did you waste that day
That too fast became yesterday
Should you stay for one more drink
When on the brink of something
But, but you feel it slipping
You just can’t poeticize the description
Can you poeticize a prescription?
There certainly ain’t no doctor that can prescribe a prescription
That will get me back to the days of living
And neither will that sweater
And I know that was beyond your reflection
Until now
Find time to afford this.
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