Under Covers: Abel by The National

I wanted to squeeze another Under Covers video in before the end of the year, there, 2011 resolution complete. This is Abel by The National off of their album Alligator. I'm a late comer to The National having only gotten into the band over the last year or so. I came by Abel while skimming over a 2006 Pitchfork Music Fest compilation. Passionate and powerful, hearing vocalist Matt Berninger belting "my minds not right" at the opening to Abel got me instantly.

Under Covers: Hooplas Involving Circus Tricks by Say Hi

Another one for the Under Covers project and my first shot at video! Hooplas Involving Circus Tricks is a song by Say Hi, formerly Say Hi To Your Mom. Eric Elbogen, who performs solo as Say Hi when Say Hi is not a full band has nice case of infectious indie pop sensibility and has seven sweet albums under his belt to prove so. "Hooplas" is one of my faves.

One From The Vault - Burn Of The Century

Here's one from the vault circa early 2000's, shortly after The Publishers Clearing House Five days and at the beginning of the Some Herd Antics era. I was living in Memphis at the time and writing and playing every night. Preparing myself, but not really, for a not-a-snowball's-chance-in-hell shot at making music. Really, I was in the middle of reeling from a break up and riding the wave of a creative streak born out of it but hey, we have to get our inspiration from somewhere don't we? Ironically, or not, Burn Of The Century is not a break up song, or maybe it is, who the hell am I to decide? Anyway, enjoy this song, which has no production and is barely in tune or tempo, that I lazily dug out of the trash bin in an half-hearted effort to continue to update this blog and to show at least 13 of you that I am somewhat cool.

I am not proud.



BURN OF THE CENTURY

Suni was a little boy
Who lived a life of little joy
But couldn't seem to act his age
When little girls were all the rage
They told him "That's the way it goes"
It seems that no one really knows
Determined not to loose his face
He buttoned up his uniform and kept from running away

Suni was out on his way
He couldn't pick a better day
For fisticuffs with other boys
He numbed his wits with Novocaine
He could've got the best of them
He fought with every one of them
But bully's fights are all the same
They wrapped their fists in cellophane to keep from running way

Now this boy is old and gray
Reflecting on his younger days
Goes through a list of all the names
'Cause little boys are all the same
He couldn't get the best of them
He fought with every one of them
He couldn't let the days wear thin
And now those boys are all but dead
To keep from running away
To keep from running away
To keep from running away

©2003ish Fish Egg Music

Under Covers: "June Hymn" by The Decemberists

"Here's a hymn to welcome in the day." That's the opening line to June Hymn by The Decemberists. It's a song I've been listening to almost incessantly since their new album came out in the last month or so. It's one of those songs that just grabs hold of you, evokes emotion, conjures up feelings of nostalgia and refuses to let go. A perfect summer song, it's quite beautiful, certain to be a campfire staple. I've been playing it on and off all day, trying to learn the music and remember the lyrics. That's part of the reason why it's almost 2:00 am and I'm just now posting this. It's also song number three for my Under Covers project. Yeah I know, "Isn't that your cover songs project you started over a year ago and were supposed to update monthly?" Yes it is. Shut it.


JUNE HYMN by The Decemberists

A Goodbye To An Old Friend

When Hannah first came home around 14 years ago, I remember thinking to myself “One day this girl will break my heart.” I never really thought that of another pet, to know that you will probably outlive them, and until about a year ago I never really thought about what it would be like to have to say goodbye or whether I would know when it was time.

Well, as the years crept up on her and she was slowed by the periodic seizure and failing hips, without fail she still knew that when the leash came out it was time to go for a walk and with the jingle of the car keys it was road trip time. Even as the walks became slower and shorter and she needed the occasional boost into the car, she was always ready to go. And during those times when I needed her, with the wag of her tail or a wet nudge from her nose she always seemed to know that right words to say and they always came at the right time.

So how do you know when it’s time? You just do, and with a good cry into her soft coat, a final kiss on her nose, and her long time stuffed companion Lionel by her side, I watched her drift into a final peaceful sleep.

There have never been more truthful lessons to be learned from dogs than to seize the moment and to appreciate our friends and to occasionally nudge your way under someone's hand for a nice scratch behind the ears.

Goodbye Hannah Barbera, good girl.