“Spitting Into the Fire” is another Diane Arbus inspired tune. The photos is below. Lyrics and more info about the photo coming soon.
This the first song in an open-ended project where we look at a photo by Diane Arbus and see what sort of song comes out. This photo, “Tattooed man at a carnival, Md., 1970,” is the inspiration for “We’re All In Tents.” Lyrics are below.
My mother and the bank sent me out on my own / My brother and my dad had left us for the west coast / Some valley somewhere / And they said I had eyes that could shoot lightening / They said I had eyes that could bend nails / The winds they change fast / And we fended for ourselves / Scatter, scatter, scatter / The water from all the storms / The water from all these storms collects somewhere / One tattoo at a time and I just sort of blended in / At first it didn’t feel right but it’s just another tent in your town tonight / And we’re all in tents / Safe little tents / And here I am / Doesn’t the water from all these storms / Doesn’t the water from all these storms collect somewhere
Well, the last track of 2010 came a little late but mostly due to snow. We wrapped up our modest song-a-month project with “Soak City.” This will be the last track on the upcoming album “Dig.” We all have our Soak City and hopefully you’re there already.
Sometimes you just have that one thing and it’s all you need. We seem to know this instinctively as kids. Kids kids kids. Well, I like the idea of holding on to that one thing that always made you feel comfortable.
She’ll point to the moon and whistle through her teeth / A sad little tune no one ever hears / She cocks her back when an airplane’s in the sky / And she keeps her head back till the plane disappears / She keeps her eyes peeled till the plane disappears / There’s magic in the sky for her / And somehow it doesn’t fade / She stands in the rain and the hail / What ever comes from above / Held by the clouds, one step closer to God / Held by the clouds, one step closer to God / We all start with something / With her it was stars / The constellations are stuck to her walls / And as she got older she just wanted more / She climbed and she climbed as far as she could / She climbed and she climbed as high as she could / There’s magic in the sky for her / And somehow it doesn’t fade / She has the sky
Chasing luck and approval, a man stalks the sole survivor of a passenger airplane crash. That’s my one sentence pitch for this song. Hopefully it does it justice. Again, special thanks to Andrew Soto for the drumming.
I’m courting the sole survivor of a passenger airplane crash / I hope her luck rubs off on me / I’m seeing stars again sitting in my padded room / Writing letter after letter with no reply / She was a headline at the lunchroom table; a hometown girl who walked away without a scratch / Now I want a dinner with the lone survivor of a passenger airplane crash / I think her luck will rub off on me / All I wanted was a good luck charm / Something you would see and say / Boy, your luck has changed / Your luck has changed / She’s a tiny little sliver of a girl / I wonder if the metal and fire missed her by a mile / It’s getting hard again pacing on this hallway rug / What do I have to do to get a reply / I’m courting the sole survivor of a passenger airplane crash / Take me away from my fiery places / All I wanted was a good luck charm / Something you would see and say / Boy, your luck has changed / Your luck has changed
I’ve sat on this one a few weeks now and I still like it a whole lot. It’s a pretty depressing song if you really listen which is, I guess, just how I roll. Money. We all think about it. It seems like more people would write about it, or write about thinking about it. Special thanks to the guys on this one. Marc’s background vocals are right in the sweet spot of funny and poignant; Adam’s interweaving guitars create a beautifully swirly sandwich pie; and drummer Andrew Soto came in a total stranger and left us all very impressed — nailing his bit in about 20 minutes, never having heard the song before.
We’re hanging on for our lives / Like litter in the trees / Breaking down, breaking down / Piece by piece / Don’t tell me money isn’t magic / The river seems to steam / In this new kind of heat / Running down, running down / It all heads downstream / Don’t tell me money isn’t magic / Don’t tell me money isn’t magic / You know it isn’t true / I’ve seen it save / I’ve seen it heal / I’ve seen it love / And God, it seemed real / Money can take me downstream from here / I’ve got enemies in my blood / You have to say these things out loud / Spinning and spinning / Just dancing around / I Just want to have a shot / Don’t tell me money isn’t magic / The cards are stacked / Don’t tell me money isn’t magic / Don’t tell me money isn’t magic / The river seems to steam / In this new kind of heat / Running down, running down / But it still heads downstream / Money is magic / Don’t tell me money isn’t magic / You know it isn’t true / I’ve seen it rain / I’ve seen it pour / I just want my shelter from the storm / Money can get me downstream from here
A brand new one. Part love song part Where the Wild Things Are.
Claws and beaks and terrible things / Put your hands to your ears / So you can hear your heartbeat / Put down the magazine you’ll need your sleep / When we wake we will dig / On your hands and knees / Yellow eyes, sharp teeth, and terrible things / Back luck piled up on pretty bad genes / In the morning you breathe / We’ll just dig / Dirt over your shoulders / A thousand tiny tunnels / God doesn’t throw dice / Take that lead tape off your back / Get some clay in your nails / Put a fort in the hillside / Poisonous bites and glorious stings / Turn your eyes to the ground / Terrible sound / Terrible sound / Dirt over your shoulders / A thousand tiny tunnels / God doesn’t throw dice
2010 started off with this lush video from Robert Greene. It’s Illuminea’s version of our “Midwest Scorpions.” There is something piercing about it, especially along with the imagery. It’s been around a few months but we want everything from 2010 up here on Louis vs. Schmeling.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
The video is made of images from years of watching and looking and sleeping with the camera on. It’s a haunting song that makes me think of swimming in the desert. Our goal was to find some material reality that couldn’t help but look like a dream. But I’m no Surrealist. This is a documentary of passing futures. Enjoy it like you enjoy opening your eyes in a chlorine pool. - Robert Greene
CREDITS:
“Midwest Scorpions” written by Imaginary Johnny & Performed by Illuminea. Video by Robert Greene. Cinematography by Robert Greene, Sean Price Williams and Deanna Davis. Produced January 2010 by Prewar Cinema Productions and Unfinished Side Productions. Song recorded and mixed at Strange Weather Brooklyn by Marc Alan Goodman.
