The Music Court

                  While I sit here tonight with a few minutes left in the day before the clock strikes twelve and June 19th appears suddenly to run its annual course I am left thinking of a few words to focus on. A string of meaningful lyrics that can fully gather the holistic feeling of wrapping up one day and traveling to the next. As I think, Paul Simon serenades me and I am left wondering if he has these lyrics to bring my thoughts together. Yet, clearly, there are no words that can simply gather all of life’s meaning and gift wrap it with a neat bow, except, of course, “I’ll See You on the Dark Side of the Moon,” which can leave anyone simply staring confused wondering what they just heard. But, the inability for people to conquer this completely whole feeling is the subject of the lyric of the day. Paul Simon send us out of June 19th with some lyrics.

“Whoah God only knows, God makes his plan
The informations unavailable to the mortal man
Were workin our jobs collect our pay
Believe were gliding down the highway, when in fact were slip sliding away”

– “Slip-Sliding Away,” Paul Simon off of Still Crazy After All These Years (Bonus Track).

I do not know whether there is a higher being to guide us through each day. But, I do know what Paul Simon is saying is correct. This higher information is not avaliable to us. We do our jobs and (yes, quite an existential line) roll down the river and inevitably slip slide away. Enjoy slip sliding into your fridays and, if you are in New York, you will quite literally be slip sliding in the river outside of your respective houses. Good Night

No matter how many new bands come into the genre of music known as “Emo” Taking Back Sunday will always be remembered as the band that launched it into the eye of the mainstream.  This was done with their 2002 debut album “Tell All Your Friends” (a pretty direct message) and their hit singles such as “Your So Last Summer”.  Not to mention the hilarious video to accompany it starring the band Taking Back Sunday and none other than the clock wearing member of the hip-hop duo Public Enemy, Flavor Flav. 

(She said , “Don’t, don’t let it go to your head, Boys like you are dime a dozen, Boys like you, are dime a dozen”, She said, “You’re a touch overrated, You’re a lush and I hate it, But these grass stains on my knees, They won’t mean a thing”)

The first verse is about a girlfriend telling her boyfriend that she is sick of him and is done with him, pretty straight forward.  The best line doesn’t come until the rebuttal by the boyfriend in the second verse. 

(I’d never lie to you, Unless I had to I’ll do what I got to, Unless I had to I’ll do what I got to, the truth, Is you could slit my throat, And with my one last gasping breath,I’d apologize for bleeding on your shirt.)

My favorite line is the last part of that where the boy is pleading with his girl not to break up with him by proclaiming that he would never lie or be angry at her even if she killed him.  It’s just a hilarious line because who hasn’t been caught in a jam lying and would say anything to get out of it.  There’s not much more to say on these lyrics I just wanted to share my love of that one line, despite the fact that this is a great band musically their lyrics aren’t that deep but they are good every so often for a clever laugh.

           When English band Muse debuted “Knights of Cydonia,” as a single on June 13th, 2006 and as the last track on their 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations, the initial public reaction was a simple Wow. Even for those stuck in the past, like myself, and for all others who generally stay away from modern alternative rock, the song just reached epic status quite quickly. It may be the video, which is more like a condensed space western, or it may just be, as BBC radio DJ Annie Mac described, the song is, “six minutes and seven seconds of pure genius.” If one is familiar with some 60’s music they may notice that it sounds a little like surf guitar music. Especially one band, The Tornados and their #1 hit, “Telstar,” which many of you may have heard covered by over thirty bands. “Telstar,” has a similar sound because “Knights of Cydonia” was inspired by it. Why? Well Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy’s father is none other then George Bellamy who played rhythm guitar with, you guessed it, The Tornados. Funny how everything links together.

         Oh! I almost forgot. This is a lyric of the day isn’t it. Well the reason I chose this song was because of a great suggestion by one of my friends who came to me with a list of possible lyrics. The lyric I chose is of course from “Knights of Cydonia.” It goes, “Don’t waste your time or time will waste you.” In a song about the necessity for one to choose their own fate by standing up for themselves these lyrics fit in well.

“Freak out, And give in , Doesn’t matter what you thought you knew, Stay cool, And be somebody’s fool this year , ’cause they know ,Who is righteous, What is bold , So I’m told , Who wants honey, As long as there’s some money ,Who wants that honey?”

This is the first verse to The Smashing Pumpkins 1993 premiere single from their second studio album “Siamese Dream”.  To understand the lyrics to a song one must understand the title and a Cherub is a form of angel usually depicted as a little toddler in art.  But the lyrics still don’t really make sense, what does a song basically titled Angel Rock have to do with the first verse.  Well here’s verse two:

“Hipsters unite , Come align for the big fight to rock for you , But beware , All those angels, with their wings glued on , ’cause deep down , They are frightened and they’re scared , If you don’t stare”

Now the song is starting to make more sense, if you put the two verses together the lyrics are describing the battle between bands artistic visions and the record companies that are trying to rope them into their label to profit form them.  the best line in those two verses I find is “But beware, All those angels with their wings glued on” which implies that the bands are coerced by agents who seem nice at first but it’s only an act, hence the glued on wings.  The chorus is also has a very deep meaning, “Who wants honey, as long as there’s some money” is a reference to the record companies tempting the bands with all the fame and fortune but only if they are brining in money for the company which reflects the bands feelings of being used by their label (Virgin Records). 

The ending lyrics is lead singer Billy Corgan (also known for other projects including Zwan and his solo career both during The Smashing Pumpkins 6 year (200-2006) hiatus) repeating over a few times “Let Me Out” which implies that he is aware of the record labels corrupting but can’t really do anything about it since he wouldn’t be able to perform and record without their help.  Now a days it’s easier for bands to survive without a huge record label backing them since there are so many indie labels around so it is easier for a band to find the label that suits them the best instead of being forced to side with just one because they are being offered a contract at that time.

I would like to think the thief looked like the car thief from Rocko's Modern Life

                   Sometime last night a rock was thrown through my mother’s car window to steal my father’s wallet which was lying in the front cup holder of the car. Luckily there was no money in the wallet and after a night filled with cleaning up glass and cancelling credit cards the entire event has just shaped into one large inconvenience. But, in the spirit of idiotic thieves attempting to steal money I thought today I would search my useless music knowledge filled mind and spot a song that has to do with stealing. So without further ado I bring you Pentangle.

               Pentangle, not the five pointed star famously used on the shield of Sir Gawain in the English poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” (I apologize, British Literature), is a British folk-rock band who was active in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s. A version of them still exists and tours today. In 1968 they released their most well known album entitled Sweet Child, and along with the folky jazz songs came bonus tracks and the horrible song title that has sparked the lyric of the day, “Let No Man Steal Your Thyme.”

             Okay laugh it up because I know I am. Here are your lyrics:

” Let no man steal your thyme, Let no man steal your thyme.
For when your thyme it is past and gone
He’ll care no more for you”

                        -“Let No Man Steal Your Thyme,” by Pentagle off of Sweet Child

I am sure your initial reaction to this is simply, Matt, where in the heck are you finding these lyrics and bands. This stuff is really odd. Yes, indeed it is odd, and it also is a miserable metaphor for losing ones virginity. It is a song that is promoting abstinence poorly. It also portrays men pretty terribly. But, wait, I may just be looking into these lyrics way too much. Let us take them for what they are. If a shady man comes along and he is staring at your particularly herby thyme garden menacingly please, for thyme’s sake, do not let him take it.

This thyme looks tempting