I have been pretty preoccupied lately and you know what that means, right? I have to relate the DJ post to something that I am already doing. Among other things (my Dad is in ICU in Los Angeles, but we don’t need to deal with that), I am taking a “Modernist Literature” class for an elective. I didn’t review the syllabus well enough and lo! what do we have here; a shitload of poetry. Really boring poetry in arcane language that no one uses any more. Imagine my relief when I got to the 4 or 5 line mini poems like this:
“The Pool”
Are you alive?
I touch you.
You quiver like a sea-fish.
I cover you with my net.
What are you—banded one?
Yeesh. If I thought for one second something wasn’t alive. Poetry has a way of putting you in the scene somehow like literally poking at a dead fish in the sand. Who would write a poem about that? I thought I hated poetry until …
After a few pieces with the class summaries and analysis, I remembered that music lyrics are a form of poetry with varying degrees of quality and rhymywhyminess. Most of the turn of the 20th century poetry rhymes. Set some of it to music and I bet it works. Well, turns out it has been done.
I LOVE music with interesting lyrics that I can relate to. I have one of those “pattern seeking” personalities and find patterns everywhere so a lot of the music I like connects things in my mind somehow. I am not sure why I don’t like poetry; I should. When set to music I “get” it. On the page it reads like it came from a punch card.
Prose is totally different for me. The class did a unit on Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying”. Totally get the story and how it relates to real life. (Hint: don’t make seriously bad decisions when many people are telling you they are bad decisions and your wife’s dead body is in a pine box on your rickety wagon.)
You guys may or may not be into poetry, but now is the tine to tell us about why you like the songs that you like:
- Poetry/prose set to music – Easy. If it was originally a poem or essay and someone set it to music it fits here. This applies to interpretations and mashups. I am surprised at how the music changes the poems.
- Music that can be poetry – This is totally subjective. If you think that Van Halen’s “Ice Cream Man” is poetry, who am I to say otherwise? If you can, provide a few lines to show us.
- Fun with metaphors – Poetry is full of them. So is music. You know what they are; have fun with them! Is the Ice Cream Man really something else?
Here is the playlist:
Here are your dedications for this week:
London – Santino
Chancre Sore – Thrill
William Wilson -Rich
My Mystery – Zurvan
Dig Lazarus Dig…!!! – WVR
The Raven – Grendel
** Update- my dad has been moved to a regular room.
WVR, I couldn’t easily put the lyrics in with the formatting.
I have always wondered about this passage. The song is ostensibly about Lazarus living forever, but the narrator interjects this passage about his mother and some sort of dustup with chairs. An assailant? Is his mother one of the “baby blasted mothers” here?
Anyway, it is a silly song on the surface but something else seems to be going on.
A good place to start is with some Tragically Hip.
Poets – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_RSJ6xuHbE
Flamenco – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KUKGI5_Qqc
Some Oasis
Don’t Look Back in Anger – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmpRLQZkTb8
Where Did it All Go Wrong? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nk_Oek5XEg
Good thoughts and prayers for your dad. I can relate, last year I moved my mom (88) to a nursing home close to where I live so I can visit often. Strong in mind but frail in body, a week does not pass when we are not either at ER or at her doctors.
A bit of Ambrosia always works for me;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FvyVkfM8aA
** Update- my dad has been moved to a regular room. Quickest turnaround I ever had on a prayer, right there. Aerials by System of a Down – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpEV0FQFUSY Life is a waterfall We drink from the river Then we turn around and put up our walls Swimming through the void We hear the word We lose ourselves but we find it all’ Cause we are the ones that wanna play Always wanna go But you never wanna stay We are the ones that wanna choose Always wanna play But you never wanna lose Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode… Read more »
Glad to hear your dad is doing better!! I’ve learned about the power of the will to live. Both of my parents have been in ICU over the last couple of years and amazingly are living at home right now. Sending positive e-thoughts your way.
What about this one? Every line in it sounds like it came from the Tao Te Ching. River of Deceit by Mad Season – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyn_HfkjM-k My pain is self-chosen At least, so The Prophet says I could either burn Or cut off my pride and buy some time A head full of lies is the weight, tied to my waist Arsonist’s Lullaby by Hozier – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eJbxI-jZbA When I was a man I thought it ended When I knew love’s perfect ache But my peace has always depended On all the ashes in my wake All you have is your fire… Read more »
Thanks, guys! It means a lot to me that you are thinking about him. He is having angioplasty today so I can hope to be able to talk to him tomorrow. He was pretty weak the other day. He may get to go home on Tuesday.
These are great selections. Thrill, those verses by Tool are great. From having to read it, poetry is not all flowery language, especially during WWI.
Rich – Alan Parsons did a lot of Poe. Here it one of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrrIm4ozbUc – Cask of Amontillado
21 Pilots – Stressed Out – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRviuL6vMY
From the poetry is in the eye of the beholder department.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IivGqwQvdCI
Forgot about the most epic of them all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnaUvPoiTfQ
If, read by Michael Caine The epic poem of Beowulf, is to no surprise one of my favorites…. part 1 of a abridged reading.,.. part 2. Recessional BY RUDYARD KIPLING 1897 God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle-line, Beneath whose awful Hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine— Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget—lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the Kings depart: Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we… Read more »
Some of the quirkier bands from the 80s did this kind of stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az1ouIgegWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NVO3cxTbxg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJhfgybmfZQ
Lord Byron:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W_wYLgCsc4
No secret that I love this one.
Bullet the Blue Sky by U2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj3_m6VxW-U
I can see the fighter planes
Across the mudhuts as the children sleep
Through the alleys of a quiet city street
Up the staircase to the first floor
Turn the key and slowly unlock the door
A man breathes into a saxophone
Through the walls we hear the city groan