I'm not sure if there's anything left of me

Recently I haven't said much... I just can't think of anything to say.  I'm not very good with words.  I really just enjoy listening music, and sharing the music with you.  I'm not a HUGE fan of Blue Oyster Cult, but I do enjoy their music.  I love their distinctive lyrics.  Here's Veteran of the Psychic Wars.

You see me now a veteran of a thousand psychic wars

I've been living on the edge so long

Where the winds of limbo roar

And I'm young enough to look at

And far too old to see

All the scars are on the inside

I'm not sure if there's anything left of me

Don't let these shakes go on

It's time we had a break from it

It's time we had some leave

We've been living in the flames

We've been eating up our brains

Oh, please don't let theses shakes go on

You ask me why I'm weary, why I can't speak to you

You blame me for my silence

Say it's time I changed and grew

But the war's still going on dear

And there's no end that I know

And I can't say if we're ever...

I can't say if we're ever gonna to be free

Don't let these shakes go on

It's time we had a break from it

It's time we had some leave

We've been living in the flames

We've been eating out our brains

Oh, please don't let theses shakes go on

You see me now a veteran of a thousand psychic wars

My energy's spent at last

And my armor is destroyed

I have used up all my weapons and I'm helpless and bereaved

Wounds are all I'm made of

Did I hear you say that this is victory?

Don't let these shakes go on

It's time we had a break from it

Send me to the rear

Where the tides of madness swell

And been sliding into hell

Oh, please don't let shakes go on

Don't let these shakes go on

Don't let these shakes go on

I'm ashamed when I lost my way

Today I have for you Come Home To You by John Hiatt.

There's a mad little kid at the top of the stair

And his eyes, they gather no lie

Well, his mom and his dad, they're too high to care

And his cries drift off in the night

And I've been that kid, yeah it's true

And I've been both of those parents too

I'm ashamed when I lost my way

But I'd do anything just to come home to you

The twilight captures the sorrow of time

In between the life and the lived

I press on through the darkness so thoroughly blind

To a lie a new morning gives

And it sparkles like each new tomorrow

I crank up my last yesterday

Tasted sweet joy and bittersweet sorrow

And I'd do anything just to come home to you

There's a meanness inside and it shivers my bones

That's the thing about mercy I guess

There's no man so wicked he cannot come home

Nor so good he passes each test

As the fire of memories burn me

The grace of your love returns me

To this most traveled of highways

Where I'd do anything just to come home to you

I would do anything just to come home to you

Just one more nightmare you can stand

Today I have for you Stage Fright by  The Band.

Now deep in the heart of a lonely kid

Who suffered so much for what he did,

They gave this ploughboy his fortune and fame,

Since that day he ain't been the same.

See the man with the stage fright

Just standin' up there to give it all his might.

And he got caught in the spotlight,

But when we get to the end

He wants to start all over again.

I've got fire water right on my breath

And the doctor warned me I might catch a death.

Said, "You can make it in your disguise,

Just never show the fear that's in your eyes."

See the man with the stage fright,

Just standin' up there to give it all his might.

He got caught in the spotlight,

But when we get to the end

He wants to start all over again.

Now if he says that he's afraid,

Take him at his word.

And for the price that the poor boy has paid,

He gets to sing just like a bird, oh, ooh ooh ooh.

Your brow is sweatin' and your mouth gets dry,

Fancy people go driftin' by.

The moment of truth is right at hand,

Just one more nightmare you can stand.

See the man with the stage fright

Just standin' up there to give it all his might.

And he got caught in the spotlight,

But when we get to the end

He wants to start all over again, hmm hmm,

You wanna try it once again, hmm hmm,

Please don't make him stop, hmm hmm,

Let him take it from the top, hmm hmm,

Let him start all over again.

Southern change gonna come at last

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  No more exams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Free at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now I just need to wait for the marks... WHY MUST IT TAKE SO LONG TO CORRECT A DEPARTMENTAL EXAM!!!!!!!!! At least I only have one... I don't need to wait long for my other courses...

I'm also very excited for being able to take Traditional Photography again!!!!!  Photography and music are two of my favourite things!!!!!!  If I knew how to copyright my pictures I'd post them, but I don't and I don"t want them to be stolen...

Ah yes, music!  Song for today... I know!  Sourthern Man by Neil Young.

Southern man

better keep your head

Don't forget

what your good book said

Southern change

gonna come at last

Now your crosses

are burning fast

Southern man

I saw cotton

and I saw black

Tall white mansions

and little shacks.

Southern man

when will you

pay them back?

I heard screamin'

and bullwhips cracking

How long? How long?

Southern man

better keep your head

Don't forget

what your good book said

Southern change

gonna come at last

Now your crosses

are burning fast

Southern man

Lily Belle,

your hair is golden brown

I've seen your black man

comin' round

Swear by God

I'm gonna cut him down!

I heard screamin'

and bullwhips cracking

How long? How long?

Some people tend not to like Neil Young because of his voice, but he was able to write his music around his voice to make it sound good.  A true gift, he is also an amazing song writer.  It's the lyrics in his songs that captivates the audience.  The instrumental parts may all not be as interesting, but the story is what keeps you listening.  Take his album Greendale, for the most part I am bored with the instrumental part, but I am intrigued by his lyrics.  If you have a chance, listen to some of his music.  Focus on the lyrics.

Dropped to the sun alone

I find one of the most amazing things in song writing, is the talent to use so little words and tell so much.  Some songs have one simple line that is repeated.  The song Is Anybody Out There by Pink Floyd is exactly that, but if you've listened to the whole album The Wall, you'd know where in the story he is, and the importance of that one line.  "Is anybody out there [outside the wall]..." 

The Wall is amazing, they even made a movie out of the album, but I'll talk about it another day.  Today I chose a song by one of my favourite groups, Wilco.  This song is very simple in lyrics, but if you listen closely, there's a tragic story to be found.  The lines 

Because I've found the way those engines sound

Will make you kiss the ground,

When you touch down

gives the impression that the engine is noisy, probably from an old plane, one that uses "props not a jet". And

Dash 7 pointed down

The captain's announcement,

Doesn't make a sound

could mean that the plane is crashing, because you can't hear what he's saying.  It could just be nothing.  Either way, anyone would feel uncomfortable on that plane.  Here's Dash 7 by Wilco.

Dash 7 in the air,

Dropped to the sun alone,

Jets hum

I wish that I was still there,

Props not a jet, alone,

Where the sun doesn't come down

Because I've found the way those engines sound,

Will make it kiss the ground,

When you touch down

Dash 7 pointed down

The captain's announcement,

Doesn't make a sound

Because I've found the way those engines sound,

Will make it kiss the ground

I found the way those engines sound,

Will make it kiss the ground,

When you touch down

I'd like to thank you all for nothin'

Misunderstood, Wilco.

Well you're back in your old neighborhood

The cigarettes taste so good

But you're so misunderstood

You're so misunderstood

There's something there that you can't find

Honest when you're tellin' a lie

You're hurt but you don't know why

You love her but you don't know why

Short on long term goals

There's a party there that we oughtta go to

Do you still love rock and roll?

Do you still love rock and roll?

It's only a quarter to three

Reflecting off the O.C.D.

You're looking at a picture of me

You're staring at a picture of me

Take the guitar player for a ride

Cause He ain't never been satisfied

He thinks he owes some kind of debt

Be years before he gets over it

There's a fortune inside your head

All you touch turns to lead

You think you might just crawl back in bed

The fortune inside your head

You know you're just a mama's boy

Positively unemployed

So misunderstood

So misunderstood

I know you've gotta God shaped hole

You're bleeding out your heart full of soul

So misunderstood (x4)

I'd like to thank you all for nothin'

I'd like to thank you all for nothin' at all

I'd like to thank you all for nothin'

Nothin' (x7)

Nothin' at all

Nothin' (x7)

Nothin' at all

The rich will cut down, like an unwelcome guest

Today is The Unwelcome Guest by Billy Bragg and Wilco from their album Mermaid Avenue.

To the rich man's bright lodges

I ride in this wind

On my good horse, I call you

My shiny black Bess

To the playhouse of fortune

To take the bright silver

And gold you have taken

From somebody else

And as we go riding

In the damp foggy midnight

You snort, my good pony

And you give me your best

For you know and I know

Good horse 'mongst the rich ones

How oftimes we go there

An unwelcome guest

I never took food

From the widows and orphans

And never a hardworking man I oppressed

So take your pace easy

For home soon like lightning

We soon will be riding

My shiny black Bess

No fat rich man's pony

Can ever overtake you

And there's not a rider

From the east to the west

Could hold you a light

In this dark mist and midnight

When the potbellied thieves

Chase the unwelcome guest

I don't know, good horse

As we trot in this dark here

That robbing the rich

Is for worse or for best

They take it by stealing

And lying and gambling

And I take it my way

My shiny Black Bess

I treat horses good

And I'm friendly to strangers

I ride and your running

Makes my guns talk the best

And the rangers and deputies

Are hired by the rich man

To catch me and hang me

My shining black Bess

Yes, they'll catch me napping one day

And they'll kill me

And then I'll be gone

But that won't be my end

For my guns and my saddle

Will always be filled

By unwelcome travelers

And other brave men

And they'll take the money

And spread it out equal

Just like the Bible

And the prophets suggest

But men that go riding

To help these poor workers

The rich will cut down

Like an unwelcome guest

Listen to the wind blow...

I thought that I should post something... I hope you enjoy it, The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise

Run in the shadows

Damn your love, damn your lies

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain

Listen to the wind blow, down comes the night

Run in the shadows

Damn your love, damn your lies

Break the silence

Damn the dark, damn the light

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain

Chain...keeps us together

(run into the shadows)

Chain...keeps us together

(run into the shadows)

Chain...keeps us together

(run into the shadows)

The entire album Rumours was a hit, it was also during a time when all the band members were going through break ups, a lot of songs on the album are about breaking up or nearing it.