Trying to keep myself in line

Canzone che amo.
Comunque cantare Dylan senza scivolare nella voce nasale è un’impresa degna di nota.

COVER OF: The Times They Are A-Changin’
ORIGINAL BY: Bob Dylan
ALBUM: The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964)

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

Enjoy.

COVER OF: In The Sun
ORIGINAL BY: Joseph Arthur
ALBUM: Come to Where I’m From (2000)

I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong
And falling down on your knees asking for sympathy
And being caught in between all you wish for and all you seen
And trying to find anything you can feel that you can believe in

May God’s love be with you
Always
May God’s love be with you

I know I would apologize if I could see your eyes
cause when you showed me myself I became someone else
But I was caught in between all you wish for and all you need
I picture you fast asleep
A nightmare comes
You cant keep awake

May God’s love be with you
Always
May God’s love be with you

’cause if I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
If I find
If I find my own way
How much will I find
You

I don’t know anymore
What its for
Im not even sure
If there is anyone who is in the sun
Will you help me to understand
cause I been caught in between all I wish for and all I need
Maybe youre not even sure what its for
Any more than me

May God’s love be with you
Always
May God’s love be with you

A dispetto del testo io amo il bluegrass. L’idea sarebbe quella di dare alla canzone un arrangiamento bluegrass, prima o poi. Spero che il banjoman non corra a nascondersi. xD

TITLE: I Won’t Sing Your Bluegrass
YEAR: 2008

You can’t convince me, oh no
I won’t sing your bluegrass song
It’s not my music, it doesn’t speak to my soul
I’ll just get back to my rock’n'roll
You’re annoying as a summer school class
I won’t ever sing your bluegrass
never never never

You can’t convince me, oh no
I won’t sing your bluegrass song
You’ve never felt the rhythm or learnt the beat
You could rather sell peanuts on these streets
You’re really annoying as a broken piece of glass
I won’t ever sing your bluegrass
never never never

(instrumental solo)

You can’t convince me, oh no
I will NEVER sing your bluegrass song
It’s not my music, it doesn’t speak to my soul
I’ll just get back to my rock’n'roll
You’re annoying as a summer school class
I won’t ever sing your bluegrass
never never never

Non so se ne sono del tutto soddisfatta, però il pezzo lo adoro. Enjoy.

COVER OF: California Stars
ORIGINAL BY: Billy Bragg & Wilco
ALBUM: Marmaid Avenue (1998)

I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I’d like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars

I’d love to feel your hand touching mine
And tell me why I must keep working on
Yes, I’d give my life to lay my head tonight
On a bed of California stars

I’d like to dream my troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed and make another day
Underneath my California stars

They hang like grapes on vines that shine
And warm the lovers glass like friendly wine
So, I’d give this world
just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

Dopo molto frugare tra le canzoni di Johnny Cash ho scelto questa. Più che altro perché riflettevo che la maggior parte di canzoni d’amore che adoro sono scritte da uomini e chiaramente rivolte a donne, quindi non coverabili. Questa invece era abbastanza personalizzabile (spero), quindi… I walk the line.

COVER OF: I Walk The Line
ORIGINAL BY: Johnny Cash
ALBUM:I Walk The Line (1964)

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

You’ve got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

Per inaugurare la nascita di questo e perché durante la prima tappa di questo tour (Stone Pony, Asbury Park) l’ha dedicata a Danny. E anche perché mi piace moltissimo, of course.

EDIT (14.05.2008): Ri-registrata, tutto considerato che la versione precedente era abbastanza orribile.

COVER OF: Monster Ballads
ORIGINAL BY: Josh Ritter
ALBUM: The Animal Years (2006)

Radio waves are coming miles and miles
Bringing only empty boats
Whatever feeling they had when they sailed
Somehow slipped out between the notes

Out on the desert now and feeling lost
The bonnet wears a wire albatross
Monster ballads and the stations of the cross
Sighing just a little bit
Sighing just a little bit

And I was thinking about what Katy done
Thinking about what Katy did
The fairest daughter of the Pharaoh’s son
Dressed in gold ‘neath pyramids

Out on the desert now and feeling lost
The bonnet wears a wire albatross
Monster ballads and the stations of the cross
Sighing just a little bit
Sighing just a little bit

Ones and zeroes bleeding mesa noise
And when you’re empty there’s so much space for them
You turn it off but then a still small voice
Comes in blazing from some vast horizon

And I was thinking about my river days
I was thinking about me and Jim
Passing Cairo on a getaway
With every steamboat like a hymn

Out on the desert now I’m feeling lost
The bonnet wears a wire albatross
Monster ballads and the stations of the cross
Sighing just a little bit
Smiling just a little bit

Sembra che io riesca a scrivere una gran quantità di canzoni demenziali, e il peggio è che mi diverto un mondo a scriverle. La sorella direbbe che ascolto troppo Ray Stevens, ma anyway.

Una piccola nota esplicativa prima di questa. Il concetto che sta alla base della canzone è: si ipotizza che i crop circles siano di origine aliena, e che vengano creati sui campi di grano usando un tipo di microonde che piega le spighe senza romperle e le dispone in modo da creare i vari disegni. Ora la domanda è: cosa accade se invece che su un campo di grano queste microonde finiscono su un campo di mais?

Questa avrei TANTO voluto scriverla io. E, sì, sono in fissa con Ryan Bingham.
Aggiungo: lui pronuncia “sEUthside” e io mi sono adeguata, perché pronunciare sAUthside dopo aver sentito l’originale mi suonava male. I misteri dell’accento del Texas.

COVER OF: Southside of Heaven
ORIGINAL BY: Ryan Bingham
ALBUM: Mescalito (2007)

When I die lord won’t you put my soul up on a train
won’t you send it southbound give it a cool bluesman name
I’ve been lost out on those back roads so many times I’ve gone blind
and losing faith in my family had drove me right out my damn mind

chorus:
But on the south side of heaven wont you take me home
cuz i’ve been broke down so long it’s getting cold

Well I’ve been a desperado in West Texas so long I need a change
and in ten long years this old place aint seen a drop of rain
and that wind blows everyday just like a desert snow
like a lost bound train running on cocaine and outta control

(chorus)

Well those Louisiana byways and those lonesome (Texas) Highways roll on
won’t you take me where the poor man lives its where I call home
and can’t you see that a breeze is just a change in pace
and money can’t buy my soul because it comes from a hard earned place

Uno cerca di scrivere New York City Serenade e poi diventa famoso con Born in de Iuessé.
Questo per dire che di solito faccio sentire i pezzi a qualcuno per avere un parere e blabla - e io sono convinta di aver scritto cose più significative di questa (certezza senza la quale non potrei vivere), ma a quanto pare il mio uditorio non è d’accordo ed è impazzito ascoltando questa qui. Non sono sicura di esserne lusingata.

La canzone è scritta dal punto di vista di un contadino che non vuole saperne di modernizzarsi e continua a svegliarsi con il canto del gallo e viaggiare in città sulla sua mucca (anche se le regole del traffico non lo consentono).

Diventerà il canto partigiano di un’ultima falange di contadini che tenta strenuamente di resistere al progresso? O l’inno del WWF?

Non dico altro, che è meglio.

TITLE: God Bless The Cows
YEAR: 2007

I’m driving in my cow
traffic rules will not allow
but through the avenues and the rows
I’ve been driving in my cow ’till now

People told me to put away my plow
to buy an alarm clock and do without the cock-crow
but I won’t sell my cow
I won’t kill my cow
I won’t eat my cow
’cause I’ve been driving in my cow ’till now

God bless the cows
God bless the cows
oh Lord won’t you bless the cows
please Lord won’t you bless the cows
’cause I’ve been driving in my cow ’till now

Once I was young and I was a pow
then I swore I would never be bowed
back from the war I bought my cow
and we’ve been driving through the city together ’till now

God bless the cows
God bless the cows
oh Lord won’t you bless the cows
please Lord won’t you bless the cows
’cause I’ve been driving in my cow ’till now

I never broke a promise and will never break a vow
we’re walking together while the wind still blows
on my head there’s a hat, in my teeth there’s a straw
Well, man I’m driving in my cow just now

God bless the cows
God bless the cows
oh Lord won’t you bless the cows
please Lord won’t you bless the cows
’cause I’ve been driving in my cow ’till now
’cause I’m driving in my cow just now
Oh I’m driving in my cow just now

A questa sono particolarmente affezionata perché mi è proprio scesa dall’alto, il che mi sembra una specie di miracolo. Non ricordo niente se non che ero al piano e quando mi sono alzata avevo la canzone completa. Stessa cosa per le lyrics, uno o due giorni dopo. Sul momento compositivo il vuoto più totale.
Però, se può interessare, ricordo che in quel periodo ascoltavo un sacco John Mellencamp.

TITLE: Let Ourselves Go
YEAR: 2007

Dark nights here on the Cherry Street
Tom please take your car and let’s go away
You will drink your whiskey neat
then we’ll can wait for the break of the day
My unhealthy soul will explode with the rain
I feel as I’m drowning in sins again
I don’t have any great ideals
maybe it’s time for our wheels
to begin to turn

So just walk slowly, baby, and take my hand
Let’s flow down this no man’s land
There’s some place for us down this road
we’ll just have to let ourselves go

The rain is falling down but, baby,
I think we have just to sit here
The river keeps flowing, there’s nothing to do
but to listen these roaring cars’ gear
Maybe one of these days
we’ll drive ’till the bay
and finally we’ll go beyond
I loved you since the first time
I know we have no dimes
but this whole night is for us

So just hold me, baby, and take my hand
Let’s flow down this no man’s land
There’s some place for us down this road
we’ll just have to let ourselves go

The night rocks us, the night covers us
but nobody won’t give us back nothing of what we’ll lose
Sometimes the darkness yawls are so loud
that the whole world seems to explode making us confuse
I live in your breath and in your soul
I’m losin control, baby, oh I feel fine
Can you feel this shiver down my spine?
I’m praying to keep being your guide
through this fool freedom ride

So just kiss me, baby, and take my hand
Let’s flow down this no man’s land
There’s some place for us down this road
we’ll just have to let ourselves go