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
Dunque, questa è venuta fuori su un giro d’accordi molto ma molto semplice. Avevo l’intro e poco altro e una mezza idea di non lavorarci per niente. Mi è ronzata in testa per due o tre settimane finché non mi sono seduta a scrivere il testo. Tornata al piano, ho scoperto che sentivo la canzone fin nel midollo spinale, mi immedesimavo nella vicenda e mi dava anche un sacco di soddisfazione cantarla, dunque eccola qui.
TITLE: Tonight Near The Bridge
YEAR: 2007
Jimmy bought french fries from the seller near the bridge
he pulled down his peaked cap got for sale and looked round the street
he leaned against the rail, it’s not time to pass the deal
the cheap trick at the cheap trip has gone ahead as the guys couldn’t guess
they just tried to make him mess about with the girl
his head was in a whirl, the advertising poster of a cheap jack soap pointed to him
the cheap street cheated his nausea out with glittering lights
so tonight, near the bridge
Waiting for the moon, using a spoon to splash ketchup about
will Rose the Blonde stay at home with mom tonight?
It’s time to roam with nothing but a dime, it’s not a crime go ahead and pass the deal
comers and goers twinkled as a tin can, kinda unfashionable talking for real
Jack and Neal can show you the way but how far can you run before falling down?
Jimmy kept standing with his empty box of french fries
feeling in a nest of spies who walk around without ties
will Rose the Blonde elude her mom
and come tonight near the bridge?
Rose my love, if you come tonight
I’ll take you away where the nights grow bright
I’ll take you where we can leave together without fear
running on oceans, miles away from here
But if you don’t, I’ll put my head over my pillow
and I’ll dream you coming here
Rose my dear
and I’ll dream you coming here
Rose my dear
and I’ll dream you coming here
Rose my dear
Se ci riuscite procuratevi l’album, merita davvero. Probabilmente il miglior album del 2007 insieme al Civilians di Joe Henry. Qui sotto la mia modestissima cover (lui ha una voce della madonna, fidatevi, procurate e ascoltate, che ne vale la pena. Ovviamente dirlo va a mio svantaggio, ma pazienza).
COVER OF: Don’t Wait For Me
ORIGINAL BY: Ryan Bingham
ALBUM: Mescalito (2007)
Don’t wait for me
‘Cause I’ll be running late
Don’t wait for me
By the flowers upon my grave
Don’t wait for me
‘Cause I’ll be coming home
Don’t wait for me
Long by the telephone
Chorus:
‘Cause I’m wild running through the hills
And my eyes are wondering how you feel
And the miles upon miles keep falling from the sky
Don’t wait for me
When the flowers die
Don’t wait for me
I have many miles to go
Don’t wait for me
I have nothing left to show
Don’t wait for me
Wonderin’ what is wrong
Don’t wait for me
I’ll catch up at the break of dawn
Chorus
Don’t wait for me
Sleepin’ in the summer sun
Don’t wait for me
With my pillow lies my gun
Don’t wait for me
I’m gonna finish last
Don’t wait for me
I’m mending fences of my past
Chorus
Don’t wait for me
When the flowers die
