1. |
Left At The Side
03:29
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Left At The Side
the end's in the beginning
the bastards spoil the ending
I can't, I must
the fields and the ditches forever still
it was the train that moved right past
like a cold wet dog out in the rain
the fool and the blind man waiting for a train
two old men were walking across an ancient bridge
like scarecrows they seem familiar
cursing the sun and cursing the moon
on a park bench or in a ditch
or sitting in a tavern with Watt
I can't, I must, this boredom, this lust
like a cold wet dog out in the rain
two lost hobos waiting for a train
a train that will never arrive
just characters left behind
it was the train that moved right past
left us behind left us at the side
while we were sitting here in the tavern
or lying in a ditch, left us here at the side
it was the train that moved right past
left us at the side of the road
"Left At The Side" is derived from a couple of Samuel Beckett's novels, "Watt" and "Mercier and Camier". Although many of the lines and details come from Beckett's work, "the fool and the blind man" dropped in from a W.B. Yeats poem. I wrote a train song because of the ending of "Watt".
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2. |
Every Word A Stain
03:03
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"Every Word A Stain" employs a fiddle tune by a Mr. O'Reilly called "Man Of The House" to reclaim part of Beckett's work for Ireland. His Irish roots are apparent throughout much of his writing, including the house and countryside in "Watt". The text of this piece is taken from excerpts of that novel and Kevin Buckley picked out this particular reel for the accompaniment.
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3. |
Day Of The Dead
01:25
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Day Of The Dead
you say you get up and you say it's another lovely day
but I wouldn't go that far I really wouldn't go that far
how far would you go to protect this?
to protect this this particular way of life
where I feel most alive on the day of the dead
how far would you go?
to protect this way of life
you say it's a lovely day
but I wouldn't go that far
I really wouldn't go that far
"Day Of The Dead" started with a quote from Beckett, not from his writing but rather his conversation. Going for a walk, a friend proclaimed that it was a lovely day. Beckett's response was "I wouldn't go that far". A similar sentiment opens his play "Happy Days" and I took it from there.
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4. |
Nothing To Be Done
03:11
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Nothing To Be Done
come on in the kitchen come on everyone
like an Irishman said 'nothing to be done'
do you want to go out drinking? I said let's go
do you want to go out drinking? come on let's go
there's a hole in my head the size of a shot glass
a hole in my mind the size of a shot
displacement's the law try to steal a crust of bread
gravity's physical law it'll knock you down dead
last night's a blur seemed I loved everyone
there's no disorder here just let me find my gun
do you want to go out drinking? I said let's go
do you want to go out drinking? come on let's go
there's a hole in my head the size of a shot glass
a hole in my mind the size of a shot
nothing to be done just a shifting about
there's no disorder here and nothing to be done
do you want to go out drinking? I said let's go
do you want to go out drinking? yes let's go
"Nothing To Be Done" began as one of the tunes written by Irene Allen to accompany a stage play by Jason Lauderdale called "Zombozo". I took the music and set to writing a version of "Waiting for Godot" recast as a drinking song.
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The Union Electric St Louis, Missouri
The Union Electric is made up of veteran St. Louis musicians Tim Rakel, Glenn Burleigh, Melinda Cooper and Mic Boshans.
Depending on the date/time/weather, Beth Bombara, Jake DeLeonardis, Mary DeLeonardis and/or Brad Vaughn may also make intermittent appearances in the line-up.
UE has released five 7" records, an EP of cover songs, and the CD "Time Is Gold".
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