Thursday, January 22, 2009

A New Feature!

I'd like to introduce a new feature here at Tales of Brave Sir Robin. I call it:

Songs I like that you've probably never heard of.

Of course, the problem with that premise will be that the more obscure the song, the more difficult it will be to find a video of it. The quality of today's video will attest to that fact. It is a live version and not nearly as haunting and poignant as the studio cut.

So, now that my intro is crudely out of the way . . . .

Songs I like that you've probably never heard of.
(Vol. 1)

Paralyzed

Artist - Sixpence none The Richer Album - Divine Discontent

Americans like distractions.

We must, because we are so easily distracted. Why do you think bad news always comes out late on a Friday afternoon? Although you'd barely know it from the (American) media, there has been a great deal of brutal carnage going on in Gaza for the last month. To be fair, there has been a lot to distract us from the rest of the world lately; the holiday season, the banking crisis, the economy, the new administration nominating cabinet officials, and of course, the inauguration.

It seems the human race just can't keep from killing and maiming one another. I challenge you to find a 5 year period in modern history without a war of some type. Hell, I haven't done the math, but I'll bet a 2 year period doesn't exist. Perhaps that's why we hardly treat it as news anymore. What is your reaction when you watch an account of a village being bombed? Do you ignore it? Are you anesthetized to it? Or do you grieve?

This song was written 10 years ago, but it will sadly remain topical for as long as human nature remains as it is. It is also an appropriate response to violence.

Again, seek out the studio cut, it's so much better.



Paralyzed
(Matt Slocum)

I look out to the fields
Where blood is shed upon the ground
I breathe in, breathe out
Change the channel, mute the sound
I take a match, a cigarette, and a walk to clear my head
Stomach's reeling at the thought of all those (human beings dead)

I breathe in, breathe out
I'm going to an interview
About a song, three minutes long
I just need something to do
Especially when my dearest friend
Was sent to cover Kosovo
His last assignment brought a bullet
And now he's gone, he's gone

Feels like I'm fiddling while Rome is burning down
Should I lay my fiddle down, take a rifle from the ground
I need the Ghost to breathe a Northern Gale tonight*
'cause I'm paralyzed, I'm paralyzed

I packed his books up, left the office*
Went to tell the wife the news
She fell in shock, the baby kicked,
And shed a tear inside the womb
I breathed in, I breathed out,
Soaked the ground up with my eyes
It's hard to say a healing word
When your tongue is paralyzed

Feels like I'm fiddling while Rome is burning down
Should I put my fiddle down, take a rifle from the ground
God give me strength to pray that You will set things right
'cause I'm paralyzed, I'm paralyzed


*Yes - some of these lyrics don't quite match the live version. This band was originally signed to a Christian label, and was still representing this label in 1999 when this performance was recorded. The song wasn't actually released until 2002 on a secular label. I am supposing that is the difference. These lyrics match the studio version.

10 comments:

Akum said...

Hi,
Loved reading your post!

Brave Sir Robin said...

A. Kicu -

Thank you! Nice to have you here!

lisahgolden said...

Your challenge is daunting. I can't imagine there was ever a time when we aren't harming each other. Sadly, it's part of the human condition.

I like the song and I'm trying to remember their song that got a lot of radio play and I'm not letting myself google it so I can exercise my memory. Yes, it's that sad and cobwebby in my brain today.

Brave Sir Robin said...

Lisa - (I'm not used to calling you that yet.)
They had a couple of pretty big hits. Along the lines of your post today, they even had a song in a feminine hygiene product commercial.

:)

Bee said...

Lisa - I think that song that you are thinking about is the one that keeps repeating "Kiss me . . ."

Making love, not war -- quite a different theme for the day!

Are you really not getting a lot of news about Gaza? It is all over the front pages here, and I've read some excruciating things on blogs, too.

Whether it's numbness or paralysis or desensitization, I think that we can only process a certain amount of bad or sad news.

Brave Sir Robin said...

Bee -

It's not like I can't find news on Gaza, but it hasn't been all over the headlines like one would expect it to be.

The other hit that comes to mind is "There She Goes"

Comrade Kevin said...

Among the young folk, we call "Songs You've Never Heard of Before"---being a hipster!

Hipper than thou! :-)

Brave Sir Robin said...

K.C. -

So, are you saying I'm hip or old?

:)

(I'm pretty sure the latter precludes than former)

Anonymous said...

This post makes me think of Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam. The words vary from performance to performance. One of my favorite versions pays homage to a roady who has been called up, yet again, for another tour in Iraq... the lyrics in this version go "I know he's just following his path, but I hope he doesn't come home in a box or a bag." Gotta love Eddie Vedder... the initial guitar licks in this song are my all time favorite and I immediately perk up to hear how the lyrics have changed in relation to the latest current events.

Fantastic Forrest said...

Hi!

I followed you over from Bee's. Really enjoyed reading your thoughtful post.

Yes, unfortunately, Americans DO like distractions. It's disheartening to see that they often focus on things that are not important while ignoring vital matters.

Like you, I'm raising children. And I want to make sure they are mindful of what's going on and are active to protect the good.