“Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it.”
- Unknown
It's Friday, time for interesting lyrics.
- Tom Ames Prayer - Written and performed by Steve Earle: I believe Tom Ames is a fictitious character, but Judge Parker that is referenced in the song was not. Judge Isaac Parker served as federal judge in the Western District of Arkansas in Ft. Smith from 1875 to 1896. Nicknamed the “Hangin' Judge," he sentenced 160 individuals to death over his tenure. Judge Parker gets a mention in Charles Portis' novel True Grit and both of its film adaptations:
Yeah, but right now Lord with my back to the wall
Can't help but recall
How they nearly hung me for stealin' a horse
In Fort Smith Arkansas
Judge Parker said guilty and the gavel came down
Just like a cannon shot
And I went away quietly
And I began to file and plot
Can't help but recall
How they nearly hung me for stealin' a horse
In Fort Smith Arkansas
Judge Parker said guilty and the gavel came down
Just like a cannon shot
And I went away quietly
And I began to file and plot
Well, they sent the preacher down to my cell
He said, the Lord is your only hope
He's the only friend that you gonna have
When you hit the end of Parker's rope
He said, the Lord is your only hope
He's the only friend that you gonna have
When you hit the end of Parker's rope
Well, I guess he coulda' kept on preachin' 'till Christmas
But he turned his back on me
I put a home made blade to that golden throat
And asked the deputy for the key
But he turned his back on me
I put a home made blade to that golden throat
And asked the deputy for the key
- Livingston Bramble - Written and performed by Mark Kozelek: Kozelek takes us through a few meandering hours of his life, his affinity for the colorful boxer Livingston Bramble and some guitars players he likes and some that he definitely does not. It must be freeing to just come right out and say it.
I can play like Fripp or Johnny Marr
And I can play circles around Jay Farrar
I like Jeff Beck and Page just fine
But I hate Derek Trucks and Nels Cline
I hate Nels Cline
I can play like Malcom and Neil Young
And I can play circles around most anyone
I like Kirk Hammett and Steve Vai
But I hate Eric Clapton and Nels Cline
I hate Nels Cline
- Still Be Around - Written by Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy and Mike Heidorn, performed by Uncle Tupelo: Here we are talking about Jay Farrar again. I doubt if Mark Kozelek can play circles around Jay Farrar, whatever that means. Nels Cline from the Kozelek's song has relevance too by some degrees of separation. That's for another time, though.
If I break in two will you put me back together?
When this puzzle's figured out, will you still be around?
Someone else's turn now: