Somebody That I Used to Know

This is one of the coolest songs I have heard in a long time.  The original, by Gotye, is also fun to watch and listen to.  This one, by Walk Off The Earth is amazing in its musicianship and connectedness among the musicians.  If you are one of the handful of people who have not seen it yet (between this version and the Gotye version it has been viewed well over five-hundred-fifty-million times), you will love how they split up the vocals and the guitar work.  Five humans on one guitar, each with a seperate but essential part.  The harmonies are sweet too.

It is another break-up song.  Both had such high hopes.  Both think the other was hurtful at the inevitable ending.  I was duped.  You weren't who you let on to be.  And who hasn't heard, "We can still be friends, right?"  My favorite line is... You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness - Like resignation to the end, always the end.  Can't you see it in relationships when someone keeps going back for more and you know it is just prolonging the pain?  I was that person when I broke up with my first girlfriend.  Addicted to the sadness.  I wouldn't let myself get over her.  

And what brutal honesty in... Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done.   And... You treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough.  

Enjoy.


Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

[x2]
Somebody
(I used to know)
Somebody
(Now you're just somebody that I used to know)

(I used to know)
(That I used to know)
(I used to know)
Somebody

Father and Son

                              I am reposting one from about 18 months ago as part of my month long music retrospective.  

                   Father

                  It's not time to make a change,

                                    Just relax, take it easy.

                                    You're still young, that's your fault,

                                    There's so much you have to know.

                                    Find a girl, settle down,

                                    If you want you can marry.

                                    Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

                                     

                                    I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,

                                    To be calm when you've found something going on.

                                    But take your time, think a lot,

                                    Why, think of everything you've got.

                                    For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

                                     

                                    Son

                                    How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again.

                                    It's always been the same, same old story.

                                    From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.

                                    Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.

                                    I know I have to go.

                                     

                                    Father

                                    It's not time to make a change,

                                    Just sit down, take it slowly.

                                    You're still young, that's your fault,

                                    There's so much you have to go through.

                                    Find a girl, settle down,

                                    If you want you can marry.

                                    Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

                                    (Son-- Away Away Away, I know I have to

                                    Make this decision alone - no)

                                     

                                    Son

                                    All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,

                                    It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it.

                                    If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know not me.

                                    Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.

                                    I know I have to go.

                                    (Father-- Stay Stay Stay, Why must you go and

                                    Make this decision alone?) 

                                     

                                    This Cat Stevens (now Jusef Islam) song was my absolute favorite as a kid.  When I was 12 or 13 this was my anthem.  From an album given to me by my rebellious, anti-Vietnam War sister Ruthie. I WAS the son in this song.  My parents would never understand my heart.  We were simply worlds apart.  We would always be.  To say that I was a contrary kid would be an understatement.  If something was black to my parents, it was white to me.  If they were Republican, I was a Democrat (even though I didn’t have much of a clue as to what that meant).  They wanted me in Catholic school – I knew it wasn’t right.  Short hair?Long hair!  Straight legs? Bell Bottoms!

                                    Was it biological?  Do kids, as a way of transitioning away from their parents, naturally push back to  prove their independence; to make the inevitable break from home easier? 

                                    When I got my first guitar, a three-quarter sized Toyota for 60 bucks from a pawnshop, “Father and Son” was one of the first songs I learned.  And I sang it loud.  With a purpose.  I was the Son.  How can I try to explain?  When I do he turns away again. 

                                    While my parents took care of every one of my basic needs, there were long stretches of time when our conversations did not go very deep, when we were passing ships, when we tolerated each other but did not really connect. If they were right, I’d agree, but it’s them they know not ME.  Now there’s a way, and I know that I have to go away. 

                                    When it came time for me to leave to go to college I was ready to go.  It was time.  And I carried that song with me.  Some of my friends knew it and we sang it together.  We werethe sons.  Our parents couldn’t understand us.  We were on our own and glad that we no longer had our folks hovering over us.  And I know that I have to go away.  I know - I have to go. 

                                    After college, when Heidi and I were a couple of DINKs (Double Income – No Kids), I still played that song but I was ambivalent.  While I was still a son, I wasn’t the Son.  My folks and I came to love and appreciate each other.  I still played that old song, but I did not feel that huge divide. 

                                    Years later, when I had kids of my own and I played them lullabies and my old folksongs, “Father and Son” was still in the mix.  By then, it was just a great song from the old days and brought back the memories of my foolish anger and pride.  I was a father but I wasn’t the Father.  Not yet. 

                                    Now that our boys have grown to young men I have this peculiar knowing that I am on the other side now.  At 54, having now lost both my parents, I find myself looking into the eyes of our kids and wondering where did that time go?  And how did this happen? Because our guys are just about ready to both be gone for college, and while I know they’ll come back – it won’t be the same.  They will be the ones happy to be on their own, independent, wanting to move forward into their future and not thinking much about looking back.  While we have provided everything they needed through good times and hard times, they’re on their way.  And I am the one who doesn’t understand  - my Sons.

                                    It's not time to make a change,

                                    Just sit down, take it slowly.

                                    You're still young, that's your fault,

                                    There's so much you have to go through.

                                    Find a girl, settle down,

                                    If you want you can marry.

                                    Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy. 

                                     

                                    I know that I have said it before, I LOVE these two handsome men.  But I will always miss those two cute little boys who played naked in the surf and woke up with messy hair and crawled into bed with us when they needed to.  I miss those guys who cared about what we thought, who sought advice and asked for help, who I bathed and read to and sang silly songs with. 

                                    But it is THE WAY.  I know that now more than ever.  They will have these feelings too one day.  And while “Father and Son” is not their anthem.  I recognize the Son’s feelings in them.  And I also know that some day they will probably connect to the Father.

                                    Stay Stay Stay, Why must you go and make this decision alone?  

• 

Language of the Heart

I consider David Wilcox to be one of the best singer-songwriters around.  It's a pity that not many people have heard of him.  He's got it all.  That beautiful baritone voice, a versatile finger style with cool tunings, and lyrics that can make you laugh out loud (or cry if the setting is right).  

My old buddy Pete turned me on to him in the late 90's.  He gave me this cassette tape that a sibling of his had recorded for him by placing a tape recorder next to a speaker.  It was scratchy and faint and you could hear people talking in the background.  But it captured me like no other music in a long while.  It was an album called How Did You Find Me Here?  I have never turned back.  I bought that CD, and all of the ones that came before.  And since then, I get his new ones as they come out.  His music is a challenge for me to play on guitar (I can only do simple tunings) but I know almost every word of every song by heart.  

This one, Language of the Heart, is one that I teared up on when I heard it with headphones the first time.  OK, I am easy, but it is simple and sad.  The story is one that most people can relate to - either in the sense that someone turned you away even though you thought you were in love, or maybe you did that at some time and left someone broken and hurt.  You risk a lot when you love, right?  This song may ask if it's worth it.  The answer, of course, is yes.

Language of the Heart

We made our warm bed out of blankets in the meadow way up high
You took off your dress in the moonlight, to sleep beneath the sky
Your touch was a warm summer ocean
Your kiss made the whole mountain fly
And you looked deep with in me and smiled
At the tears in my eyes

Now you can say that you always were honest
And your words were clear from the start
But it's more than just words that got spoken
There was language of the heart

I won't keep on calling your number if you never have the time
I don't want to claim you or blame you, but you're always on my mind
You had no idea I would love you
It comes as a total surprise
And you shake your head slowly and smile
At the tears in my eyes

and you say that you always were honest
And your words were clear from the start
But it's more than just words that got spoken
There was language of the heart

Your eyes like an ocean of clear sunlit green
My eyes with the salt water
Washing me clean....again

And just imagine you whispered a secret that could take away my blues
And you let me believe it to please me, though it just wasn't true
You just meant to share with me pleasure
And your gifted at what you do
But your speaking an unspoken language
I thought that you knew
It's one that we all learn by heart
And our hearts think its true

but you say that you always were honest
And your words were clear from the start
But it's more than just words that got spoken
There was language of the heart
language of the heart.