The beauty of the theremin
The Theremin is the progenitor of much of the electronic instrumentation today. Created by Léon Theremin, it’s not an easy instrument to play, but man, this is an amazing performance on a Moog Theremin:
The Theremin is the progenitor of much of the electronic instrumentation today. Created by Léon Theremin, it’s not an easy instrument to play, but man, this is an amazing performance on a Moog Theremin:
What do you get if you combine three of the most talented musicians that the Lone Star State has ever produced? A band whose first album took nearly 20 years to get released.
In Texas music circles, The Flatlanders are more heard of than heard—at least until recently. Composed of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Joe Ely, The Flatlanders, at least to me, represent the pinnacle of the Texas “country music” world, or what Joe Ely once called “country’s inlaws” when asked if they were part of the whole outlaw country movement that is best typified by Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.
While their first recording session, in the famous Sun Studio, was a gem, it was not an appreciated gem in 1972. It got little to no radio play, and was only released on 8-track. Later, in 1991, Rounder Records, home to a diverse cast of talented musicians, released the sessions and people’s interest again grew. Since then, they’ve recorded some new music together, although due to the intervening years, I don’t think it’s ever been quite as cohesive as that first album. As their re-release was masterfully titled “More a Legend than a Band”.
From a later album, Now Again that I’ve had in my car this past week comes these tightly composed lyrics to “Waving My Heart Goodbye”:
Standing in the station I got no destination
I’m waving my heart goodbye
I’m walkin in the crowd and I’m talkin out loud
I’m telling myself dont cry
And Lord I’d rather not
forget what I forgot
but I guess I’m gonna have to try
Standing in the station I got no reservation
I’m waving my heart goodbye
I know it’s not to blame but it’s leavin’ just the same
and nobody ever asked it why
Standing in the rain
wonderin’ if the train
will stop before the tears will dry
Standing in the station its a sad situation
I’m waving my heart goodbye
It’s movin’ down the track and it ain’t lookin’ back
and I’m feeling like I could die
A train is made to roam
like a heart without a home
and I’m thinkin’ maybe so was I
I wonder will tomorrow come to hide the sorrow.
Will the sun forsake the sky?
And Lord I’d rather not forget what I forgot
but I guess Im gonna have to try
Standing in the station I got no destination
I’m waving my heart goodbye
Standing in the station
I’m waving my heart goodbye
For me, music is more than just something that sits in the background. It’s more than something you dance to. When it reaches, it reaches the same level of the best poetry. It can be a catchy polemic, if you only stop to listen to the lyrics. Sometimes truth that can never be spoken can be sung. Toward that, I thought I’d start collecting some of the lyrics that I find interesting. Not all are the best, but they’re all stand outs.
Steve Earle, The Revolution Starts Now
[You can watch it performed on YouTube]
Jimmy joined the army ‘cause he had no place to go
There ain’t nobody hirin’ ‘round here since all the jobs went down to Mexico
Reckoned that he’d learn himself a trade maybe see the world
Move to the city someday and marry a black haired girl
Somebody somewhere had another plan
Now he’s got a rifle in his hand
Rollin’ into Baghdad wonderin’ how he got this far
Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war
Bobby had an eagle and a flag tattooed on his arm
Red white and blue to the bone when he landed in Kandahar
Left behind a pretty young wife and a baby girl
A stack of overdue bills and went off to save the world
Been a year now and he’s still there
Chasin’ ghosts in the thin dry air
Meanwhile back at home the finance company took his car
Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war
When will we ever learn
When will we ever see
We stand up and take our turn
And keep tellin’ ourselves we’re free
Ali was the second son of a second son
Grew up in Gaza throwing bottles and rocks when the tanks would come
Ain’t nothin’ else to do around here just a game children play
Somethin’ ‘bout livin’ in fear all your life makes you hard that way
He answered when he got the call
Wrapped himself in death and praised Allah
A fat man in a new Mercedes drove him to the door
Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war