by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco
I am an American aquarium drinker
I assassin down the avenue
I'm hiding out in the big city blinking
What was I thinking when I let go of you
Let's forget about the tongue-tied lightning
Let's undress just like cross-eyed strangers
This is not a joke so please stop smiling
What was I thinking when I said it didn't hurt
I want to glide through those brown eyes dreaming
Take you from the inside, baby hold on tight
You were so right when you said I've been drinking
What was I thinking when we said good night
I want to hold you in the Bible-black predawn
You're quite a quiet, domino, bury me now
Take off your band-aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns
What was I thinking when we said hello
I always thought that if I held you tightly
You'd always love me like you did back then
Then I fell asleep in the city kept blinking
What was I thinking when I let you back in
I am trying to break your heart
I am trying to break your heart
But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy
I am trying to break your heart
Disposable Dixie cup drinker
I assassin down the avenue
I've been hiding out in the big city blinking
What was I thinking when I let go of you
I'm the man who loves you
Comment:
You might be seeing a lot of Wilco lyrics from me. Their songs to me are the perfect marriage of great melody/music and lyrics. Jeff Tweedy really has a gift. I love this song because the narrator really does sound quite drunk. Drunk enough to say things like "I am an American aquarium drinker" but coherent enough to express heartfelt emotion like "I always thought that if I held you tightly. You'd always love me like you did back then".
Maybe he's not meant to be drunk at all, but for some reason I just picture someone stumbling home after a long night of drinking and writing this song. Kind of like drunk dialing but a song comes out of it instead of an embarrasssing phone message.
I love trying to picture a "Bible-black predawn". So many of Jeff Tweedy's lyrics are mysterious at first but then when you really think about them they make perfect sense. He has a very unique and poetic way of remembering things and portraying them. This particular song is from the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. If you're interested in seeing how really good band music is made there was a documentary made on Wilco called I am Trying to Break Your Heart. It actually focused on the production of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. It was an excellent documentary and really captured how much hard work and talent Wilco put into their music. They are the real deal.
If anyone else knows of great lyricists, please share! It's hard enough writing great poetry. I can't imagine setting it to music!
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Is this cheesy that I'm a sucker for Robert Smith? I just thought Strange Attraction was brilliant:
ReplyDelete"It started with a dedication
'lost in admiration - happy birthday - I'm forever yours - blossom'
Faded red inside a tiny book of butterflies
I smiled surprised at how when flickered through
The wings flew by spelled out my name..."
But then there's also Friday I'm In Love which doesn't move me in any sort of way at all.
I had to google pretty much everything in your comment. I had no idea who Robert Smith was nor had I heard of the album Strange Attraction. But now with the magic of Google and your sample lyric, I have been introduced to The Cure! Who I have heard of but never listened to. i tunes here i come!
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