december songs 14

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...

december songs 14 is "every morning" by j mascis. the eggs in this video bring a giggle because there is a subliminal ad with an egg that comes on tv after 11:30 at night. i kid you not. has anyone seen it? dan used to talk about it and i thought he was crazy until one night i finally saw it. just a flash of an image of a hand holding a whole egg over a frying pan.  whaaat? corporate egg promotion? your mind (not) on drugs? anyway. . . enjoy!

Set up in the morning running in the afternoon
Stayed out past the morning someone peeled it off too soon

Every morning makes it hard on me
Every morning makes it hard on me
Then I wake to who I'll never be
Then it hits me it's the life I lead

Set up in the morning said I gave away too soon
Wish I had a morning didn't know what else to do

Every morning makes it hard on me piece together what could never be
In the wait I heard you'll never see give it up I can always be

Oh baby won't you see me
Oh baby won't you see me
See me

Every morning makes it hard on me
Every morning makes it hard on me
Then I wake to who I'll never be
And it hits me it's the life I lead

Oh baby won't you see me
Oh baby won't you see me
See me

Ain't nobody know it
Ain't nobody know it
Ain't nobody know it
Ain't nobody know it

Every morning makes it hard on me
Every morning makes it hard on me
Then I wake to who I'll never be
And it hits me it's the life I lead
Every morning makes it hard on me
Every morning makes it hard on me
Try to give you something I can't be
Tried, but you still made it hard on me

december songs 13

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know... 

patti smith is fresh on my mind after seeing her powerful performance at the nobel prize ceremony, stepping in for bob dylan. so december song 13 is "people have the power." i posted this on social media before the election. so much hope then. so much fight now! patti smith is one of my all time favorites.

I was dreamin' in my dreamin'
Of an aspect bright and fair
And my sleepin' it was broken
But my dream it lingered near

In the form of shinin' valleys
Where the pure air recognized
Oh, and my senses newly opened
And I awakened to the cry

And the people have the power
To redeem the work of fools
From the meek the graces shower
It's decreed the people rule

People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

Vengeful aspects became suspect
And bending low as if to hear
Well, and the armies ceased advancin'
Because the people had their ear

And the shepherds [Incomprehensible] the soldiers
And they laid among the stars
Exchanging visions, layin' arms
To waste in the dust

In the form of shinin' valleys
Where the pure air recognized
And my senses newly opened
And I awakened to the cry

People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

Where there were deserts, I saw fountains
Like cream the waters rise
And we strolled there together
With none to laugh or criticize

There is no leopard and the lamb
And lay together truly bound
Well I was hopin' in my hopin'
To recall what I had found

Well I was dreamin' in my dreamin'
God knows a pure view
As I lay down into my sleepin'
And I commit my dream with you

People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the earth from fools
But it's decreed the people rule
But it's decreed the people rule

Listen, I believe everythin' we dream
Can come to pass through our union
We can turn the world around
We can turn the earth's revolution

We have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the earth from fools
But it's decreed the people rule
But it's decreed the people rule

We have the power
We have the power
People have the power
We have the power

december songs 12

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know... 
 
december songs 12 is "save yourself," by sharon van etten. she has lots of other songs with artsy videos (like this one with tarot cards!), but this being one of my favorite songs, i choose a performance. i saw her live at the jefferson a couple of years ago and she has a tremendous vocal range and such bittersweet power.

I want every town, I need you to know
There's nothing left to sell me, I'm broke

I just want these holes for when I try to run
For no reason, or so I'm told

Don't you think I know you're only trying to save yourself
Don't you think I know you're only trying to save yourself
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

Ancient in one long, incidental month
You had a bad day, I want home

You still make me smile, as much as I am reeling
It has been a while, please don't make me show I'm not your gal

Don't you think I know you're only trying to save yourself
Don't you think I know you're only trying to save yourself
Just like everyone else
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

Try and make me feel like I'm your number one
Every other one, well, shit, get real

Know you're balding still, you're older than you feel
Think a little harder, a little modest and humble be
I won't wait around

Don't you think I know you're only trying to save yourself
Don't you think I know you're only trying to save yourself
Just like everyone else
You're just like everyone else
You're just like everyone else
You're just like everyone else

decmber songs 11

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...  

december songs 11 is "eye on the dollar," by citay, from their terrific album "dream get together." sometimes i think i could listen to citay on an endless loop. they are multi layered and so mesmerizing.

december songs 10

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...  

tonight dan and i went out to see some music, and while i wasn't feeling up to it at first, i rose to the occasion, and it was very worthwhile indeed. we saw the jolly llamas, who apparently haven't played together in that formation for about 25 years. we saw a little bit of joe lawlor and friends. and we saw the cows who did a fantastic version of armagideon time, a song by willi williams, and brought to fame through a rendition by the clash. and so i bring you december song 10. 

Stay around don't play around
This old town and all
Seems like I got to travel on

A lot of people won't get no supper tonight
A lot of people won't get no justice tonight
The battle is gettin' hotter
In this iration, Armagideon time

A lot of people runnin' and a hiding tonight
A lot of people won't get no justice tonight
Remember to kick it over
No one will guide you - Armagideon time..

december songs 9

because it all blows so much these days. and because there is just the worst possible news around every corner, i need to find something that speaks to my heart. something cathartic. and i think it's music. better yet, music with a visual component.  

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know... 

this is the original december songs post, if you want more back story.  

december song 9 is by ween, and it is called transdermal celebration. this is must see animation by disney animator, adam phillips. perfect post-apocalyptia. i like all kinds of music, be it folky, psychedelic, ethnic, ethereal. but i also like to rock. i love ween because they are capable of doing so very many things. and they rock. lyrics follow. 

Transdermal celebration
Caused a slight mutation
In the rift
It toppled down a nation
And left the people running for the hills
But the mutants that I see
Shine their beauty unto me
I wish you could see them

Tectonic tribulation
Formed a crust of green beyond the reef
Waves fell in formation
Cause the plants to bend with spiked leaves
I'm growing with the land
Time has taken my hands and let me touch them

Hey, hey
A billion miles to Mark A
Lay on the lawn, he's already home
When the morning ray hits his face

Transdermal celebration
Jets flew in formation
I could see them
Dropping their crustaceans
Leaving trails of flames in their wake
But where is the mutation
That once told me it was safe, I can't find him

december songs 8

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...

i've shared this video before, possibly on my blog, and certainly on social media. but here it is again, lurker, by steve gunn, is december song 8. he is probably my favorite musician of 2016. and 2015 too. i love his poetry, the meandering quality of his guitar. his voice. his guitar mastery grows in each song. i saw him perform at the southern just a few months ago, and it was sweeeeet. also, the extended version of this very song is so worth it. 

december songs 7

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...

december song 7 is river by joni mitchell, set to snoopy skating, becauze 'tis the season! lyrics follow.

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on

december songs 6

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...
 

december song 6 is heard somebody say by devendra banhart. again, hard to narrow it down to one song by a favorite musician of mine. the simple message in this song really struck me the first time i heard it. plus the video is groovy. fun fact, dv and i share a tattoo. i saw him perform in dc in 2007 and i wrote a gushing review here. lyrics follow.

I heard somebody say
That the war ended today
But everyone knows it's goin' still

Our motherlands and motherseas
Here's what we believe
It's simple
We don't want to kill

I heard somebody say
That the war ended today
But everyone knows its goin' still

Our motherlands and motherseas
Here's what we believe
It's simple
We don't want to kill

Oh, it's simple
We don't want to kill
Oh, it's simple
We don't want to kill
Oh, it's simple

december songs 5

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...

december song 5 is wizard flurry home by mariee sioux. thinking about standing rock and hoping the good news sticks! lyrics follow.

 

dance, dance, snow
flur, flurry home
and dance, dance, snow
flur, flurry home
oh, wizard, weave gold
wave, wave, wave your title
wizard, pound your
mor, mor, mortar pestle
wizard, weave gold
wave, wave, wave your title
wizard, pound your
mor, mor, mortar pestle
oh, mortar pestle and
dance, dance in snow
and flur, flurry home
and winter, love holds
crown, crown, crown your brothers
winter, love snows
crown, crown, crown your mountains
winter, love holds
crown, crown, crown your mothers
winter, love snows
crown, crown, crown your mountains
and dance, dance in snow
and flur, flurry home
oh, flur, flurry home
and cocoon, bedspoon
i beg, i beg, i beg your pardon
cocoon, bedspoon
i beg, i beg, i beg your pardon
cocoon, monsoon
break, break, breaks the roof in
cocoon, monsoon
it break, break, breaks my heart in two
in two, two, in two
and it was two, oh, oh, five
and so new, new, so new
it was so new, new, new
new, new, so new
and brown, brown
oh, brown knees, white bees'
hum, hum, hum are missing
brown knees, white bees'
hum, hum, hum are missing
could you p-lease
turn, turn, turn to honey
could you p-lease
turn, turn, turn to morning
could you p-lease
turn, turn, turn tomorrow and
turn our dance into ice
oh, freeze our dance under lakes
and turn our dance into ice
oh, freeze our dance under lakes and
freeze our dance into snow-oh-angel pillows
freeze our dance into snow-oh-angel pillows
freezing our dance
into snow angel pillows

december songs 4

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...

december song 4 is by laura marling, and it is actually four songs in a short film called, when brave bird saved. i first heard her on the radio several years ago when once i was an eagle released, the album that these songs are from. her sensual voice struck me. and she was around 23 when she released that album, such a wise soul with a mature voice. lyrics follow.

december songs 3

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...

december song 3 is by burning spear, and it is called walk. i saw burning spear here in charlottesville back in the day when star hill brewery was across from the train station. it was a profound experience, seeing this legendary man in such a tiny venue. i loved his moves and his voice and his energy. lyrics follow.

 

Walk
Walk
Walk
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Walk the ARABIAN walk
Walk
Walk the AFRICAN walk
Walk
Walk the AMERICAN walk
Walk
Walk the BRAZIL walk
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Walk
Walk
Walk
Walk
AUSTRALIAN walk
Walk
NEW ZEALAND walk
Walk
NEW CALEDONIA walk
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Walk CANADIAN walk
Walk
Walk the ENGLISH walk
Walk
Walk the GERMAN walk
Walk
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
Let's keep on moving
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Walk the SWITZERLAND walk
Walk
Walk the FRENCHMANS walk
Walk
Walk the ITALIAN walk
Walk
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Just keep on moving
Just keep on moving
Just keep on moving
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk
Walk
Walk the JAPAN walk
Walk
Walk the CHINESE walk
Walk
You can walk, walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk your COUNTRY walk

december songs 2

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know...

december song 2 is by sigur ros, and it is called glosoli. it is challenging for me to pick just one sigur ros video, as they are all so artful. this is a favorite song of tristan's. he used to ask me to play elf music in the car, and specifically the song that rocked out. glósóli is it! lyrics follow.

Nú vaknar þú

allt virðist vera breytt

ég gægist út

en er svo ekki neitt

úr-skóna finn svo

á náttfötum hún

í draumi fann svo

ég hékk á koðnun?

með sólinni er hún

og er hún, inni hér

en hvar ert þú....

legg upp í göngu

og tölti götuna

sé ekk(ert) út

og nota stjörnurnar

sit(ur) endalaust hún

og klifrar svo út.

Glósóli-leg hún

komdu út

mig vaknar draum-haf

mitt hjartað, slá

úfið hár.

Sturlun við fjar-óð

sem skyldu-skrá.

og hér ert þú

fannst mér.....

og hér ert þú

Glósóli.....

Translation

Glowing Sun

Now that you’re awake

Everything seems different

I look around

But there’s nothing at all

Put on my shoes,

I then find that

She is still in her pyjamas

Then found in a dream

I’m hung by (an) anticlimax

She is with the sun

And it’s out here

But where are you…

Go on a journey

And roam the streets

Can’t see the way out

And so use the stars

She sits for eternity

And then climbs out

She’s the glowing sun

So come out I awake from a nightmare

My heart is beating

Out of control…

I’ve become so used to this craziness

That it’s now compulsory

And here you are…

I’m feeling…

And here you are, Glowing sun…

And here you are, Glowing sun…

And here you are, Glowing sun…

And here you are…

december songs 1

(click here to go straight to video) 

this week just blows. do you not agree? seriously, on so many fronts—personal, political, and just incidental, it's a week of crap.

i am however, a grateful person. perhaps i haven't always been, but as i grow, so does my gratitude. i try to let the light lead me. i do try. beauty is everywhere. emotion, even difficult, is preferable to numbness. and life. the life cycle. serendipity. coincidence. trials. fate. it is an amazing mystery.

december has arrived and midwinter approaches. the promise of new life lies ahead while all around is the crush of dead leaves. samsara. the rule of three. consequences. karma. 

the spindle thin trees dance while a sunset lifts its sexy blanket. night is clear as cut glass full of glimmer.

i wasn't going to write this long intro, but this evening i stepped under a magic sky with the dog skye, and was moved.

we both wanted to bask in it, the every star that is somehow showing. venus, so big and bright and tantalizing, and the orange moon, a tea cup, a hint of its whole round self dipping in, like a lit up ginger snap.

filaments of starlight have the power to pull at your deep seas. i felt a lot of feels under that sky. in just five minutes one can drown and emerge with glowing hair. all this to say that, when life blows, there is always the sky, especially tonight's sky. it is so very hard to believe that such cruelty could exist under such spectacular beacons. 

but what i really came here to say is that because it all blows so much these days. and because there is just the worst possible news around every corner, i need to find something that speaks to my heart. something cathartic. and i think it's music. better yet, music with a visual component. 

i am making it a goal this december to find a video a day that just says it. maybe it is bitter, hopeful, tragic, or celebratory. maybe it inspires. i do hope that some of you may also find it cathartic. let me know... (oh, and no way will each entry have a long intro!)

the first december song is by mutual benefit, and it is called getting gone. lyrics follow.

Out from the sleeping bag
Another day to be had
And it almost feels like new
But I was dreaming of you

And now we're back on the road
Another season of shows
Until every thought is gone
And we're just rolling along

And I forgot how to feel
Every sight is surreal
If there's one thing that I know
It's that all good times go
And the hard times too

And the life that we had
Is the dream of my youth
It was too good to be true
And the highway stretches on
I just want to get gone