w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

Today's lyric:
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"One night I was dancin' with a lady in black
Wearin' black silk gloves and a black silk hat
She looked at me longin' with black velvet eyes
She gazed at me strange all cunning and wise
Then I saw the flesh just fall off her bones*
The eyes in her skull was burning like coals
Lord, have mercy, fire and brimstone
I was dancin' with Mrs. D."

The Rolling Stones: ""
From the album: "Goat's Head Soup"

* 26 days of her diet (and my abstinence) left...

Labels: Diet, Music

Today's lyric:
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"Strangers passing in the street, by chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me.
And do I take you by the hand and lead you through the land?
And help me understand the best I can."

Pink Floyd: "Echoes"
From the album: "Meddle"

Went to see an eight-piece band playing for St Paddy's Day on Saturday - damn fine musicians they were too! Not sure they were actually Irish, but the music was umistakeable.

Andy the Fiddler looked like Pinocchio's dad, with grey flannels and grey tanktop, pince-nez bins and a wicked sense of humour (announcing the final part of the second session as a "mudley" of polka and reels.)



Interesting combination of bongos, bodhrains, electric mandolin, Uileann pipes, spoons and guitars, which had all of us in the mosh pit (nah, just joking - everyone was too 'senior' for crowd-surfing) jigging for Ireland.

A most enjoyable evening, even if the 'draught' Guiness (yes, I know there are two n's in Guinness, but it was spelt like that on the price-board) came in widgety bottles and plastic glasses.

Health and Safety eh?

Labels: gigs, Music

Today's lyric:
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"Darlin', if you would love me, and if you know how I feel
Would you do anything for me, woman?
To help me understand?
To help me live again?
Darlin' it would never, never be the same
Without you."

Spirit: "Darlin', if"
From the album: "The family that plays together"

Way back in pre-history, while I was still a student at college and working in the local brewery during the summer holidays, I happened across another student labourer in the canteen, just finishing reading a massive book.

"Hey, Hack, you into the Bible, then?"

"The foreman* can call me by my surname, but that doesn't give you the right to", he glowered back.

"Er, sorry mate - just thought that was a cool nickname? You know, like Derfy that drives the forklift - 'cos his name's Fred, but he's backward?"**

"Actually, it's called "Lord of the Rings". If you can finish it before the end of the holidays, you can borrow it."

So I did, and I did. And I've read it many, many times since. The latest copy being one that Ol' Sparky gave me.

But back to the thread. Turned out Hack (forgotten his first name) was studying to be a marine biologist - which was cool, back then - and in exchange for the book loan (and now that the name thing confusion was all sorted) I gave him a lift home on the back of my motorbike.***

And he lent me the above album, which I then had to buy for myself, it were that good. Although I still have the vinyl copy, I've been trying for years to get the cd, and it seems that Amazon or whoever are finally re-releasing it, so I've pre-ordered a copy. I recommend it to the House.

* my dad
** yes, I know, very non-PC. But the lad answered to it, so...
*** Passed the test first time, despite turning right (into a dead end) instead of left, after the examiner's first instruction. Fortunately, he'd walked off to meet me elsewhere, which is how bike tests worked back then. Not sure if it's the same today? Can anyone enlighten?

Labels: Music

Bangin'

Labels: gigs, Music

Today's lyric:

"You can spend all your time making money
You can spend all your love making time
If it all fell to pieces tomorrow
Would you still be mine?"

The Eagles: "Take it to the limit "
From the album: "One of these nights"

That had to be one of the best gigs ever. The sound was waaaay better than when we saw them at Earl's court, the horn section was tight, tight, tight and the Eagles themselves seemed to be really into the gig this time around.

All four of us were glad for:
The beautiful, cooling breeze wafting around the back of the North stand of Twickenham's rugby stadium; and
The two sisters and their partners - who arrived way too late to see the Dixie Chicks who were supporting, and farted about getting seated in front of us when they should have been well in place in time for the main gig - leaving before the first encore, thereby sparing us from the blokes' over-the-sisters'-heads conversation about how much the tickets had cost etc. etc. etc.

I was on the point of yelling "Just shut the fcuk up and listen, if you want your 60 quids' worth!!" and they shot out to 'beat the rush'. Missing the three encores which had the world standing and yelling for more. T1ts, all.

Here's a quote from Ol' Sparky. "They opened with 'Take it easy' and 'Witchy Woman' but the highlight for me was that there Joe Walsh belting out 'Life's been good' (Oh Yeah!)"

And from Mrs.D: "When they finally encored with 'Desperado', the hair on the back of my neck stood up. We may never see the like again."

And from Mrs Ol' Sparky: "Timothy B. Schmidt (the bassist) knocking out 'Love will keep us alive. Killer track."

And me? "Seeing Joe Walsh running the length of the stage, wearing a hard hat with a webcam mounted on it. And that lyric up there never fails to bring a tear to my eye. And it didn't fail last night, either..."

The running order: (approx)

Oh sorry - you'll have to wait - brekkie's here...

Munch.

Ok. Back.

Take it easy
Witchy Woman
Tequila sunrise
In the city
Take it to the limit (cue damp eyes 1)
(Number One Daughter asked if I thought of her when they sang it. Yes. Yes, I did.)
New kid in town
Lyin' eyes
The long run
Boys of summer
Dirty laundry
One of these nights
Sunset Grill
Heartache tonight
No more cloudy days
Life's been good
Love will keep us alive
Get over it
Rocky mountain way
Peaceful easy feeling
Already gone
Best of my love
Hole in the world (for 9/11 - killer song)
Hotel California
Desperado (cde2)

Tromped back the mile to the school playground where we'd parked the car* and picnic'ed before wandering up to the venue, exited smartish and were home within the hour.

Bramah.

* pre-paid a tenner to the PTA and the funds raised sends the pupils on various trips, so everyone profs?

Labels: gigs, Music