Mar 24, 2005

This week has been really busy, so not much in the way of blog posts.

I went to see the reunified Slint with Guillermo on Sunday. It was a pretty fantastic show. Had I realized that they had perfected the Indie Rock mode in the late 80's, I could have saved myself alot of time at shows in the mid-to late 90's... I had actually forgotten that I had heard many of the songs (went to the show thinking that I only remembered "Good Morning, Captain"), but realized as they were playing that I knew the majority of the songs very well. Rock shows in Boston are always a strange mix of townies and hipsters...

I remember listening to "Good Morning, Captain" after breaking up with my first girlfriend in 1994. The song had been given to me by another girl who I had a crush on at the time. I remember feeling like the world was going to end. Hearing Brian McMahan screaming the familiar "I miss you..." at the end of the song I realized that the song still carried the same emotional weight as it did back then, however, I didn't feel anything for any of the people involved. In the end the text outlives the memory, and does, I suppose foretell the end of the world, or at least the time when it will be only a spectre, bodiless, recalling long gone events and people. Said context is rather ironic given that the song is about ghosts to begin with:

"GOOD MORNING, CAPTAIN

Let me in, the voice cried softly,
from outside the wooden door.
Scattered remnants of the ship could be seen in the distance,
Blood stained the icy wall of the shore.

I'm the only one left. The storm, took them all,
He managed as he tried to stand.
The tears ran down his face.
Please, it's cold.

When he woke, there was no trace of the ship.
Only the dawn was left behind by the storm.
He felt the creaking of the stairs beneath him.
That rose, from the sea, to the door.

There was a sound at the window then.
The captain started, his breath was still.
Slowly, he turned.

From behind the edge of the windowsill,
There appeared the delicate hand of a child.
His face was flush and timid.
He stared at the captain through frightened eyes.

The captain reached for something to hold on to,
Help me, he whispered, as he rose slowly to his feet.
The boy's face went pale,
He recognized the sound.

Silently, he pulled down the shade against the shadow.
Lost in the doorstep of the empty house.

I'm trying to find my way home.

I'm sorry...
...and I miss you.

I miss you.
I've grown taller now.
I want the police to be notified.
I'll make it up to you,
I swear, I'll make it up to you.

I miss you"

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