Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Beyond the Valley of the Wimps

So as I may have mentioned, I have suddenly found myself on the promo list for Sony/Columbia Records. The good news is that last week I was surprised to find the killer soundtrack to Todd Haynes' Dylan movie in my mailbox. The bad news is that this morning there was the latest Celine Dion crime against nature.

I know, I know. The indignities I have to endure.

Anyway, today's package also included a new live album by Five for Fighting. Those who know me best, by which I mean a couple of ex-wives and several posters at Eschaton who I've never actually met, are aware that I'm of the opinion that said band's "The Riddle" is rather ineffably touching.

Here's the YouTube link for the official video -- sorry there's no embed.

There was a man back in '95
Whose heart ran out of summers
But before he died, I asked him

Wait, what's the sense in life
Come over me, Come over me

He said,

"Son why you got to sing that tune
Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon
Let an angel swing and make you swoon
Then you will see... You will see."

Then he said,

"Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I..."

Picked up my kid from school today
Did you learn anything cause in the world today
You can't live in a castle far away
Now talk to me, come talk to me

He said,

"Dad I'm big but we're smaller than small
In the scheme of things, well we're nothing at all
Still every mother's child sings a lonely song
So play with me, come play with me"

And Hey Dad
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...

I said,

"Son for all I've told you
When you get right down to the
Reason for the world...
Who am I?"

There are secrets that we still have left to find
There have been mysteries from the beginning of time
There are answers we're not wise enough to see

He said... You looking for a clue I Love You free...

The batter swings and the summer flies
As I look into my angel's eyes
A song plays on while the moon is hiding over me
Something comes over me

I guess we're big and I guess we're small
If you think about it man you know we got it all
Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball
And I love you free
I love you freely

Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...


I don't care if the singer's a wingnut...I think it's fricking beautiful.

5 comments:

steve simels said...

Hello!!!

Testing!!!

Is this mic on????

Hmm...I guess this song is an acquired taste.
:-)

TJWood said...

No, the song actually is fairly touching, even more so once you read the lyrics. I'll go to bat, in fact, for "100 Years" as well, sap and all. But a live album from Five for Fighting, which is essentially a one person studio band(John Ondrasik)...well, it strikes me as the most fitting musical definition of "superfluous" since Andrew Ridgeley

steve simels said...

Let's just say that only one track will be going on my iPod.

And that I don't think I'll bother to watch the DVD version that comes as a bonus disc.
:-)

TMink said...

"I don't care if the singer's a wingnut"

Amen brother, it is the art. The only person's politics that I really care about is mine. The Dixie Chicks don't have my political views, but I listen for the music.

Trey

Slig said...

Dude has the same phlegm in his throat that all those guys seem to have now that Bob Mould once appropriated from female blues singers of a long ago era.