Father Kelly / Hallelujah (re-working of Leonard Cohen song)
These lyrics are original and written by a girl in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, I think. So many have asked for them I hope the girl who wrote them gets in touch with me.
WE JOIN TOGETHER HERE TODAY,
TO HELP TWO PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY,
AS LEAH AND CHRIS START THEIR LIFE TOGETHER,
AND NOW WE’VE REACHED THEIR SPECIAL DATE,
WE’VE COME TO HELP THEM CELEBRATE,
AND SHOW THEM HOW MUCH WE LOVE THEM TOO,
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,
AS LEAH IS WALKING UP THE AISLE,
AND CHRIS LOOKS UP AND GIVES A SMILE,
THE LOVE THAT FLOWS BETWEEN THEM FILLS THE CHURCH,
WITH LEAH’S FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON HER SIDE,
SHE REALLY IS THE BLUSHING BRIDE,
WITH LOVE AND PRIDE THEY LEAD HER
HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,
WITH THE PRIEST AND THE FAMILY WHO LEAD THE PRAYERS,
WE SAY OUR LINES AND THEY SAY THEIRS,
I GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE CEREMONY,
AND IN THIS HOUSE OF GOD ABOVE,
THEY JOIN THEIR HANDS TO SHOW THEIR LOVE,
AND SAY THOSE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS THAT YOU HEARD,
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH.
Anothers hope, anothers game
Anothers loss, anothers gain
Anothers lies, anothers truth
Anothers doubt, anothers proof
Anothers left, anothers right
Anothers peace, anothers fight
Anothers name, anothers aim
Anothers fall, anothers fame
Anothers pride, anothers shame
Anothers love, anothers pain
Anothers hope, anothers game
Anothers loss, anothers gain
Anothers lies, anothers truth
Anothers doubt, anothers proof
Anothers left, anothers right
Anothers peace, anothers fight
Marx had an idea from the confusion of his head
Then there were a thousand more waiting to be led
The books are sold, the quotes are bought
You learn them well and then you’re caught
Anothers left, anothers right
Anothers peace, anothers fight
Mussolini had ideas from the confusion of his heart
Then there were a thousand more waiting to play their part
The stage was set, the costumes worn
And another empire of destruction born
Anothers name, anothers aim
Anothers fall, anothers fame
Jung had an idea from the confusion of his dream
Then there were a thousand more waiting to be seen
You’re not yourself, the theory says
But I can help, your complex pays
Anothers hope, anothers game
Anothers loss, anothers gain
Sartre had an idea from the confusion of his brain
Then there were a thousand more indulging in his pain
Revelling in isolation and existential choice
Can you truly be alone when you use anothers voice?
Anothers lies, anothers truth
Anothers doubt, anothers proof
The idea born in someones mind
Is nurtured by a thousand blind
Anonymous beings, vacuous souls
Do you fear the confusion, your lack of control?
You lift your arm to write a name
So caught up in the identity game
Who do you see? Who do you watch?
Who’s your leader? Which is your flock?
Who do you watch? Who do you watch?
Who’s your leader? Which is your flock?
Einstein had an idea from the confusion of his knowledge
Then there were a thousand more turning to advantage
They realised that their god was dead
So they reclaimed power through the bomb instead
Anothers code, anothers brain
They’ll shower us all in deadly rain
Jesus had an idea from the confusion of his soul
Then there were a thousand more waiting to take control
The guilt is sold, forgiveness bought
The cross is there as your reward
Anothers love, anothers pain
Anothers pride, anothers shame
Do you watch at a distance from the side you have chosen?
Whose answers serve you best? Who’ll save you from confusion?
Who will leave you an exit and a comfortable cover
Who will take you oh so near the edge, but never drop you over?
Who do you watch?
[Little girls, of about six or seven, were asked what do they like to do. And then sometime later the same question asked in a slightly different form; they were asked what do little girls like to do. ]
I’ve got 54321,
I’ve got a red pair of high-heels on,
Tumble me over, it doesn’t take much,
Tumble me over, tumble me, push.
In my red high-heels I’ve no control,
The rituals of repression are so old,
You can do what you like, there’ll be no reprisal,
I’m yours, yes I’m yours, it’s my means of survival.
I’ve got 54321,
Come on my love, I know you’re strong,
Push me hard, make me stagger,
The pain in my back just doesn’t matter.
You force-hold me above the ground,
I can’t get away, my feet are bound,
So I’m bound to say,
That I’m bound to stay.
Well today I look so good,
Just like I know I should,
My breasts to tempt inside my bra,
My face is painted like a movie star,
I’ve studied my flaws in your reflection
And put them to rights with savage correction,
I’ve turned my statuesque perfection
And shone it over in your direction.
So come on darling, make me yours,
Trip me over, show me the floor,
Tease me, tease me, make me stay,
In my red high-heels I can’t get away.
I’m trussed and bound like an oven ready bird
But I bleed without dying and won’t say a word.
Slice my flesh and I’ll ride the scar,
Put me into gear like your lady car,
Drive me fast and crash me crazy,
I’ll rise from the wreckage as fresh as a daisy.
These wounds leave furrows as they heal,
I’ve travelled them, they’re red and real,
I know them well, they’re part of me,
My birth, my sex, my history,
They grew with me, my closest friend,
My pain’s my own, my pain’s my end.
Clip my wings so you know where I am.
I can’t get lost while you’re my man.
Tame me so I know your call,
I’ve stabbed my heels so I am tall,
I’ve bound my twisted falling fall,
Beautiful mute against the wall,
Beautifully mutilated as I fall.
Use me don’t lose me.
I’ve got 54321,
I’ve got a red pair of high-heels on.
Strap my ankles, break my heels,
Make me kneel, make me feel.
Turn, turn, turn, like a clockwork doll,
Put in your key and give me a whirl.
Tease me, tease me, the reason to play,
In my red high-heels I can’t get away.
I’ll be your bonsai, your beautiful bonsai,
Your black-eye bonsai, erotically rotting.
Will my tiny feet fit your desire?
Warped and tied I walk on fire.
Burn me out, twist my wrists,
I promise not to shout, beat me with your fists.
Squeeze me, squeeze me, make me feel,
In my red high-heels I’m an easy kill.
Tease me, tease me, make me see,
You’re the only one, I need to be me.
Thankyou, will you take me?
Thankyou, will you make me?
Thankyou, will you break me?
Use me don’t lose me,
Taste me, don’t waste me.
Use, lose, taste, waste.
Thanks to the great folks at Lulu’s who were very welcoming. I am really happy to have my work shown in St Louis, the most Catholic city in the US. My house-mate and I visited the Cathedral Basilica and were lucky enough to hear the guided tour. The Basilica shouldn’t be missed if you visit St Louis–the mosaic ceiling is singular. A few blocks away is Forest Park–larger than Central Park in New York–which has a museum campus that includes the St Louis Art Museum. On my previous visit I visited the SLAM as well as the St Louis University (SLU) Museum of Art.
Lulu’s is located in the neighborhood of Tower Grove South, a neighborhood full of ethnic restaurants: Italian, Ethiopian, Moroccan, Persian, Thai (2), Chinese, Sushi and Vietnamese (2) as well as a few diners and, of course, Lulu’s which is Vegan. If you visit the area, you might want to check out Dunaway Books a used bookstore just a few blocks from Lulu’s. There are a few bars and other interesting businesses all within a stretch of about 5 or 6 blocks. Of particular note is the grocery store, Jay International Foods.
The neighborhood bears the name of the park which is at its northern border. Within the park is the Missouri Botanical Garden, which includes the Climatron.
I am grateful to the artist, Nicole Horton, for the art show which just ended. I have been promised that my art will hang for at least the next 3 months, but unless another show comes along Lauren has suggested that it might be allowed to hang longer. Though, I would prefer to see another show of work as good as the work which preceded my own. This, I believe, would help to maintain the interest of the patrons in this venue as a showcase for local artists.
Please visit Lulu’s and contact me to let me know what you think, or even just to pass on a story or start a conversation. Who can tell where the inspiration for the next piece will come from?
Neko Case / Lady Pilot (this deserves a great fan-made video)
What?
Stars can’t fight city lights
They’ve turned their backs on us
It’s true today, I saw it from the plane
Aeroplanes were never built to fly
Down down down down…
Don’t look down
Don’t look now
Crosshairs of our shadow trace the dam
Told that there were people trapped alive
Boulder City looks like coals in the fire
Cabin’s perched by satellites
And now it’s flying down
We’ve got a lady pilot
She’s not afraid to die
It’s true today, I saw it from the plane
We’ve almost finished reeling in the sky
Power lines once laced the heavens
Pima County looks like coals in the fire…
Well, I don’t know why we come here
Guess I just needed the bang
We walk in the beef, and then we pull on the rope
And then the, then the hammer comes down
Cables
Cables
Cables
So I guess they know
I’m not no company man
But I can pull on a rope, I can kill a cow
Fast as any other fucker can
Cables
Cables
Cables
Is it that ambition trumps wisdom? A fundamental misunderstanding, long distance communications, power from afar with an intimate press and kabals hold sway? What’s gone wrong, what’s missing here? Oh, fuck it! Lets just put a Burger King in India.
cfjurgus collage art 