Two nights ago, as I was burping TwoBoo, I watched part of the movie "Billy Elliot."
Since then, the song "A Town Called Malice" by Jam has been running through my head. The part I've been thinking of happens just before the lyrics "Struggle after struggle, -- year after year." As Billy does the hand-over-hand choreography on the steps, the singer scats:
Ba ba ba ba
Ba da ba
Ba ba ba da ba
Whoa
Ba ba ba ba
Ba da ba
Ba ba ba da ba
So I thought I'd post about it for LK Ludwig's invitation to blog a Day of Sharing Song. Here are the lyrics:
Better stop dreaming of the quiet life - cos it's the one we'll never know
And quit running for that runaway bus - cos those rosey days are few
And - stop apologising for the things you've never done,
Cos time is short and life is cruel - but it's up to us to change
This town called malice.
Rows and rows of disused milk floats stand dying in the dairy yard
And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts
Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
It's enough to make you stop believing when tears come fast and furious
In a town called malice.
[Singer scats here]
Struggle after struggle - year after year
The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice -
I'm almost stone cold dead
In a town called malice.
A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef gets dashed against the Co-op
To either cut down on beer or the kids new gear
It's a big decision in a town called malice.
The ghost of a steam train - echoes down my track
It's at the moment bound for nowhere - just going round and round
Playground kids and creaking swings - lost laughter in the breeze
I could go on for hours and I probably will - but I'd sooner put some joy back
In this town called malice.
I had no idea the lyrics were so dark! But it's in keeping with Billy's worries, though, since his miner father is losing money every day while on strike, and his mother is dead.
But I like its "you might as well be yourself amid the misery" tone. Especially this part:
stop apologising for the things you've never done,
Cos time is short and life is cruel - but it's up to us to change
I might have to tattoo this part onto my forehead, backwards, so I can read it in the mirror every morning.
Some of the lyrics work for my life right now too, what with the Economic Meltdown.
So I started another book to help me deal with some of my fears about risk and the future.
You can probably figure out the financial situation I've been dealing with. It came agonizingly close to falling apart just before I had my c-section. Thank God I'm not in such dire straits as Billy Elliot's family... but everyone has their troubles. And it's fuel for the artistic engine, I guess:
“Without fear and illness, I could never have accomplished all I have.” -- Edvard Munch
Since then, the song "A Town Called Malice" by Jam has been running through my head. The part I've been thinking of happens just before the lyrics "Struggle after struggle, -- year after year." As Billy does the hand-over-hand choreography on the steps, the singer scats:
Ba ba ba ba
Ba da ba
Ba ba ba da ba
Whoa
Ba ba ba ba
Ba da ba
Ba ba ba da ba
So I thought I'd post about it for LK Ludwig's invitation to blog a Day of Sharing Song. Here are the lyrics:
Better stop dreaming of the quiet life - cos it's the one we'll never know
And quit running for that runaway bus - cos those rosey days are few
And - stop apologising for the things you've never done,
Cos time is short and life is cruel - but it's up to us to change
This town called malice.
Rows and rows of disused milk floats stand dying in the dairy yard
And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts
Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
It's enough to make you stop believing when tears come fast and furious
In a town called malice.
[Singer scats here]
Struggle after struggle - year after year
The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice -
I'm almost stone cold dead
In a town called malice.
A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef gets dashed against the Co-op
To either cut down on beer or the kids new gear
It's a big decision in a town called malice.
The ghost of a steam train - echoes down my track
It's at the moment bound for nowhere - just going round and round
Playground kids and creaking swings - lost laughter in the breeze
I could go on for hours and I probably will - but I'd sooner put some joy back
In this town called malice.
I had no idea the lyrics were so dark! But it's in keeping with Billy's worries, though, since his miner father is losing money every day while on strike, and his mother is dead.
But I like its "you might as well be yourself amid the misery" tone. Especially this part:
stop apologising for the things you've never done,
Cos time is short and life is cruel - but it's up to us to change
I might have to tattoo this part onto my forehead, backwards, so I can read it in the mirror every morning.
Some of the lyrics work for my life right now too, what with the Economic Meltdown.
So I started another book to help me deal with some of my fears about risk and the future.You can probably figure out the financial situation I've been dealing with. It came agonizingly close to falling apart just before I had my c-section. Thank God I'm not in such dire straits as Billy Elliot's family... but everyone has their troubles. And it's fuel for the artistic engine, I guess:“Without fear and illness, I could never have accomplished all I have.” -- Edvard Munch