I've waxed eloquent
before about Stroke 9's classic songs from their older albums.
Like I say about The Waterboys,
Stroke 9 is very good at capturing a universal experience that everyone
has been through, in just a few short words. Luke, the lead singer,
once remarked that it was kind-of sick and sad that so many people can
relate to the sentiment in the chorus of their song "Little Black
Backpack..."
Just for a change,
I'll highlight something newer. Although this isn't from their latest
albums ("Cafe Cuts" or "All In"), this is one I
liked from their fourth album, "Rip It Off".
There are some people
who have stopped being friends with me, or vice versa, over the long
years, and the lyric I highlight (--well not all of it, but the part
of the lyric) contains something I'd like to say to them...
"Vacuum Bag" by Stroke
9
You'll
never know what happened to me
It's just one of those things
I was sitting by myself
And my thoughts started pouring out
Remember that time on our trip
You asked me where we were going
I said Barcelona
You said that's not what I meant
Maybe I'll never get it
I just don't think I'm like that
Don't like planning stuff out
It never happens that way
I'm
like a vacuum bag
That
holds all that old dirt
Remember that time we found your mom's Valium and took it?
Don't
hate me, don't regret me, don't ever forget me
Wherever you go, whatever you do, don't say I never loved
you
That
summer when we wore no shoes
And we danced on the Fourth of July
And we listened to your sister's records
And Frampton came alive
Even then you knew what you wanted
Even then I had no clue
I was just living in the moment
And the moment was all about you
Remember that time in LA
You asked we what we were doing
I said we're doing fine
You said here we go again
I'm like
a vacuum bag
That holds all that old dirt
Remember that time we said we'd be together forever?
'Cause
it matters to me
Can you hear me?
Everyday I ask the same thing
Will
you ever know what happened to me?
It happens everyday
And you wonder what went on
It's there and then it's gone
Maybe I'm sentimental
And I start to reminisce
And every time I do
I still want to tell you this... !
This quote from the song "Tail of the Sun"
has been on my homepage for a long time:
"The
Bee has got to be, and the Flea has got to flee, but as for me,
well... don't worry about me!"
Here's a treatment I wrote in 2001 when Stroke 9 took
a political stand:
Stroke 9 -- Alternate Version of "KICK SOME ASS"
After the attack on America on September the 11th, many Americans,
including radio D.J.'s, were, quite understandably, looking for a
fight to pick. And some of them set that desire to the music of Stroke-9,
which was basically in conflict with the artists' intentions. Greg
from the band wrote:
After the terrorist
attacks on 9-11, some radio stations around the country started
playing our song "Kick Some Ass" with sound bites from
the news, as a response and reaction to the national situation.
When we heard about this, we were very shocked and surprised. After
all, the song was initially a sarcastic response to the Limp Bizkits
of the music world. We're not violent people, and don't condone
violence at all, but we share this emotion with everyone in the
country, this anger in the face of such a terrible, destructive
act. So we looked at the song again, and wanted to change it to
reflect the confusion and struggle, the loss of security and safety
that we and many other people are feeling now, instead of just saying
let¹s randomly kick ass on whoever challenges us. This is the
first time most of us have ever experienced anything like this,
and it¹s hard to know how to feel about it.
The band re-wrote the lyrics and made what I think is a great statement
about the need for peace and justice. Until and unless the guys
in the band ask me to remove these lyrics, I'd like to honor them
by reproducing them here.
KICK
SOME ASS version 2.0
"I
used to feel secure / At home in the suburbs,
Nothing here ever went wrong / Now that time is gone.
We talk about world peace / The war's on TV,
It's never been something I've had to fear,
'cause it's never really been here...
"How
many people want to kick some ass ? ! ? !
[I do, I do...]
How many people are sick of holding it back?
[I am,] / Well I am too !
So don't you lay another finger on her / She's mine and I
still want her !
If you put your hands upon her, / you're a goner, goner !
How many people are sick of holding it back?
[I am, I am... ]
How many people want to kick some ass ? ! ? !
I know I do!
But I know violence is no answer to violence,
But it's hard to sit here watching in silence...
"I hate to hate, don't fight,
It's hard to know what's right.
Think you can tear us apart / Or try to break our hearts...
Well think again, you're wrong / We've been down this road
too long
Instead of breaking us down, / It's brought us all together
now.
"How
many people want to kick some ass ? ! ? !
[I do, I do...]
How many people are sick of holding it back?
[I am,] / Well I am too !
So don't you lay another finger on her / She's mine and I
still want her !
If you put your hands upon her, / you're a goner, goner !
How many people want to kick some ass ? ! ? !
[I do, I do...]
What'cha gonna do when you're sick of holding it back ?
[I think I'll kick some ass ! ]
Violence is no answer to violence,
But it's hard to sit here watching in silence... "
Thanks, guys, for taking a stand. All I'm trying to say on my own
pages about the terror and war is basically the same thing: I hate
to hate, and violence is no answer to violence... even though we
can't just sit here watching in silence.
Bonus: Here's the video for their most
famous song, "Little Black Backpack," courtesy mattjimes
of YouTube.
I really like this video, the way all the old girlfriends are hovering
outside Luke's apartment like ghosts -- and the way they ransack
his apartment, it's like how so many different little possessions...
this record, that hat, your favorite snack... remind us of past
loves and old flames. Very clever.
This song is copyright by Stroke 9. No ownership
or permission is expressed or implied. The accompanying audio clip is
for your "review purposes",
in other words, I am explicitly hoping that this sample inspires you to
go out and buy the song. And thereby avoid having Stroke 9 sue me.
