Thursday, February 01, 2007

Ballad of Easy Rider

I listen to music all the time, but I have to admit it's been a long time since an album has really grabbed me to the point that I want to listen to it every day for consecutive days. Last Sunday as I was heading out to visit my parents I grabbed a cassette tape for the car ride (yes, I said "cassette"--it sounds just as good as a cd and you can get more music on it!). Anyway, since it was a Sunday morning, I wasn't looking for anything loud or fast (this has been a habit of mine for many years--my brother even remarked on it once by calling it my "Sunday music"). I hadn't listened to The Byrds in a while, so when I saw the tape labeled simply "The Byrds," I grabbed it on my way out. Another habit of mine is not to go into too much detail on the cassette label, so I wasn't even sure what was on the tape. While driving across the Casciano Bridge, the title song came on and hit me just right. Jesus, this is great, I thought, what album is this? I didn't know. I vaguely remembered borrowing some Byrds cds from a guy I used to work with and taping a bunch of them (some I had on vinyl, but others I had never owned). Now, at least six years later, I was finally getting around to listening to it and enjoying it immensely (thanks, KJ!). Is there anything better than listening to great music while driving alone in a car? It's almost like a religious experience with me. Maybe it was just the right album at the right time for me, I don't know. Who understands the mysteries of music and our connections to it? I just loved the flow of the whole album, but the title song in particular has become a personal obsession. I've listened to it every day since Sunday.

3 Comments:

Blogger ope said...

nuthin better. open window. the dark. sudden chill of late sept. on 95 from dc to bawlmer for a night of debauch. live bruce box set. still ranks #1.

3:24 PM  
Blogger ope said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

3:24 PM  
Blogger Gina said...

It was autumn of my discontent. The only cassette I owned in the world was a mix you had compiled for "Motherless Children". It was the best driving music. California Stars, Whispering Pines....I Can't say how many times, John Prine's 'In Spite Of Ourselves' pulled me back from the brink of divorce...

In Spite Of Ourselves
She don't like her eggs all runny
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She's my baby I'm her honey
I'm never gonna let her go

He ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He's my baby
And I'm his honey
Never gonna let him go

In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.

She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She takes a lickin'
And keeps on tickin'
I'm never gonna let her go.

He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He's a wacked out werido and a lovebug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he's howlin' at the moon
He's my baby I don't mean maybe
Never gonna let him go

In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.


Ugh...

5:24 PM  

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