Friday, October 10, 2008

I hope the fences we mended fall down beneath their own weight



I heard The Mountain Goats' "No Children" used as the devastating music for an episode of Moral Orel on adult swim the other night called "Why Did You Marry Dad?" - the lead-up to it is here - and was once again struck by how perfect and singular this song is. This is old news to those that love this song. It is unflinchingly bitter, hilariously so, in way that transcends everything it says and is, in its way, a love song of rarefied genius.

I saw him/them perform at Red Star here a couple years ago (a club without a stage for the non locals) and the crowd formed a perfect dense semi-circle around him, bellowing the lyrics to this song right back at him like we were a convex mirror, focusing that which he radiates back onto him. One of the best concert moments ever.

I'd love to hear this belted out by that Young at Heart Choir, the senior citizens singing group that does David Bowie and Sonic Youth songs.

The above is some other anime sync up that isn't the Morel Orel segment or the Red Star night, but is something. here ar the lyrics for a belt-along:

No Children

I hope that our few remaining friends
Give up on trying to save us
I hope we come up with a failsafe plot
To piss off the dumb few that forgave us
I hope the fences we mended
Fall down beneath their own weight
And I hope we hang on past the last exit
I hope it's already too late
And I hope the junkyard a few blocks from here
Someday burns down
And I hope the rising black smoke carries me far away
And I never come back to this town
Again in my life
I hope I lie
And tell everyone you were a good wife
And I hope you die
I hope we both die

I hope I cut myself shaving tomorrow
I hope it bleeds all day long
Our friends say it's darkest before the sun rises
We're pretty sure they're all wrong
I hope it stays dark forever
I hope the worst isn't over
And I hope you blink before I do
Yeah I hope I never get sober
And I hope when you think of me years down the line
You can't find one good thing to say
And I'd hope that if I found the strength to walk out
You'd stay the hell out of my way
I am drowning
There is no sign of land
You are coming down with me
Hand in unlovable hand
And I hope you die
I hope we both die

1 comment:

  1. incredible song and the night he played at Red Star was one of the greatest nights of my life.

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