Manassas - Stephen Stills
One of my all time favorite albums. I love when artists put together an album rather than a collection of songs. It seems that there was much more of the whole album concept happening in the late 60’s through the 70’s as LPs lent themselves to that. We don’t get as much of that anymore.
Here Stills has four thematic pieces to make a whole; The Raven; The Wilderness; Consider; Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay
Here is the album in its entirety. I suggest that you go out and buy it on vinyl sit back with big headphones and realize exactly how good Stills was on his best days. Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones plays bass on and co-authored “The Love Gangster” and is reported to have said that he would have left the Stones to join Manassas.
Still my theme song…
Wilderness - Middle Brother
If we got to know each other well enough we might end up as friends
I get along with everyone but recently I’m spent
I’m most happy when I’m dreaming of success
And all my good friends call me wilderness
Well every book I read gives different reasons to be free
And I’m being asked to say goodbye to the man I’ll never be
I’m actually fine with how things are turning out, I guess
And all my good friends call me wilderness
I plan to be the guy who when he drinks, he disappoints
They’ll say ‘you’ll kill yourself before you know it’
Well isn’t that the point? To make it all the more easier to digest?
And all my good friends call me wilderness
And I’m waiting for the day I can explain myself to you
But just because it’s honest, well that doesn’t make it true
And that’s the answer to the questions we have left
And all my good friends call me wilderness
Well I’ve found all my answers in a plan to be a star
To shine along in the sunrise towards which I lend no part
I’m not invited, but I hope they’re having guests
And all my good friends call me wilderness
There is just something about a woman in a good hat and top button FTW…
There’s nothing a few drinks outside won’t fix.
There is just something about a woman in a good hat…
Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen
I saw her standin on her front lawn just twirlin her baton
Me and her went for a ride sir and ten innocent people died
From the town of lincoln nebraska with a sawed-off .410 on my lap
Through to the badlands of wyoming I killed everything in my path
I can’t say that Im sorry for the things that we done
At least for a little while sir me and her we had us some fun
The jury brought in a guilty verdict and the judge he sentenced me to death
Midnight in a prison storeroom with leather straps across my chest
Sheriff when the man pulls that switch sir and snaps my poor neck back
You make sure my pretty baby is sittin right there on my lap
They declared me unfit to live said into that great void my sould
Be hurled
They wanted to know why I did what I did
Well sir I guess there’s just a meanness in this world
I wish this sweet little love shack was mine to spend summers in. Especially if I had a dude that’s good with his hands and loves rock n’ roll, I’d be set for sure.
*someday*
Shovels & Rope - So Lonesome I Could Cry. Hank Williams cover. From the Shovels & Rope EP.
Also related, an article from the Charleston Post & Courier (written around the time this song was released… shortly after) about the origins of the band: Hearst, Trent tour behind masterpiece.
