HYMNS 10

 

CHÉ/Judy Collins

One morning in Bolivia
The leader of the partisans and two of his companions
Were forced to flee the mountains for their lives
Through green and dusty villages they sped along the little roads
The peasants smiled and shouted as they hurried by
Jesus called out to every one "Don't think that we are leaving,
They only tried to frighten us with guns, we shall return,"

Continue with your work, continue with your talk
You have it in your hand to own your life to own your land
The people smiled and shouted and they ran along a little while
They stood and watched, their hands were restless and empty
The body of Jesus was in the jeep that they blew up
Before it reached the plane

The priest was proud to bless him or what there was
of him remaining in the afternoon

Continue with your work, continue with your talk
You have it in your hands to own your life to own your land
There is no one who can show you the road you should be on
They only tell you they can show you and then tomorrow they are gone

The smell of oil and incense fill the room in this adobe hut
Where on the table lies the body of a man
His face is pale and young, his beard is dark and curled
Pennies hold his eyelids from the evening light
People from the village those who knew him, those who killed him
Stand inside the door, their hands are restless and empty
They watch the priest make silent crosses in the air
And pray to God inside their hearts for their own souls

Continue with your work, continue with your talk
You have it in your hands to own your life to own your land
There is no one who can show you the road you should be on
They only tell you they can show you and then tomorrow they are gone

 

True Stories &

Other Dreams

                           

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

prism

 

now that the castle is beginning to fall

glass prism ice prone to stress & aggression

well intentioned people try to shore up its walls

with papier-mâché & past life regressions

 

it’s easier to guard the frozen stairs

than to tell you how much i care

but i do because i love you

& i’ll always try to be there

for you too

 

but we’ve heard it all

we’ve heard it all

yes, we’ve heard it all before

 

the children’s crusades are still marching

to the tune of violence & confetti

exposing veins & secrets

exploding little breasts

 

once our dreams seemed so tall

they could see us through reality

now confronted by the extinguishing

i feel so finite & so small

today a cruel awakening

 

little children are frightened too

their bodies tiny matchsticks

scatter as they fall

 

meanwhile deep in the wood

i would stay here if we could

but you prefer town

white, imported wedding gown

embroidered veil

shades of aquamarine

shadows in satins & blues

matrimonial frock

 

contra banned & arctic hues

knocked up on the auction block

steel fortress

iron maiden

specifically

redesigned

for

2

 

together we dreamed up this castle

little bits of colored glass reflecting chips

bit by little chips prism reflecting bits

no longer sheltering or transforming

little chips of rainbows reflecting

little bits of glass reflecting chips

 

too bad

so sad

we just let it go

 

all the good things we longed for once were true

there was a me

there was a you

defensive like a nursery rhyme

we both knew

                                                     never could

                                                     be true

 

so every dawn before i sleep

stars explode willows weep

wishing i knew just what to do

to show my need

my love for you

 

but we’ve seen it all

we’ve seen it all

yes, we’ve seen it all before

 

too bad

so sad

we just let it go

 

      goodbye...

 

 

JEFarrow

                                                      Year of OurSELF 2008

 

 

Pirate Jenny — a very free translation   You gentlemen can watch while I'm scrubbin’ the floors I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawkin’ And maybe once you tipped me and it made you feel swell In this low class waterfront, in this stinkin’ old hotel But you don’t know to who you're talkin'. No, you don’t know to who you're talkin'. Then one night there's a bang in the night And you wonder what the fuck could that have been? And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin' And you say, "Why’s she got that stupid grin?" And a ship with eight sails And fifty canons will be coming in Then you gentlemen can say, "Hey girl, finish them floors! Get upstairs! Earn your keep here!" You toss me your tips And look out at the ships But I'm countin’ your heads While I make up the beds ’cause no one’s gonna sleep here tonight None of you shits will sleep here tonight Then one night there's a scream in the night And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?" And you see me kinda starin' out the window And you say, "What's she got to stare at now?" And the ship with eight sails And fifty canons Turns around in the harbor Shootin' guns from her bow Then you gentlemen can wipe off that smirk from your face Every building in town is a flat one This whole fuckin' place will be torn to the ground Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound And you whisper, "Why did they spare that one?" And you whisper, "Why did they spare that one?" All the night through, through the noise and to-do You wonder who ‘s the person lives up there? And you see me stepping out in the morning Looking nice red ribbons in my hair And the ship with eight sails And fifty canons Runs a flag up its masthead And a cheer rings the air By noontime the dock Is all swarmin' with men Comin' off from that ghostly freighter They move in the shadows Where no one can see And they're chainin' up people And they're bringin' em all to me Askin' me, "Which ones should we kill?” Askin' me, "Which ones should we kill?" Noon by the clock And so still on the dock You can hear the fog horns miles away In that quiet of death I’ll say, ”Kill them all!” And as the heads roll to the ground They’ll pile up the bodies and I’ll say, "Serves you right!" Then the ship with eight sails And fifty canons Disappears out to sea And on it is me…

 

“Seeräuber-Jenny”

Bertolt Brecht lyrics

Kurt Weil music

 Sie sehen meine Lumpen und dies lumpige Hotel
Und Sie wissen nicht, mit wem Sie reden.
Und Sie wissen nicht, mit wem Sie reden.
Aber eines Abends wird ein Geschrei sein am Hafen
Und man fragt: Was ist das für ein Geschrei?
Und man wird mich Meine Herren,

Heute sehen Sie mich Gläser abwaschen
Und ich mache das Bett für jeden.
Und Sie geben mir einen Penny und ich bedanke mich schnell
Und lächeln sehn bei meinen Gläsern
Und man sagt: Was lächelt die dabei?

Und ein Schiff mit acht Segeln
Und mit fünfzig Kanonen
Wird liegen am Kai.

Man sagt: Geh, wisch deine Gläser, mein Kind
Und man reicht mir den Penny hin.
Und mit fünfzig Kanonen
Wird beschiessen die Stadt.

Meine Herren, da wird ihr Lachen aufhören
Denn die Mauern werden fallen hin
Und die Stadt wird gemacht dem Erdboden gleich.
Nur ein lumpiges Hotel wird verschont von dem Streich
Und man fragt: Wer wohnt Besonderer darin?
Und man fragt: Wer wohnt Besonderer darin?
Und in dieser Nacht wird ein Geschrei um das Hotel sein
Und man fragt: Warum wird das Hotel verschont?
Und man wird mich sehen treten aus der Tür am Morgen
Und man sagt: Die hat darin gewohnt?

Und das Schiff mit acht Segeln
Und mit fünfzig Kanonen
Wird beflaggen den Mast.

Und es werden kommen hundert gen Mittag an Land
Und werden in den Schatten treten
Und fangen einen jeglichen aus jeglicher Tür
Und legen ihn in Ketten und bringen vor mir
Und fragen: Welchen sollen wir töten?
Und an diesem Mittag wird es still sein am Hafen
Wenn man fragt, wer wohl sterben muss.
Und dann werden Sie mich sagen hören: Alle!
Und wenn dann der Kopf fällt, sag ich: Hoppla!

Und das Schiff mit acht Segeln
Und mit fünfzig Kanonen
Wird entschwinden mit mir.

 

slim slow slider

Slim slow slider
Horse you ride
White as snow
Slim slow slider
Horse you ride
Is white as snow
Tell it everywhere you go

Saw you walking
Down by the ladbroke grove this morning
           Saw you walking
           Down by the ladbroke grove this morning
           Catching pebbles for some sandy beach
           You’re out of reach

 

Saw you early this morning
With your brand new boy and his cadillac
Saw you early this morning
With your brand new boy and his cadillac
You’ve gone for something
And I know you won’t be back

I know you’re dying, baby
And I know you know it, too
I know you’re dying
And I know you know it, too
Everytime I see you
I just dont know what to do

 

Van Morrison