Köp AC/DC – Stiff upper lip.

Οι AC / DC είναι ένα αυστραλιανό ροκ συγκρότημα που σχηματίστηκε το Σίδνεϊ το 1973 από Σκωτσεζους της Αυστραλίας, τα αδέρφια Angus και Malcolm Young (Angus & Malcom  McKinnon Young).  Αν και το συγκρότημα ταξινομείται συνήθως ως hard rock και θεωρείται πρωτοπόρος των βαρέων μετάλλων, αυτοί ταξινομούσαν πάντα τη μουσική τους ως rock ‘n’ roll.

Η μπάντα υπέστη πολλές line-up αλλαγές πριν από την κυκλοφόριση του πρώτου τους  άλμπουμ, High Voltage, το 1975. H Σύνθεση παρέμεινε σταθερή μέχρι την αντικατάσταση του μπασίστα Mark Evans από τον Cliff Williams το 1977.  Η μπάντα που καταγράφει ιδιαίτερα επιτυχημένη πορεία με το άλμπουμ Highway to Hell το 1979. Αλλά στης 19 Φεβρουαρίου 1980 ο “πρώτος” τραγουδιστής και  συνθέτης Bon Scott πέθαινει μετά από μια νύχτα μεγάλης κατανάλωσης αλκοόλ απο αναρώφιση.

Η ομάδα εξέτασε εν συντομία την διάλυση του συγκροτήματος, αλλά σύντομα ο πρώην τραγουδιστής των Geordie, Brian Johnson είχε επιλεγεί για να αντικαταστήσει τον Scott. Αργότερα εκείνο το έτος, η μπάντα κυκλοφόρησετον δίσκο με τις μεγαλύτερες πωλήσεις σε άλμπουμ, με τίτλο Back in Black.

Ένα τραγούδι γραμμένο, από όλη την μπάντα και το νέο μέλος της Brian Johnson, για τον Bon Scott. “Θέλαμε ένα τραγούδι που να μας θυμίζει τον Βon αλλά να έχει δύναμη, να διλώνει την επιστροφή μας και να μην είναι καταθλυπτικό” δήλωσε ο “πρώτος” κιθαρίστας Angus Young και αυτό ήταν το “Back in Black”.

Επόμενο άλμπουμ του συγκροτήματος, “For Those About To Rock, We Salute You”, το οποίο ήταν το πρώτο τους άλμπουμ που πήρε την πρώτη θέση στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Οι AC / DC είχαν μια πτώση δημοτικότητας
αμέσως μετά τον ντράμερ Phil Rudd ο οποίος απολύθηκε το 1983 και αντικαταστάθηκε από τον μελλοντικό Dio ντράμερ Simon Wright. Ο Phil Rudd επέστρεψε το 1994 (αφού ο Chris Slade κλήθηκε να εγκαταλείψει υπέρ του) και συνέβαλε με το 1995 στο άλμπουμ της μπάντας με τίτλο Ballbreaker. Το 1991 πραγματοποιούν ένα από τα καλίτερα τους live, και ένα απο τα καλλίτερα live στον κόσμο, στο Donington στην Αμερική.

Το επόμενο τους άλμπουμ κυκλοφόρησε το 2000 με τίτλο “Stiff Upper Lip” και έτυχε να έχει ευνοϊκή υποδοχής από τους κριτικούς. Πιο πρόσφατο άλμπουμ του συγκροτήματος, είναι το Black Ice, το οποίο κυκλοφόρησε στις 20 Οκτωβρίου 2008 και συνοδεύτηκε από μια τεράστια περιοδία μέσα στα πλαίσια της οποίας ήρθαν και για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα. Από το 2008, οι AC / DC έχουν πουλήσει πάνω από 200 εκατομμύρια άλμπουμ σε όλο τον κόσμο, συμπεριλαμβανομένων 71 εκατομμύρια άλμπουμ στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Το Back in Black έχει πουλήσει περίπου 45 εκατομμύρια κομμάτια σε όλο τον κόσμο, καθιστώντας το υψηλότερο σε πωλήσεις άλμπουμ από κάθε ζώνη και το 2ο υψηλότερο σε πωλήσεις άλμπουμ στην ιστορία, πίσω από “Thriller” του Michael Jackson.

Το άλμπουμ έχει πωλήσει 22 εκατομμύρια μόνο στις ΗΠΑ, όπου είναι το πέμπτο κατά σειρά υψηλότερο σε πωλήσεις άλμπουμ. Οι AC / DC κατατάσσονται τέταρτοι στην λίστα του VH1 μέσα στους «100 μεγαλύτερους καλλιτέχνες του Hard Rock”  και η μπάντα πήρε το όνομά του έβδομου “Greatest Heavy Metal Band όλων των εποχών» από το MTV.  Το 2004, το συγκρότημα κατετάγη αριθμό 72 στη λίστα του περιοδικού Rolling Stone (το πιο καταξιομένο μουσικό περιοδικό στον κόσμο) των «100 μεγαλύτερων καλλιτέχνων όλων των εποχών”.

Ακόμα είναι μια από τις ελάχιστες μπάντες ανάμεσα σε group ή ακομα και ανεξάρτητους καλλιτέχνες που έχει την δικιά της οδό με τίτλο, φυσικά,  AC/DC Lane. Η “AC/DC Lane” είναι ένας δρόμος στη Βικτώρια της Μελβούρνης. Είναι ένα μικρό, στενό, που “κοιτάει” προς το νότο από το Flinders Lane μεταξύ Exhibition Street και Russell Street και βρίσκεται στην κεντρική επιχειρηματική περιοχή της Μελβούρνης.

Love it or hate it you cannot ignore Mr. Hudson’s reinvention at the hands of Mr. Kanye West.  This weeks song of the week is the one tune on the album I cannot get out of my head, Stiff Upper Lip.

It’s a melancholy song about the moment before the break up, and what happens next, “Now i’m walking back to our place / which is soon to be your place…” he bemoans at the start, then goes on to talk about arguments and camping outside at his mates place.

This all makes for a very heartfelt record (and probably one of the only times Auto-Tune does not sound retarded!).

Soulside Funk

The phrase “keep calm and carry on” was meant as World War II propaganda, but it was never used. One lone surviving poster resurfaced nearly 70 years later.

Photo taken from Keepcalmandcarryon.com

The poster was first designed in April of 1939 by the Ministry of Information during the war to influence public opinion. It was a series of three posters to keep up the motivational moral of the British people. According to a BBC News Magazine article, the government intended to use “keep calm and carry on” as a last resort if the Nazis had succeeded in invading Great Britain. It was supposed to signify the British attitude of having a “stiff upper lip.”

First poster of the series: “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution will Bring us Victory.”

Second poster of the series: “Freedom is in Peril”

The poster was rediscovered at Barter Books, a secondhand bookshop in Alnwick, Northunderland. The owners Stuart and Marly Nanely found the poster inside a book. They hung it up and customers were so enthralled with the poster, the couple have reprinted copies of the poster since 2000. In the BBC News Magazine, Mr. Manley said, “I didn’t know anything about it, but I showed it to my wife. We both liked it so we decided to frame it and put it in the shop.”

The phrase has become an international sensation. The Keep Calm and Carry On Gallery prints this slogan on tea towels, posters, t-shirts and even cufflinks.

What do you all think of “keep calm and carry on?” What helps you to remain calm?

♥ – Erin

British people don’t like to show their emotions. Stiff upper lip and all that. It’s still around in my generation – it seems the only time people feel free to show their true emotions in public is when completely drunk, because then at least they have an excuse. Unfortunately, this ’stiff upper lip’ culture is present in churches too. In many churches showing emotion is just not the done thing. If you have the urge show any outward expression of what is going on in your heart, you’d better sit tight and suppress it. And don’t even think about raising your hand in a worship song and distracting everyone by the sheer inappropriateness of it all.

Churches where people are free to show emotion are often dismissed and labelled as ‘misguided’, ‘charismatic’ (which is definitely used as a dirty word in some Christian circles), ‘wacky’, ‘happy clappy’ (another ‘insult’) or ‘doctrinally unsound’ . Of course, there are some churches that emphasize on emotions and neglect essentials such as the preaching and teaching of God’s word.  And of course, some emotional displays or outbursts are inappropriate. These things should clearly be avoided. But the disapproval of showing emotions in church stems mainly from our cultural upbringing, however much people attempt to back up their disapproval with theological reasons. If you don’t believe me, just go to an African church and spot the difference. Better yet, read any account of worship in the Bible.

Surely, if emotion is to be expressed anywhere, church should be the place? It is not irreverant to show emotion, in fact it is the opposite. Joy, awe and wonder, along with other emotions, are a suitable and fitting response to meeting with the almighty God. Some may find it ‘weird’ and get uncomfortable when people show emotions in church, but to me it is significantly more weird to go to a church service where people display no emotion until tea and coffee after the service, and are seemingly unaffected by the presence of God.

Authentic worship is what God requires:

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth - John 4:23-24

If you are supressing your emotions, how can you be authentic? Does God delight in your worship if you appear indifferent and, dare I say it, bored? What are you saying to God (and any non-believer observing you) if you are quite comfortable showing a whole range of emotions at a football match, or when watching a TV programme but when it comes to celebrating and praising your God and Saviour….nothing. When you are passionate about something you inevitably show emotion, you just can’t help yourself. How can we claim to be passionate about God in emotionless churches?

That’s why it gives me joy and reassurance to read throughout the Bible of believers who worshipped God with body and soul, who had intimacy with Him and who were not afraid to show their emotions.

This morning I was reading from the book of Ezra:

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD :
“He is good;
his love to Israel endures forever.”
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away. – Ezra 3:10-13

Psalm 149

¹ Praise the LORD.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the saints.

² Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.

³ Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with tambourine and harp.

⁴ For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with salvation.

⁵ Let the saints rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.

⁶ May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,

⁷ to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,

⁸ to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,

⁹ to carry out the sentence written against them.
This is the glory of all his saints.
Praise the LORD.

After hearing Zane Lowe have the first play of “Supernova” on Radio 1 back in May this year I knew we were in for a treat with the second studio album from Mr Hudson and I can safely say – I wasn’t wrong.

After huge demand and interest from featuring on and also co-producing tracks on Kanye’s “808’s & Heartbreaks” it was time for Mr Hudson to reap the success for themselves thus bringing the new album “Straight No Chaser” into the World.

The opener for the album is the track “Supernova” - the perfect way to kick the album off with it’s 120 bpm setting the pace nicely along with the mellow synths and hard hitting snare. Kanye West has his guest verse on this which compliments the track well with a helping hand from his good friend auto tune (something which occurs in a fair few songs from Hudson alone on the album) ’And i feel like taking off.’

Moving into track two and we have the latest single “White Lies.” For me this is a track which I wish I liked but I just can’t. It’s depressing tone just doesn’t sit well with me, add a whiney hook to the list and you get a pretty bad song but that’s just me. I do however think the song is well written lyrically.

“Knew We Were Trouble” is track three. Straight off from the first vocal this track carries the influences of David Bowie and the like with an edgy pop twist accompanied by solid production and the repetitive keyboard chords in the background. The hook ‘I just knew we were trouble when we first met,’ is catchy and delivered in a convincing style from lead singer Ben Hudson.

The track which follows is where the album get’s its name, “Straight No Chaser” is a brilliant song. It has auto tune but it also has great lyrics (to be honest, this is true throughout the album) again along with top class production and a catchy hook which is overlayed with a selection of chord harmonies and outer space sounding synths.

Track five is “Learning To Live.” This track again shows the David Bowie, The Police and Prince influences. The snare is something which really gets me, it sounds like its straight out of the 70’s from an electric drum pad and has that really tight hitting sound. Add in a few guitar strums and Ben singing about learning to live without a girl in his life anymore and you have got a really great record.

“Instant Messenger” is a more mellow and subdued song on the album. It talks on trying to send messages to someone but them being blurred and corrupt via the media (gossip, paparazzi etc). The talk on ’sending a text’ as a message is a metaphor for trying to talk to someone straight and say what you want to say without people from the outside interfering. A brilliant message of how real life is for a celebrity in these days.

Mr Hudson moves us onto the track “There Will Be Tears.” I wish I could describe the production on this track easily, I will try. It’s very, very minimalist and has a very silent buzz in the background whilst the track is driven by a beat which sounds like it has been made through the use of a glockenspiel and a few other minimalist techniques. A very clever concept.

“Stiff Upper Lip” is possibly my favourite track on the whole album, i even chose it as this weeks “Don’t Sleep on This” on episode 3. Hudson say’s ‘We’ve never been as fuc*ed as this’ and how he argues like kids with a partner due to him not being able to keep a ’stiff upper lip no more.’ This track again has a very minimalist sound and has the distinctive sounds of a banjo and guitar leading the track.

The name of the famous New York park “Central Park” is the name of track nine. I’ve said this for many of the tracks on the album but again the production is thin layered and it sounds better for it as the vocals from Ben can be shown off to their full potential and fully appreciated. The track features guest vocals from Joy Joesph which just sound amazing alongside Ben.

“Anyone But Him” features Kanye West with production from him too and so this track has a very slight Hip Hop edge but made within the Mr Hudson sounds which Kanye has taken on.

Kid Cudi features on “Everything Is Broken.” Ben repeats the lyrics ‘I was just your token, everything is broken, broken’ – the lyrics talk on how a man has been “taken for a ride” and used. A very good track, possibly even in my top 5 from the album.

Track twelve is “Lift Your Head” which is about living life to its fullest and forgetting the past. Ben say’s ‘please lift your head from your hands, tomorrow is another day’ – so simple yet so effective for a hook plus with strong female backing harmonies to accompany Ben making it sound even stronger. Another great track.

“Time” is about making the most of life and the situations which come along with it. The track discusses settling down and having a family and mainly revolves around a relationship and finding the time for everything they wish to achieve during their life times. I hate to sound repetitive but I can’t think of any other words to describe half of the tracks on the album aside from “great” and “amazing” – they really are just that, this being no acception. Plus the piano on this is beautiful.

Overall this album is amazing (forgive me). The production is sophisticated and very clever as well as the lyrics  and concepts, the topics are mainly based around love, loss and life journeys and in a way it’s a very inspirational listen, you just need to listen closey. To really appreciate this album I would say do exactly what I did whilst writing this review - sit in a quiet room, dim the lights, listen late at night, set it to a high volume and then feel inspired. This album is a true piece of art.

Words by me.

Another week, another episode of “Don’t Sleep on This.”

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

I look at my watch to find out
the right time of day
I look at her libido
hey hey hey
Gotta get up and climb her
and run around the hay				[to roll her on the hey]
Makin' [a | her] sweat, temperature rise
All through the day

Man it's gettin' hot hot hot
I said man it's gettin' hot hot hot
It's getting hotter
and hotter
Man it's getting hot hot
getting hot around here

It's a meltdown
it's a meltdown

I can feel it in my bones			[I got a feelin' in my bones]
I been rackin' my brains out
All night long
Stoke another fire 				[stokin' up the fire]
Take it right up to the wire
Burnin on and on
burnin' on

Man it's gettin hot, hot, hot
I said man it's getting hot, hot, hot
it's getting hotter
and hotter
man it's getting hot, hot
getting hot around here

yeah heh

it's a meltdown
it's a meltdown
it's a meltdown
it's a meltdown

(my brains)

man it's gettin' hot, hot, hot
I said man it's getting hot, hot, hot
it's getting hotter
getting hotter
and hotter
and hotter

it's a meltdown
it's a meltdown
it's a meltdown
it's a meltdown
it's a meltdown
gonna burn
it's a meltdown
I said burn down
it's a meltdown
meltdown
meltdown

it's a meltdown

it's a meltdown

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

Well I was out on a drive
on a bit of a trip
lookin' for thrills
to get me some kicks

now I warn you ladies
I shoot from the hip
I was born with a stiff
stiff upper lip

like a dog in a [house|howl|huff]	[walkin' down into hell]
I bite everything			[my body's on fire]
And I'm big and I know			[And I'm here to learn]|[and I'm bigger than you]
and I [felt|broke] your thing		[and I'll ball your thing]

Now keep a stiff upper lip
and I shoot from the hip
I keep a stiff upper lip
and I shoot
and I shoot
shoot from the hip

yeah I shoot from the hip

Now listen

Well I'm workin' it out
and I've done everything
and I can't be found no            	[and I can't reform no]|[and I carry a full load]
can you feel my sting			[can you feel my strength]

babe, I keep a stiff upper lip
and I shoot from the hip, yeah
I keep a stiff upper lip
and I shoot
and I shoot
and I shoot, shoot, shoot yeah
shoot from the hip

yeah yeah

(yeeeeeeah)

oh yes

yeah yeah

well I'm out on the prowl
and I found your thing               [and I'll ball your thing]
I've got the teeth that'll bite you
can you feel that sting?

babe, I keep a stiff upper lip
and I shoot from the hip
I keep a stiff upper lip
and I shoot,
shoot
shoot from the hip

I got a stiff upper lip, better believe me
stiff upper lip
comin' down
stiff upper lip
shave my stiff upper lip		[see my stiff upper lip]
yeeeeeeah
I got a stiff upper lip
stiff upper lip
stiff upper lip
I got a stiff upper lip
wooooooah yeah
stiff upper lip
stiff upper lip
I gotta stiff upper lip
and I shoot
and I shoot
and I shoot
shoot from the hip, yeah

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

Humdinger
Bell ringer
got a nasty stinger
To slow you down 

Mud slinger
gold digger
who point the finger
do you tell (?)		[and do you down]

Kickin' and fightin'
on [a | the] tv show
lightning blindin'
in the middle of the road

Are you coming in?
Are you coming in?
I said
come in to the house of
come in to the house of
come in to the house of jazz
come in to the house of
come in to the house of
come in to the house of jazz

yes

[pole | ball] stripper
big tipper
gotta slap and tickler
to make you [crawl | growl]
spittin' and bitin'
on the tv show
turnin', fightin'
givin' out a load

Are you comin' in?
are you comin' in?
I said
come into the house of
come into the house of
come into the house of jazz
come into the house of
come into the house of
come into the house of jazz
are you comin' in?

come on in

well are you comin' in?
are you comin' in?
I said 

come into the house of
come into the house of
come into the house of jazz
come into the house of
come into the house of
come into the house of jazz
yeah

are you comin' in?
do you come in?
I said
in to the house of jazz
come into the house of
come into the house of
come into the house of jazz

the house of jazz

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

I got a big fat cadallac built for you
I got a honk that'll blow the avenue
Got a hot love kickin ????????		[got a hot dog kickin' all bend my thing]
Got a sugar lookin' woman with a bald headed man
Give me Five oh, here boy, that's what I'll do
got a big fat mama who can hold a tune
Gotta slip that bone in, [hard and mean | alleluia]
a honky tonk woman got the best of me

can't hold me back
can't hold me back
can't hold me back
I'd get a heart attack
can't hold me back

got a honkytonk big ball hit to thrill
I got a sugar boot money baby that'll kill
a honkytonk 15 [quarter | golden] mile
got a bald headed woman loaded in the town
You can get me to the ball man, drivin' in
don't barbeque my ??????		[and don't balk the kill, call in the 'ville]
You gotta map the wrong town, hit the road
gotta hold back the woman ????????	[you got the whole boppa movin' on down the road]

can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you get a heart attack
can't hold me back

you can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you get a heart attack
can't hold me back

yeah

you can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you can't hold me back
you'll get a heart attack
can't hold me back      (hold me back)
can't hold me back      (hold me back)
you can't hold me back  (hold me back)
can't hold me back      (hold me back)
you can't hold me back  (hold me back)
can't hold me back      (hold me back)
you can't hold me back  (hold me back)
you can't hold me back

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

Hello baby, give me your hand
Check out the high spots, the lay of the land
You don't need a rocket or a big limousine (?)
Oooh, come on over baby and I'll make you obscene

I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City

All over the city and [all of | down to] the dives
Don't mess with this place, it'll eat you alive
Got a lip smackin' honey to [suck off | soak up] the jam
On top of the world ma, ready to slam

I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City

[Movin' | Runnin'] all over like a jumpin' bean
Take a look at that thing in the tight assed jeans
Comin' your way, now, you might be in luck
Don't you fret boy, she's ready to buck

I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City

I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City
I feel safe in New York City

Ready to make it 

New York
New York
New York

I feel safe in a cage in New York City

Throw away the key

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

Wooo

When I see a pretty woman
You know it give me a thrill
And she's tailor made to order
You know I can't stand still
And you won't need a doctor
'cause it'll cure all ills

And when I hear a noisy party
You know it gives me a chill
it gets me rockin' and a rollin'
And I can't stand still
from morning 'til midnight
You know I can't stand still

You know I can't stand still
I can't stand still
You know I can't stand still
I can't stand still
from morning 'til midnight
You know I can't stand still

ooh yeah

Well when it comes to sippin' honey
You know I drink my fill
and I'll be dancin' on the water
You know I can't stand still
from morning 'til midnight
You know I can't stand still

oh yeah

You know I can't stand still
I can't stand still
I can't stand still
You know I can't stand still
from morning 'til midnight
You know I can't stand still

You know I can't stand still
I can't stand still
baby I can't stand still
I just can't stand still
from morning 'til midnight
You know I can't
You know I can't stand still

(thank you lads, thank you lads, thank you)

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

??? yeah

oh yeah yeah

yeah 

Don't you give me no line
Better run if you can
Just like a thorn in my side
So don't give me no
Don't you give me no
Don't you give me no
Don't you give me no
lies

you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll

Don't you play me no jive
A bit of fun on the side
Too much crap make you blind
So don't give me no

don't you give me no
don't you give me no
don't you give me no
lies

you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll

I said, ah ah ah
ah ah ah
ah ah ah
ah
yeah

oh yeah
I said you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll

listen everybody say
ah ah ah
ah ah ah 

you can't stop rock n roll
you can't stop rock n roll

I said you can't stop rock n roll

you can't stop rock n roll

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

She makes the place a jumpin'
The way she move around
She like a romp and rollin'
That when she get it out
And when she start a rockin'
She bring me to the boil
She like to give it up some

new satellite blues (new satellite blues)
new satellite blues (new satellite blues)

A picture clear for watchin'
The dish is running hot
The box is set for pumpin'
she gonna take the lot
the way she get the butt in
she's gettin set to ball
I like to chew it up some

new satellite blues (new satellite blues)
new satellite blues (new satellite blues)
yeah, yeah
new satellite blues (new satellite blues)
new satellite blues (new satellite blues)

can't get nothing on the dial
the frickin' thing's gone wild
all I get is the god damned news		[all I get is the dumbed down news]
new satellite blues
yeah

new satellite blues (new satellite blues)
yeah
new satellite blues (new satellite blues)
I got the satellite blues (new satellite blues)
new satellite blues (new satellite blues)

This thing's nothing but a load of crap
I'm gonna send it right back
You can stick it where it hurts, Mac!

oh yeah
I got the new satellite blues
yeah

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

Don't smoke, don't fight, don't light no cigarettes
Or else you'll wind up in the can
no jokes, [don't write | no rights], sit tight, don't fool around
you are a guest of Uncle Sam
stand up, look right, don't slouch and stand at ease
Allow no sex above the knees
When I snap, you jump into the master plan

I'll be damned
well, I'll be damned
I'll be damned
If I drink or smoke
Damned, if I steal your joke
I'll be damned
If I go for broke
damned if I do
damned if I don't

Don't talk, don't fool, don't try to mess around
I'll make a monkey out of you
you sign your name right on the dotted line, boy

I'll be damned
I'll be damned
if I drink or smoke
damned
If I steal your joke
I'll be damned
if I go for broke
damned if I do
I'm damned if I don't, yeah

come on
I'll be damned
if I drink or smoke
damned
if I steal your joke
I'll be damned
if I go for broke
I'm damned if I do
I'm damned if I don't

I'll be damned
if I drink or smoke
damned
if I steal your joke
I'll be damned
If I go for broke
I'm damned if I do
And damned if I don't

I'll be damned
I'll be damned
I'll be damned
I'll be damned
I'll be damned
I'll be damned

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

Pickin' up the sleeze in my car
Hell no distance too far
Burning down the road in the night
Don't just call me, I'll bite            [don't you scold me or  I'll bite]

These are the finer things in life
don't think you live in paradise
I got my filly wrapped in red
Upon my double decker bed

if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)
if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)
if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)
if you want it
come and get it

suckin up the juice in the bar
downin' every shooter so far
checkin out the girls, what a sight
if you're gonna blow me, do it right

these are the finer things in life
don't think you live in paradise
I got my filly wrapped in red
Upon my double decker bed

if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)
if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)
if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)
if you want it
come and get it

come and get it
yeah

come and get it
(come and get it)
(yeah)
said if you want it
come and get it
if you want it
come and get it
yeah

Now listen
come and get it
if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)
if you want it
come and get it (come and get it)

I said if you want it
come and get it
if you want it
come and get it
if you want it
if you want it
if you want it
come and get it
come and get it right here

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

get ready

you think you're kind of tough
you're walking kinda rough
when you want any more
you go fast, wo, wo, wo 

things go tough
and you strut your stuff
and I want your thing
Then you're out of luck
yes you are

it's all screwed up
all screwed up
it's all screwed up
all screwed up

Take you out to kick some butt
Work you over screw your nuts
and when you can't take no more
then she push you out that door

when things go [hot | hard]
like a dog gone mad
she can pack some punch
and you're out to lunch
back at one

it's all screwed up
all screwed up
it's all screwed up
all screwed up

it's all screwed up
it's all screwed up
Can't tell I'm comin'
all screwed up
yeah yeah

yeah
it's all screwed up
all screwed up
Said you're all screwed up
all screwed up
it's all screwed up
yeah it is
all screwed up
it's all screwed up
all screwed up
yeah yeah yeah yeah
all screwed up
it's all screwed up
it's all screwed up

Said you think you pack some punch
but you're always out to lunch

all screwed up
it's all screwed up
it's all screwed up
yes it is
all screwed up

yeah
it's all screwed up
yeah

                          Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
                              (Young, Young)

ooh yeah

well there'll be no words of fightin'
around here
'cause nothin don't matter
'cause it ain't clear
well it could be on a Monday
or it could even be a Sunday
so if you can't stand the distance
you better disappear
do I make myself clear?

I'm ready to rock
I'm gonna rip it
ready to rock
yeah I'm gonna stick it
give it up give it out
whip it up all about
stick it up, shout it loud

come on
give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up

oh yeah

well there's a big storm a howlin'
around here
And there be no wine, no sinnin'
and no beer

I'm gonna aim to fire a rocket
there ain't no damn way to stop it
I got a sure fire bullet
to get you out of here
I said do I make myself clear?

I'm ready to rock
yeah I'm gonna whip it
ready to rock
yeah, I'm gonna stick it

give it up give it out
I said whip it up all about
you gotta stick it up, shout it loud
come on
give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up

I'm going crazy on a wild man's night
take your pick of anything you like
give it up
give it up

sittin' pretty, all ready to bite
she give it up I get a cream delight
give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up

give it up give it out
whip it up all about
you gotta stick it up, shout it loud
give it up all around
giving it up
give it up give it up
give it up
giving it up
whippin' it in and whippin it out
giving it up
stick it up, stick it out, stick it in
giving it up
give it up
all around

give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up
giving it up
sticking it out
giving it up
giving it up

come on
give it up
give it baby

do I make myself clear?

And a new era dawns. She’s officially back with him, and living in his home. Our fifty-five nights together were tender and passionate and it’s hard getting to sleep without her beside me.

But I have more time now. The apartment is spic and span. I can eat a wider, cheaper variety of foods.  I’ll be able to actually start saving money and spending time with my friends.

And it’s almost embarrassing to admit I’d give all that up just to smell her again.

And if you’re reading this, and I’m pretty sure you eventually will… it’s better for this to be over. You couldn’t stay with me and stay you. I’d try to prevent you from making decisions that would hurt you, and that would be suffocating. Or I could go along with your decisions, regardless of consequence; but then I’d have to watch you hurt yourself and me. And I think I’ve hurt you enough.

Sometimes there is no right answer. You move on, and you hold on to what pieces of light you can, because they’re the only things that can soothe the pieces of darkness we carry like old shrapnel wounds.

Strange – my desire for books to write to (ha!) in which to write. I’m seeing they’re all shapes and sizes, the words and the books. I think: when I sell the house, I’m going to buy boxes of books – all the same size and colour. Then I think: if I opened a store, I could sell my favourite (blank) books.  Then I think: Ya, to myself.  I smile at this.

This hurts a little.  My lip, my upper lip – which is supposed to be stiff – started to trouble me yesterday. I immediately chastise myself for not drinking enough water. I think of G. and “worry” about her not drinking enough water. This leads to all sorts of other thoughts, which I won’t write about. At least not in this paragraph. I realize, with some surprise, that my thoughts are like gathering clouds that seem to feed each other. I think, “I don’t know enough about how weather works,” that maybe if I did I’d have a fighting chance at fighting down this weather system I feel trapped in (in which I feel trapped).

I remember, finally, how I burned this upper lip: stiffly, with steaming hot camomile tea from Tim Horton’s on Friday night. The scalding came at the moment a friend uttered the words “mercy f*uck”. She said it with the smirk of the married, it came to me like the tea, and like a lexicon I don’t get and don’t ever want to get.  I want to say to her, to the world, I don’t get you, and I don’t want to get you.

Just kidding, she claims to the other person, the three of us standing there. The other person seems to get it. It’s all too late, I burn my lip badly, choke on the hurt, she looks at my forced smile and her look seems to say, I know you don’t get it, it doesn’t matter, you’re not one of us, never were, it doesn’t matter the look says, in the end we don’t really care.

No gurls allowed, the look says. I want to say, I don’t / didn’t want to be allowed first, first before you didn’t allow me, like resenting I’m not invited simply and only because I wanted to be the one who said, Thanks, but I can’t make it. Thanks, tho. Really.

~

This morning I see the irritation has spread to the corner of my mouth. It looks like a cold-sore-in-waiting. I look up Cold Sores in Louise Hay’s book.

Cold Sores (Fever Blisters) See: Herpes Simplex

[Probable cause] Festering angry words and fear of expressing them.

[Affirmation] “I only create peaceful experiences because I love myself. All is well.”

This I understand.

I look up Herpes Simplex. See: Cold Sores

[Probable cause] Burning to bitch. Bitter words left unspoken.

[Affirmation] “I think and speak only words of love. I am at peace with life.”

This I get.

I collect all the things, the journals, the pens, the coffee, the smokes and come outside to write. I write here on the first page of a new journal. I hesitate. A virgin book, it should be important how I begin, this being an inauguration of sorts. I should worry about what I write here, on these first pages. I think, for a moment, that the new book offers itself to me as a kind of mercy f*uck.

I’m not sure about this thought. I draw doodles of boxes, the poontang patois irony of it all slams home.

I realize I get it but that I don’t want to, that I’m suddenly grateful that this libido has never left room for the notion, and that maybe, just maybe, one day at a time, it never will. I add it to this vague list of  important questions I want to ask my twin flame when he appears. Do you get this, do you ever want to understand this, live like this? No? I feel the relief like a small mist coming to dissipate the clouds, like an unassuming lotus opening, relief like a Sanford Uni-Ball (Fine) pen scratching on an unlined, Canson, Universal Sketch Book, 9×12, 65lb, microperforated, acid free, improved surface for fine and broad lines, versatile, opaque white that erases clean.

I think, at the last, that maybe bitter words are best left unspoken, that maybe love can and does smother the burning. That maybe creating a joyful life narrows our focus, like being on the beam, and so being, erases words and notions clean, clean, like a rain from that merciful sky showering us with that thirsty, consummated piece peace.

Amen.

/lgh