Archived comment by Joe Napalm:
"It's merely symptomatic of our postmodern ennui. There are no absolutes,
unless you define our life as meaningless, when it's really your own
freedom you detest!

...I like pork!"

-Jn-
Efreeti Sophist

Archived comment by Apple:
Hmm, wondered why I was feeling melancholy.

Archived comment by Intelligirly:
And now, "Poughkeepsie", one of my all-time favorite songs. Also Over the Rhine, sorry, musical accompaniment not included.

I thought I'd go up Poughkeepsie,
look out o'er the Hudson,
and I'd throw my body down on the river.
And I'd know no more sorrow,
I'd fly like the sparrow
and I'd ride on the backs of the angels tonight.

I'd ride on the backs of the angels tonight.
I'd take to the sky with all my might.
No more drowning in my sorrow,
no more drowning in my fright,
I'd just ride on the backs of the angels tonight.

There are those who know sorrow
and those who must borrow
and those whose lot in life is sweet.
Well I'm drunk on self-pity,
scorned all that's been given me,
I would drink from a bottle labeled Sure Defeat.

I'd ride on the backs of the angels tonight.
I'd take to the sky with all my might.
No more drowning in my sorrow,
no more drowning in my fright,
I'd just ride on the backs of the angels tonight.

Then the skies, they fell open
and my eyes were opened
to a world of hope falling at my feet.
Now I've no more or less
than anyone else has,
what I have is a gift of life I can't repeat.

So I go up Poughkeepsie,
look out o'er the Hudson
and I cast my worries to the sky.
Now I still know sorrow,
but I can fly like the sparrow
'cause I ride on the backs of the angels tonight.

I ride on the backs of the angels tonight.
I take to the sky with all their might.
No more drowning in my sorrow,
no more drowning in my fright,
I'll just ride on the backs of the angels each night.

Archived comment by Intelligirly:
Here we are--a little Over the Rhine, though not the one I was looking for.



What a beautiful piece of heartache
This has all turned out to be
Lord knows we've learned the hard way
All about healthy apathy

I use these words pretty loosely
There's so much more to life than words

There is a me you would not recognize, dear
Call it the shadow of myself
And if the music starts before I get there
Dance without me, you dance so gracefully
I really think I'll be okay
They've taken a toll, these latter days

Nothing like sleeping on a bed of nails
Nothing much here but our broken dream
Oh, but baby, if all else fails
Nothing is ever quite what it seems

And I'm dying inside to leave you
With more than just cliches

There is a me you would not recognize, dear
Call it the shadow of myself
And if the music starts before I get there
Dance without me, you dance so gracefully
I really think I'll be okay
They've taken their toll, these latter days
They've taken their toll, these latter days

Tell them it's real
Tell them it's really real
I just don't have much left to say
They've taken their toll, these latter days
They've taken their toll, these latter days

Archived comment by Intelligirly:
All alone on a Friday night--I'm feeling a bit melancholy this evening, and have turned just the faintest tinge of blue. That comfortable loneliness that wraps you up in its arms and tells you to just lay your head against its misty shoulder and weep softly while you can. The kind of sadness that almost seems to care about you. The sighing sweetness that rocks you gently in the fog.

What an appropriate thread for this I've come to. Now I'm wishing I had a few songs on hand.

Archived comment by tim:
Yeah more like a month Denise.
steff..........I'm.......speechless
( of course the Screamin Jay Hawkins version is my favorite)
But yeah..Nina..what a voice.

Archived comment by Denise:
Ohh. I LOVE Nina Simone.

I was so sad when she died... what - 2 weeks ago?

Archived comment by steff:
just have to throw this in... nina simone

I put a spell on you
'Cause you're mine

You better stop the things you do
I ain't lyin'
No I ain't lyin'

You know I can't stand it
You're runnin' around
You know better daddy
I can't stand it cause you put me down

I put a spell on you
Because you're mine
You're mine

I love ya
I love you
I love you
I love you anyhow
And I don't care
if you don't want me
I'm yours right now

You hear me
I put a spell on you
Because you're mine

Archived comment by tim:
Nice tunes ladies!

Archived comment by Denise:
Ooooh.. and some Etta James..

If I Had Any Pride Left At All

I wouldn't count the times
we talked about tomorrow
I wouldn't sing the lines
if someone played our song
And on lonely nights like this
when I need a friend
You'd be last one I'd call
If I had any pride left at all.

I wouldn't make a place
just to set your picture
Reach and touch your face
Feel you in my arms
I wouldn't be here now
parked outside your house...
not ashamed...not ashamed... to crawl..
if I had any pride left at all.

Cause only a fool would still be wearing
this ring.. and ringing.. ringing..
your front doorbell..

I wouldn't let my heart
stay wrapped around your finger
I wouldn't fall apart
when you opened the door
and like all the other times
when your eyes met mine..
these tear drops.. they wouldn't fall

If I had any pride left at all..

Archived comment by daen:
Allow me to contribute to the mood:
I'm feeling mighty lonesome
Haven't slept a wink
I pace the floor and watch the door
And in between I drink
Black Coffee
Love's a hand me down brew
I'll never know a Sunday
In this weekday room

I'm talking to the shadows
1 o'clock to 4
And Lord, how slow the moments go
When all I do is pour
Black Coffee
Since the blues caught my eye
I'm hanging out on Monday
My Sunday dreams to dry

Now a man is born to go a lovin'
A woman's born to weep and fret
To stay at home and tend her oven
And drown her past regrets
In coffee and cigarettes

I'm moody all the morning
Mourning all the night
And in between it's nicotine
And not much hard to fight
Black Coffee
Feelin' low as the ground
It's driving me crazy just waiting for my baby
To maybe come around

My nerves have gone to pieces
My hair is turning gray
All I do is drink black coffee
Since my man's gone away

(as sung by Ella Fitzgerald)

Archived comment by Noyock:
Melancholy songs...here's one by Great Big Sea that's been one of my favourites since I first heard it.


Girl don't tell me that it's morning
Can we keep the curtains drawn?
I haven't given you fair warning
But our ship, she sails at dawn
And its true I must be going
But I swear I won't be long
There isn't that much ocean between Boston and St. John's
But I'm a rover and I'm bound to sail away
I'm a rover, can you love me anyway?

And if some suitor comes approaching
Will you let him through your door?
And what if I return half-broken?
Will you still want me anymore?
And it's true I must be going
But I swear I won't be long
There isn't that much ocean between Boston and St. John's
But I'm a rover and I'm bound to sail away
I'm a rover, can you love me anyway?

Oh close your eyes and dream
And tell me what you see
Tell me what you want
Just tell me that you'll wait for me
But oh don't tell me that its morning
Can we keep the curtains drawn?
I haven't given you fair warning
But our ship, she sails at dawn
And it's true I must be going
But I swear I won't be long
There isn't that much ocean between Boston and St. John's
But I'm a rover and I'm bound to sail away
I'm a rover
I'm a rover
I'm a rover, can you love me anyway?

Archived comment by marinerd:
In that spirit, here's one of my old favorites, by countless artists:

Why do you grieve?
Try and believe
Life is always sunshine
When the heart beats true
Banish your fears
Smile through your tears
When you're sad
It makes me feel the same as you...

Come to me my melancholy baby
Cuddle up and don't be blue
All your fears are foolish fancy, maybe
You know, dear, that i'm in love with you;

Every cloud must have a silver lining
Wait until the sun shines through
Come on and smile, my honey dear,
While i kiss away each tear
Or else i shall be melancholy too...

Archived comment by tim:
Well seeing that I've killed yet Anothe thread...May as well put the friday song here.

Brian Eno

On Some Faraway Beach

Given the chance
I'll die like a baby
On some far away beach
When the season's over.

Unlikely
I'll be remembered
As the tide brushes sand in my eyes
I'll drift away.

Cast up on a plateau
With only one memory
A single syllable
Oh lie low lie low.

Archived comment by tim:
Awwwwwwww
I care Kat.
We always went to the Cape in the winter.
You practically have the place to yourself.
No lines at restaurants, cheaper rooms, indoor pools if you want to swim.
It was great.

Archived comment by Kat:
Just a little something most of you probably don't know, or even care about:

I spent 6 months on Cape Cod, (East Sandwich) just down the road from the beach. It was winter though and the BEST freaking winter I have ever experienced. It was so mild and wonderful! I never even wore my winter coat once! Of course, all the locals thought we were nuts but hey, we're from Canada and even worse, the prairies. That wasn't winter, it was fall with some BIG fluffy rainfall intermittantly. It was the best destination spot I have ever been to and the food was so cheap compared to Sask. No traffic, no tourists. Only locals.

We came back in the summer and I would highly suggest you skip Cape Cod in the summer. GAH! Wall to wall people.

Archived comment by Denise:
All my loafers are named Muffy and Todd.

So there.

Smartypants Apple. *grin*

I would say our stop in Buzzard's Bay on the Cape proved the "not everyone is rich and spoiled theory". They didn't even have a Dunkin Donuts... it was sad, really... great beer, though.

I guess I was assuming that Cape Cod Comm College was for the richies that flunked out so dramatically their parents couldn't even BUY them into a normal college.

We gave up trying to get to Martha's Vineyard.
$56 per person round trip?
Just to get there?
And you have to pay for parking, too?

Uhhh...no.

We spent the whole day in Provincetown, instead.
A phenomenally fantastic idea, I feel.
It was a blast...
I've never seen a quaint little shop selling lighthouses and anchor sweatshirts next to Lenny's Leather Sex World...

Archived comment by Apple:
"...with penny loafers named Muffy and Todd."

Um, why would they name their loafers??

*grin*

Archived comment by penguinchick:
There are some places on the Cape that arent just for spoiled people...I cant think of any off-hand, but I'm sure they're out there. And, I'd like to add just cuz I'm so excited about it-I have a house down the Cape all summer for free!! (My grandfather had to go into a nursing home for it to happen, but I'm still excited)

Archived comment by Jon:
Denise, you're thinking of the Vineyard. If there were a Martha's Vineyard Community College, that would be a bit more... specious.

Archived comment by tim:
Most of the spoiled ass kids go away to school.
Their " staff's" children go to CCC

Archived comment by Denise:
When I was in New England, I drove right past this institution and wondered what sort of spoiled ass group of kids must attend? (name link)

I pictured lots of people in madras shorts and pink Izods with penny loafers named Muffy and Todd.

How to Hire Good Help MGMNT 101
Yaughting PHY 1A
Large Parties (how to throw them)- SOC 201
Versace to Prada FAS 101
Living and Dying like Kennedy's HIS 101

Archived comment by Paul:
No, just Southside- and only parts of that. Richmond also has some ancient and immensely valuable mansions, as well as obscenely expensive houses in prime locations. Lotsa old money here, and plenty of new money- and also plenty of areas so poor that they resemble war zones. I once drove through one such area by mistake, and it was made very clear to me that I was not welcome there, even in my 1985 Honda.

Archived comment by ParU:
What's so funny about 'East Palo Alto' is that it's just on the other side of the freeway from Palo Alto (home of Stanfurd Jr. College), where the houses average about 1.5 millon per. (Honest).

So yeah Paul, East Palo Alto's kinda like Richmond, VA (*gryn*).

Archived comment by tim:
It's important to be good at something.

Archived comment by hypoxic:
At one point EPA was the murder capital of the US too.

and I won't start my UCLA jokes either ;)

Archived comment by Matt:
Paul, you ever see New Jack City or Menace to Society? It's kinda like that, taken down a notch.

Archived comment by Paul:
So for the benefit of us living in the rest of the world, could someone please describe East Palo Alto? Is it like Southside Richmond, or like the Lyle Avenue/Child Street area of Rochester?

Archived comment by BB:
I wonder what sort of classes would be taught at the UEPA...

Archived comment by joi (f):
One of the weirdest brochures I got when applying to college was from *The College of Wooster* ...
Why not Wooster College, you ask? I have no idea. There were cows and men in kilts on the cover, thought it was a joke until I went to the website.
I'm from Dallas... and there's a college here called EL CENTRO.

Archived comment by Expatriate:
On the 101 to Dumbarton Br. commute home one night my car broke down in East Palo Alto.

Now that's the feeling of true dread, when you're broke down in EPA, commute is almost over (aka only the 'locals' will be left soon), and it's getting dark. Add to that every tow company in the phone book declining to come tow you because you're in EPA, and any friend coming to the rescue will be awhile because they have to fight traffic too. (BTW I'm female) Ahhhhh, Bay Area memories...

Archived comment by ParU:
Well - sorta Matt - you really did grow up not in LA. The University of Spoiled Children isn't in 'Compton', it's in Downtown LA (but still an extremely dangerous place to be after dark).

Why yes, my brother did go to UCLA and I went to Cal, how could you tell?

Archived comment by Matt:
Not that our oxygen-deprived friend can't answer for himself, but he and I are both Cal grads.

And I don't know about him, but I grew up south of L.A., so at the very least I watched the SC/LA football game every year with rapt attention. Doesn't everyone know about USC, what with their being located in the heart of Compton and having a famous film school and a sometimes-excellent football team?

Archived comment by isuckatthis:
are you a bruin, hypoxic? we're usually the only ones to mention that lowly university...

Archived comment by BoA:
*falls over laughing* East Paley definitely needs more apologizing....especially now it's getting an Ikea....

Archived comment by hypoxic:
but there is a University of South Central (USC)

What?

Archived comment by ParU:
Yes Matt got it right. That's why Eve thought it was funny. Sorry, Bay Area type joke.

Of course, Eve's grandfather went to grad school in Brooklyn, so anything is possible.

Archived comment by Matt:
I don't think it can get more unreasonable than University of East Palo Alto. That's kind of like saying University of Compton, or University of South Side Chicago, or... you get the idea.

I'd be laughing my frickin' ass off.

Archived comment by three-legged pi:
That must be what they call a "silent slash".

Archived comment by That Weird Chick:
Well, I've seen more unlikely schools...there's a University of Staten Island, after all...

FP!

Archived comment by hypoxic:
Heh E Palo Alto needs more apologizing.