Saturday Song Salute (and a poem!)

It's Saturday morning, cold and miserable rain is what I see through my window. I wanted to go for a walk, but instead I think I'll stay in and write a blog. I already wrote a poem this morning, so I guess I'll begin by sharing it:

without the rain

as I sit here
with my shoulder to the rain,
with my heart flung open
like a notebook scarred by scribbles,
I think of you, here now, with your soft neck
pressed against my lips.
I peer out at the falling droplets
finding temporary homes
on blades of grass,
on folded flowers,
on fence posts,
in pavement puddles
and I wonder how many times
they splat the exact same spot.
life is like that;
we are like that.
our pasts fold over, our mistakes repeat.
but we discover happiness
in the answers we find in between,
though we're still learning
to grow, to become, to erase the parts
of who were were (and didn't need to be).
as I sit here
I think about these things
and realize I love you as I love life,
that one without the other
is like a storm without the rain.

by Mick Tomlinson.

Okay, so now it's time for a Saturday Song Salute. I've chosen a song by a band called Biffy Clyro. They are relatively new, only having been on the music scene since 2002, but in that time they've released 6 studio albums, so they're doing alright. The song I'm saluting today is from their 5th album, Only Revolutions (2009). The album as a whole is excellent, with only a few songs that I feel don't have the playability factor, but if I had to choose just one song as my favorite, it would have to be God And Satan. In breaking down the lyrics I find myself curious as to what exactly the lead singer (Simon Neil) is trying to convey, but as with many a great songs, God And Satan feels more like a gift of subjective journey for the listener, rather than a concrete stance on life by the singer.

Here's what I get out of it: in my constant quest for knowledge in subjects I find most fascinating (i.e. religion, society, politics, etc) I will tap every source I can find, even if it means learning from "the dark side". When I first started learning about politics I began my journey listening to right wing pundits (because that's the ideology that reigns supreme where I work) and quickly ascertained people like Rush Limbaugh grated against everything my heart stood for. I journeyed forward through the liberal talk show hosts and found the air to be more comfortable to breath there, and have since went further into libertarian/anti-gov't realm since watching our current president fumble on so many important issues. Another example, religion. I was raised in the Christian faith and believed in religion for most of my youth, but as I got older I allowed myself to explore every side of it and started learning about the history, people and events surrounding the time when much of it was written. And now, well, I won't get into that.

Anyway, I'm digressing. My point is that this song makes me think about my own journey through life. The ups and downs, the learning of new things by any means necessary, the rocky roads, the question marks, the relationships, the angry and confusing times, the lies told, the truth learned, the scary feeling of growing up. Also, the lead singer has a remarkable singing voice and gets poetical near the end, I like that. Okay, I'll shut up and let you listen now. Enjoy:


God And Satan (lyrics)

I talk to god as much
As I talk to satan
'Cause I wanna hear both sides
Does that make me cynical,
There are no miracles and
This is no miraculous life
I savor hate as much as I crave love
Because I'm just a twisted guy
Is this the pinnacle, Is this the pinnacle
The pinnacle of being alive?
Now I see the light

Well I look up to god
But I see trouble
'Cause this ain't a miracle
I just want to take my chance
To live through a miracle

I know for certain that someone
Is watching but is it from up or down?
I make you miserable you stick with me
Although you know I'm gonna
Ruin your life

I talk to god as much
As I talk to satan
'Cause I wanna hear both sides
Does that make me cynical,
There are no miracles and
This is no miraculous life
We walk into the tide

Well I look up to god
But I see trouble
'Cause this ain't a miracle
I just want to take my chance
To live through a miracle

When the see-saw snaps and splinters your hand
Don't come crying to me
I'll only see your good side
And believe it's a miracle, a miracle

I slap the water and watch
The fish dance to the ripples of us
We're just dull blue duds
Blinking eyes encased in rust
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
Ooohhh

Comments

  1. Great song choice and your poem isn't too bad, either, hehe. Welcome back, old friend.

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