Yesterday, I went back to my old stomping grounds. We are deep in the middle of moving this weekend, but we thought we’d take advantage of the weather and see friends since they were having an open base day on Saturday. Played golf, got rained on, then went to see the headline event they had. Starship was there to play for about 1+45 right before they had fireworks. Many of the older crowd did not realize that this was NOT quite the Jefferson Starship, that I grew up with and I remember. Still a good show nonetheless and they played a lot of songs that I remember, including We Built This City which has the distinction of being labled “the single worst single ever constructed, according to Blender’s ranking of reeking tunes.” Who cares what the critics think anyway? I like it and with a few beers it sounded just fine.
Taste in music is one of those things that is hard to quantify anyway. For example, while packing boxes while the S.O. was out, I was listening to the Best of Warren Zevon, which is one of my favorites. Its a good collection of all of his really great tunes, which a lot of people don’t realize includes more than Werewolves of London. My two favorites on this album: Lawyers, Guns and Money and Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner. The latter because its a neat tune and the former because when in the Navy, I always wanted to be able to sign out a message to higher authority that ended with that line: ” Operations are fine, but the boys went out in town last night. Send lawyers, guns, and money…….”.
Today? More packing. S.O. will be over with a friend. ( This really goes easier if she and I do it seperately…for a whole host of reasons). Suspect I’ll be in a funky mood so it wil be time to break out any of my 12 Jethro Tull CD’s. I think I’ll listen to Roland first though:
Roland was a warrior from the land of the midnight sun
With his Thompson gun for hire, fighting to be done
The deal was made in Denmark on a dark and stormy day
So he set out for Biafra to join the bloody fray
Do people even know where Biafra is today or what the conflict was about? And today 30 years later the Congo is still a basket case .
Through ’66 and 7, they fought the Congo war
With their fingers on their triggers, knee deep in gore
For days and nights they battled the Bantu to their knees
They killed to earn their living and to help out the Congolese
Wonder if you could use this song as an analogy for Blackwater Security?
Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Time, time, time, for another peaceful war
Norway’s bravest son
But time stands still for Roland, ’til he evens up the score
They can still see his headless body stalking through the night
In the muzzle flash of Roland’s Thompson gun
In the muzzle flash of Roland’s Thompson gun
Zevon loved guns. Not really sure why that was…..
Roland searched the continent for the man who’d done him in
He found him in Mombassa, in a barroom drinking gin
Roland aimed his Thompson gun, he didn’t say a word
But he blew Van Owen’s body from there to Johannesburg
I just found a couple pictures of my ex-wife— where the hell did these come from? Now I could use a gun…… on these pictures……..
Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Roland the headless Thompson gunner, talking about the man
Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Can you tell I had nothing really to post about today? We really are moving though, so connectivity may be spotty over the next few days till our Hi-speed internet gets hooked up. Be patient, I’ll be back!
Bring it home:
The eternal Thompson gunner
Still wand’ring through the night
Now it’s ten years later, but he still keeps up the fight
In Ireland, in Lebanon, in Palestine and Berkeley
Patty Hearst heard the burst
Of Roland’s Thompson gun and bought it
Don’t mind me, I’m just an Excitable Boy!
