From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V2 #239 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Tuesday, September 5 2000 Volume 02 : Number 239 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm [Rongrittz@aol.com] Re: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm ["Norman A. Johnson" ] Re: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm [patrick t power ] [RS] OT: Theme from M*A*S*H ["Norman A. Johnson" ] Re: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm [Rongrittz@aol.com] RE: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm [Katrin.Uhl@t-online.de (Katrin Uhl)] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 20:54:29 EDT From: Rongrittz@aol.com Subject: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm Well, seeing as it's getting to be hurricane season both in the Atlantic and on the Lucy and Dar lists, perhaps this is an appropriate Song of the Week. This is one of the three songs -- along with "Calling the Moon" and "Wisteria" -- that I always gravitate to on SNP (I was going to write "skip to," but that simply served to bring up bizarre "RG the Dancing Queen" visual that was just too silly for words). As with "Shades of Gray," I'm a sucker for rollicking country/rock songs in minor keys with Lucy singing harmony. And I'm *really* a sucker for songs about the curveballs that Mother Nature can throw, both literal and metaphorical -- Jim Henry's "Till the Siren Blows Again," Shawn Colvin's "Shotgun Down the Avalanche," Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane," James Keelaghan's "Cold Missouri Waters" and, of course, Richard's own "Money for Floods." (Wow, seems like we've got the beginnings of a pretty depressing theme tape, eh? Any others come to mind?) But I'll admit to being curious as to what's going on in the protagonist's mind here. Is he sitting on the porch, *daring* the storm to come and take him? Or is it, as I read somewhere, the story of "suicide by hurricane?" Thoughts? RG WAITING FOR THE STORM I'm ready as I'll ever be I've done all one man can And no one now will rescue me So here I'll make my stand The state police, they came around They said I should not stay I thanked them for their kind concern And sent them on their way I've made my preparations There's nothing more to do But sit here in this rocking chair Waiting for the storm The wife and kids, they've gone up north They're staying with her mom And everything I've ever loved Will soon enough be gone I've made my preparations There's nothing more to do But sit here in this rocking chair Waiting for the storm Lately I've been thinking This ain't no way to live Lately I've been thinking That something has to give I've left the windows open wide I've left the doors ajar And everything that was inside I've put out in the yard I've made my preparations There's nothing more to do But sit here in this rocking chair Waiting for the storm ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2000 21:09:33 -0400 From: "Norman A. Johnson" Subject: Re: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm Ron wrote: >>This is one of the three songs -- along with "Calling the Moon" and "Wisteria" -- that I always gravitate to on SNP >> I love the other two but for some reason, "Waiting for the Storm" is not one of my favorites on the CD. Maybe it's a little too twany for me. >>And I'm *really* a sucker for songs about the curveballs that Mother Nature can throw, both literal and metaphorical -- Jim Henry's "Till the Siren Blows Again," Shawn Colvin's "Shotgun Down the Avalanche," Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane," James Keelaghan's "Cold Missouri Waters" and, of course, Richard's own "Money for Floods." (Wow, seems like we've got the beginnings of a pretty depressing theme tape, eh? Any others come to mind?) >> "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" "The Ocean" (bludgeoning sailors, spitting out keepsafes, and disillusioning young "little shoe wearing" women). Richard said something about and then played a song about floods which he said had inspired him to write MFF. It was at one of his Iron Horse concerts from about two years ago where he had Dar as a special guest. Anyone know what I'm talking about? >>But I'll admit to being curious as to what's going on in the protagonist's mind here. Is he sitting on the porch, *daring* the storm to come and take him? Or is it, as I read somewhere, the story of "suicide by hurricane?" >> I think it's both. I see the song itself taking a curveball. Maybe he starts out daring the storm to take him on and then realizes it's futile. >Lately I've been thinking >This ain't no way to live >Lately I've been thinking >That something has to give These lines are the turning point. Norman ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 21:27:23 -0700 From: patrick t power Subject: Re: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm The interesting thing about this song is that if you took out the last line of the chorus, you wouldn't have much of a clue that this has anything to do with a hurricane or anything weather-related. Still, does "storm" necessarily have to be connoted as the meteorological kind? I'm ready as I'll ever be I've done all one man can And no one now will rescue me So here I'll make my stand Sounds as if he's simply at the end of a figurative rope. The wife and kids, they've gone up north They're staying with her mom And everything I've ever loved Will soon enough be gone Is his family up north for reasons other than a storm? It's interesting that while he refers to his family, he doesn't include them in the encompassing "everything I've ever loved" (though, *true*, they're not *things*, per se). Lately I've been thinking This ain't no way to live Lately I've been thinking That something has to give What is this "way to live" that he's speaking of? Boarding up his house a couple of times a year? Something tells me it's got to do with much more than that! I've left the windows open wide I've left the doors ajar And everything that was inside I've put out in the yard Whether a hurricane is coming or not, this is pretty strange behavior. It does seem to have suicidal leanings. Interestingly, the theme song for the TV show M*A*S*H* was called "Suicide Is Painless" (I guess that considering that it's on re-runs, it still *is* the theme song!). SUICIDE IS PAINLESS Music by Johnny Mandel Lyrics by Mike Altman Through early morning fog I see visions of the things to be the pains that are withheld for me I realize and I can see... [REFRAIN]: that suicide is painless It brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please. I try to find a way to make all our little joys relate without that ever-present hate but now I know that it's too late, and... [REFRAIN] The game of life is hard to play I'm gonna lose it anyway The losing card I'll someday lay so this is all I have to say. [REFRAIN] The only way to win is cheat And lay it down before I'm beat and to another give my seat for that's the only painless feat. [REFRAIN] The sword of time will pierce our skins It doesn't hurt when it begins But as it works its way on in The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but... [REFRAIN] A brave man once requested me to answer questions that are key is it to be or not to be and I replied 'oh why ask me?' [REFRAIN] 'Cause suicide is painless it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please. ...and you can do the same thing if you please. Pat p.s. A link to the guitar tab for the song is at: http://www.tmtm.com/manics/guitar/suicide.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 21:40:25 -0700 From: patrick t power Subject: Re: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm I wrote: <> Hmmm . . . I just looked at what hardly passes for a tab in my book. ptp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2000 21:40:42 -0400 From: "Norman A. Johnson" Subject: [RS] OT: Theme from M*A*S*H Pat wrote: >>Interestingly, the theme song for the TV show M*A*S*H* was called "Suicide Is Painless" (I guess that considering that it's on re-runs, it still *is* the theme song!). >> I'm pretty sure the words are never mentioned on the TV show. But in the movie, one of the characters is named Painless (a dentist) and he wants to commit suicide. They hold a ritual for him and somebody sings the song. It's been a long time since I've seen the movie so I'm pretty hazing with the details. Norman ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 22:53:52 EDT From: Rongrittz@aol.com Subject: Re: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm << The interesting thing about this song is that if you took out the last line of the chorus, you wouldn't have much of a clue that this has anything to do with a hurricane or anything weather-related. Still, does "storm" necessarily have to be connoted as the meteorological kind? >> Absolutely not, but that's what I love about Richard's stuff. You can take 'em at face value . . . or dig. Granted, I never thought of this song as being about anything other than a guy, you know, waiting for a storm. But now I've got to do some thinking. I hate when that happens. RG ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 09:26:57 +0200 From: Katrin.Uhl@t-online.de (Katrin Uhl) Subject: RE: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm The song that came to my mind right away when listening to WFTS the first time is Bill Morrissey's Waiting for the Rain. The latter's story has more of an edge to it I think, is even a bit darker, but both songs have the same general atmosphere (for lack of better word, it's too early to be creative :-) ). Anybody know it? Katrin - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~ I'm so sick of forgetting myself to remember who I am ~ Dar Williams ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V2 #239 ***********************************