Saturday, September 20, 2003
First of all, welcome to my new layout. While I liked the old one, I thought it was time I got some real Kimber stuff here and since I am a bit of a dracophile, this seemed like a good start. Also, the old layout wasn't "photo friendly". And since I do, on occasion, post photos and whatnot here, I needed more room to work. So here you see the results. I kinda like it, myself. I do try to do my own layouts and graphics when I have time.
Next, I was checking out the Friday Five this week since I haven't done one in a while and in a moment of serendipity the questions are about favorite singers. Now I have more favorite singers than can be listed comfortably. But I have some that are more favorite than others and one of them died last week. So this will be a bit of a tribute to him as well.
1. Who is your favorite singer/musician? Why?
For this time my favorite singer is Johnny Cash.
2. What one singer/musician can you not stand? Why?
Man, there are a lot on this list too. Hmm. I guess I would have to say either Eminem or Marylin Manson. I respect their attempts to be original and have an alternative voice, and I defend their right to do it, but I think their messages stink.
3. If your favorite singer wasn't in the music business, do you think you would still like him/her as a person?
Yep, I really do. Johnny Cash was a real human being. One of the ones who get it. I think he lived the christian lifestyle that christ had in mind. He spent a great deal of time in Jamaica helping people and all gifts in his memory are being directed to a charity down there.
4. Have you been to any concerts? If yes, who put on the best show?
I've been to a few concerts. I don't know about best, I can't remember one that was really bad, but I think the one I enjoyed the most was David Bowies's
Sound and Vision tour.
5. What are your thoughts on downloading free music online vs. purchasing albums? Do you feel the RIAA is right in its pursuit to stop people from dowloading free music?
Well, obviously it is circumventing the profit margin of the record companies. Yes, it's illegal. Do I feel they are right? No not really. Do I feel they are within their rights? Yes, I do. I think there was an uproar when folks started copying records onto cassettes to share with their friends and the record industry didn't go broke. I doubt that file sharing is going to bankrupt the industry either, truth be told. Do I file share? No. Would I? I'm thinking about it.
There are two songs I wan't to share the lyrics to that sort of codify my respect for Johnny Cash as a man and a musician.
The Ballad of Ira Hayes
Written by Peter LaFarge
Recorded by Johnny Cash on 3/5/64
Number 3 - Country Chart
Ira Hayes,
Ira Hayes
CHORUS:
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war
Gather round me people there's a story I would tell
About a brave young Indian you should remember well
From the land of the Pima Indian
A proud and noble band
Who farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land
Down the ditches for a thousand years
The water grew Ira's peoples' crops
'Till the white man stole the water rights
And the sparklin' water stopped
Now Ira's folks were hungry
And their land grew crops of weeds
When war came, Ira volunteered
And forgot the white man's greed
CHORUS:
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war
There they battled up Iwo Jima's hill,
Two hundred and fifty men
But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again
And when the fight was over
And when Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high
Was the Indian, Ira Hayes
CHORUS:
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war
Ira returned a hero
Celebrated through the land
He was wined and speeched and honored; Everybody shook his hand
But he was just a Pima Indian
No water, no crops, no chance
At home nobody cared what Ira'd done
And when did the Indians dance
CHORUS:
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war
Then Ira started drinkin' hard;
Jail was often his home
They'd let him raise the flag and lower it
like you'd throw a dog a bone!
He died drunk one mornin'
Alone in the land he fought to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch
Was a grave for Ira Hayes
CHORUS:
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war
Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes
But his land is just as dry
And his ghost is lyin' thirsty
In the ditch where Ira died
And this one:
Man in Black
By: John R. Cash, © 1971 House of Cash, Inc.
Recorded February 16, 1971
Number 3 - Country Charts; Number 58 - Pop Charts
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.
Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
I told John that I didn't think Johnny would last much longer after June died in May. They had one of the most remarkable relationships I have ever known. I think he was ready. And while it is a loss to us all, we still have the legacy of songs like these and the work he has done. He left the world a little better than when he got here and that's all any of us can really hope for.
He will be missed.
posted by Unknown
at 10:56 AM ::
~#~
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