I've been an indie rock (rokk) fan since my buddy Jim Doppke snuck the Replacements' "Pleased to Meet Me" on the other side of a requested tape by Pink Floyd, and I've never gone back. Jim and I formed Wrist, put out a few basement tapes, and mostly just assaulted our eardrums in total bliss. The Lemonheads have been a guilty pleasure, since Evan Dando always courted total pop celebrity, even as he crafted the soundtrack to my lovelorn years (listen to "Mallo Cup" and "Half the Time" to get the picture). On my run yesterday, I almost stopped in my tracks to hear on the latest Lemonheads release, "The Lemonheads," Mr. Dando sing "Let's Just Laugh." This is a song that is doubtlessly political, doubtlessly about our President and the war, and seems to invite violence against said head of State: "two more years to kill/if you won't I will." Dando has always had fun with words--"we're just aphids on hell's half-acre" and "she is driving me/out of her mind" (from "Paint"). This one also executes a jarringly acerbic tonal shift between verse and chorus. The song must be heard, not read, because the lyrics really need the song, and he flirts with alternate readings of the lines, but here are the lyrics anyway, to get you started:
LET'S JUST LAUGH (E. Dando/B. Stevenson)
I say out with it, you're not drinking
I say out with it, you're not drinking
It's not for me to know what you're thinking
'bout people staying home locking windows
Outside the basement
A texan stranger
With a rope and a straight razor
Is getting impatient for something major
It's in his nature
Two more years to go
Then you're supposed to know
How to get back home
Someplace near Waco
Let's just laugh
We can never do anything about anything, anyway
Whatever will be, I guess we'll see
So let's just laugh
War is sacred as rape and hatred
And we're just aphids in hell's half acre
In the dark and on TV fires
Just a country on rims for tyres
Excuses tired
Someone fetch the piano wire
I hope you're tried and fried before you're finally fired
Two more years to kill
If you want I will
Let's just laugh
We can never do anything about anything, anyway
Whatever will be, I guess we'll see
Let's just laugh
Let's just laugh
We can never do anything about anything, anyway
2 comments:
We've been discussing this song and it's message over at evandando.co.uk recently. Seems to be a favorite of a lot of people over there. Not necessarily my personal favorite of the new album but it is a great song. What I like about it is yeah, here's Evan writing about something topical but it's still done in a semi-abstract way which has been a common thread through much of his writing. Great song, great album! :)
Sam, I love that Evan directed his considerable talents to thinking politically. And the album, to my mind, is one of his very best--call it a comeback.
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