For Memorial day
It’s Memorial Day in the US, so here’s a very short double post. For the veterans, for the current soldiers and for all those who have fought or suffered in wars that should probably never have existed in the first place, here’s this Tom Waits classic beauty. Let’s not forget these people, shall we friends? There is so much we can still do for them that we are not doing.
For the rest of us, that never had to go through that and especially for the young ones that are still trying to figure out what they want from this world and their lives, here’s a most interesting piece of text that I came across recently that I think could prove inspirational to many. It is aimed especially at male college students and grads, but I think everyone can benefit. Read it.
A thousand kisses deep
Hearing this on stage was – by itself – worth freezing outside for. My endless respect, love and appreciation for Mr. Cohen and his work cannot be expressed. But I should say thank you, as your work has always shown me my own life and world in angles I never considered. To you, Mr. Cohen, to you, I bow yet and yet again. Thank you.
“You came to me this morning
And you handled me like meat
You’d have to be a man to know
How good that feels, how sweet
My mirror twin, my next of kin
I’d know you in my sleep
And who but you would take me in
A thousand kisses deep
I loved you when you opened
Like a lily to the heat
See, I’m just another snowman
Standing in the rain and sleet
Who loved you with his frozen love
His second-hand physique
With all he is and all he was
A thousand kisses deep
I know you had to lie to me
I know you had to cheat
To pose all hot and high
Behind the veils of sheer deceit
Our perfect porn aristocrat
So elegant and cheap
I’m old but I’m still into that
A thousand kisses deep
I’m good at love, I’m good at hate
It’s in between I freeze
Been working out but it’s too late
It’s been too late for years
But you look good, you really do
They love you on the street
If I could move I’d kneel for you
A thousand kisses deep
The autumn moved across your skin
Got something in my eye
A light that doesn’t need to live
And doesn’t need to die
A riddle in the book of love
Obscure and obsolete
And witnessed here in time and blood
A thousand kisses deep
But I’m still working with the wine
Still dancing cheek to cheek
The band is playing Auld Lang Syne
But the heart will not retreat
I ran with Diz, I sang with Ray
I never had their sweep
But once or twice they let me play
A thousand kisses deep
I loved you when you opened
Like a lily to the heat
You see I’m just another snowman
Standing in the rain and sleet
Who loved you with his frozen love
His secondhand physique
With all he is and all he was
A thousand kisses deep
But you don’t need to hear me now
And every word I speak
It counts against me anyhow
A thousand kisses deep”
