Darling

Listen while you read: There's a horse in the video!

The black and yellow finches 
That nest in our new ferns
Which hang upon our front porch 
Wait for the warm sun to return

Impatiently, as I wait for you
Impatiently, as I wait for you

The night surrenders swiftly
The moon retreats from sight
The darkness that surrounds me
The sun cuts like a knife to shine

Impatiently
Impatiently

The birds singing
The sun rising
Impatiently
As I wait for you
For you, for you, for you

~ Martin Courtney (Real Estate)

This is the second Real Estate song I've selected. (See "Talking Backward" from March 26.) I can't find anything to not like about this band, and I'm not the only one. I read several reviews of their latest album, In Mind, released earlier this year. While every reviewer commented in some way on the lack of excitement in the band's steady style, each one determined that it was okay. More than okay. Real Estate gets great reviews. And of course, I'm proud to say that they are from my home state of New Jersey! (We need all the pride we can get. It eases the pain of the property taxes. Well, not really.)

While I'm writing this, my public radio station is playing Bob Dylan's "Masters of War," paying tribute to him on his birthday. So I can't help but consider the contrast: Dylan's angry, political protest songs and Martin Courtney's melodious and soothing lyrics about nature and sweet love. And, needless to say, both kinds of music are necessary. I've spent a lot of time in this blog on songs of protest and discontent. Sometimes, it's nice to just chill with a pretty song.  In fact, Real Estate has been referred to as a "chill band," although Courtney is not particularly thrilled with that label. I guess it's all in how you interpret it. I mean, The Grateful Dead is a chill band, right? Chilling is good! Especially these days.

Impatiently. That's me, waiting for the warm sun to return. It's still cool and cloudy here in the Northeast, despite the lush greens and blossoms. Birdsong wakes me in the morning, and then I try to decide whether or not to turn up the heat. I am impatient for summer, but who in the North isn't?

I need to chill. Real Estate to the rescue.