Supermoon
Where all the diamond deals are made
We never used to live this long
We're pioneers, my dear, press on, move along
And if my smile seems painted on once in awhile
I can count on you to notice and to take me out
Would you like to start a river
And ride it like a painted carousel?
Our life savings aren't enough
We'll have to lobby hard and make it up
Make it up
Supermoon
Where all the diamond deals are made
We never used to live this long
We're pioneers, my dear, press on, move along
And if my smile seems straight as the Tropic of Cancer
It's because Nature isn't magic, it's just a mystery to us
Would you like to start a river
And ride it like a painted carousel?
Our life savings aren't enough
We'll have to lobby hard and make it up
Make it up
Tell me if you feel it and we'll mine it to reveal it
From the dams up to the turbines
They're running much too hot to meter
Would you like to start a river
And ride it like a painted carousel . . .
~ Neko Case with Laura Veirs & k.d. lang
"A supermoon is the coincidence of a full moon with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit, resulting in the largest apparent size of the lunar disk as seen from Earth." And the best time to see tonight's supermoon is right after sunset, which might be right about now. So go look . . . I'll wait.
Did the moon appear 16% brighter? Did it appear 7% larger? The only supermoon of 2017, I hope it did not disappoint. As for this song by Neko Case, k.d. lang, and Laura Veirs, I think the lyrics do disappoint. But the voices do not. The song is part of their debut collaboration, 2016's case/lang/veirs.
Most everyone is aware of k.d.lang, whose "Constant Craving" from 1992 introduced us to her amazing voice. She has been referred to as "the full-voiced seductress." Neko Case, "the hurricane," got our attention as the lead singer of The New Pornographers. And Laura Veirs, "the wry storyteller," is new to me, although she has been around for awhile as a singer/songwriter. Melding these three voices together was genius.
Of course I chose this song today because of the title, but I can't for the life of me figure out what the lyrics have to do with a supermoon, can you? I read some reviews of the song, and found suggestions as to what the song is about. One reviewer said it's "a political statement about the human cost of being an artist." Another suggested it's about water rights. And apparently, Neko Case has claimed that it's about venture capitalism. Well, I don't get any of that, and furthermore, comparing a river to a carousel is just bad metaphor.
I suppose I could dissect the song's lyrics and find ways to justify those interpretations, but I don't want to work that hard. Takes the joy out of the music. Instead, I'll just enjoy those beautiful voices while I gaze at the Full Cold Moon.
No comments:
Post a Comment