The other day I was doodling around in the garage when the radio started playing She’s So Heavy by the Beatles. For those of you who haven’t been Beatling lately, let me remind you that this is an awesome John Lennon piece; he’s on lead guitar and vocals. The song is amazing. But … the lyrics are so … well … bland. Yes John, I know you want her so bad, and yes, it’s driving you mad. Yes, this is probably pretty heavy. Hmm. I guess I can see how you felt. I think I wrote a poem in Ms. Ritzinger’s fourth grade class that went something along those same lines of bad, mad, and probably a little sad, especially when I had to watch Suzie Smith playing tetherball on the playground. Fourth grade crushes were tough. But Beatles … you only used 14 words in a song that lasts nearly eight magical minutes! Beatles, you get full points for the song, but at the same time … hmm. For an eight minute song, I could have used some back story buildup. I mean Queen did a whole opera in under six minutes with Bohemian Rhapsody. But to be fair, She’s So Heavy is talking about love, and well let’s face it … sometimes less is more when we talk of love. Of course, that led to me wondering about other songs that may be amazing but possibly have lyrical shortfalls. Kid Rock – I think you are guilty here. Your song, Bawitdaba is an amazing song. You don’t even have to know what it means and after one minute of this song you’ll feel like proceeding to the nearest mosh pit and kicking the crap out of everything while you throw back Patron and proudly salute the crowd with your middle finger. It’s a damn good song. But Mr. Rock, what do the lyrics mean? Why are we “Bawitdaba da bang da bang diggy diggy diggy, Shake the boogie said up jump the boogie?” I have no idea. I love it. I have no clue what it means. Am I cursing in an alien language? Maybe Humpty Dumpty was on to something when he told Alice that his words meant just what he chose them to mean. Lewis Carroll, the writer of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, would have been a great source to ask about this lyrical confusion. Lewis made up a ton of words, including a few of my favorites such as Boojum, Snark, and Frabjous. I could tell you what I think those words mean, but it doesn’t really matter. They can mean whatever you chose them to mean – nothing more and nothing less. But back to music. The Beatles were economical with their words. Lewis Carroll was Frabjous. Kid Rock is still, to this day, a lyrical agitator. Which brings me to the next lyric that doesn’t make any sense: has anyone ever heard Maurice speak of the pompatus of love? Of course, I’m talking about Steve Miller’s The Joker, released in 1973, and lyrically speaking has some of the tightest words you’ll ever hear. I mean who doesn’t want to be a Space Cowboy, a Gangster of Love, have a side alias of Maurice and speak of the pompatus of love? Damn Steve, I love your music. I don’t even care what it means. Give us some more! You know, as I ponder these lyrical oddities, I‘m starting to think maybe these kind of songs are the hardest songs to write. The ability to just throw someone in a story mid-point, with no buildup, and have them all in is amazing. Where else can you just jump in, get caught for a magical moment, and then a few minutes later get wringed right back out all in one piece, and maybe a little out of breath? That’s an amazing talent my friends. Very Heavy. Very Frabjous. So there you have it. I have no idea what all these words mean, but like Lewis Carroll said, “It doesn’t even matter.” Rock on! 38 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JUNE 2017 Tybee Insurance Agency Inc. Serving Tybee Island since 1987 • Homeowner’s Insurance • Flood Insurance • Renter’s Insurance • Condo Owner’s Insurance • All Commercial Insurance Call Carrie Traeger 204 First Street “Mrs. Jiggs” 912-786-5541 She’s So Heavy and Frabjous! By J. Beebs Tybee Beach Massage Not Just Another Massage 912-944-7996 Book Online Now! TybeeBeachMassage.com 1016 US Hwy 80 E Tybee Island 31328 (Behind of Gallery By The Sea) Like Us on Facebook
20192TB
To see the actual publication please follow the link above