Overall it's a masterclass in songwriting. This routine is the only coping mechanism he knows and over time it has become normal to him. I used to think this song was about a person who didn't realize he was crazy, but the older I get the more I think he just doesn't know how to be okay anymore. But then the chorus kicks in with that ominous drum as he tells you exactly what he does by himself, hinting that something is not quite right. The tune reflects his inner turmoil: the verses are all very chipper and upbeat, with the singer telling you how great he is. People keep trying to get him out in the real world and he resists. He has secluded himself in his dark room and his life boils down to insomnia, watching children's programs, smoking, and playing solitaire, but he's obviously not playing with a full deck ("deck of 51"). He's trying to ease her mind by telling her he likes it and it has nothing to do with her, even though we know he doesn't believe any of that. He's talking to the woman he was involved with who has come to visit him because she feels guilty about him being there. Personally, I think this song tells the story of a guy who had a nervous breakdown because of a breakup. Being stuck in a room like that for hours on end, it's not a hard to imagine someone counting all the "flowers" on their walls. Where each of these attachments was made puckered the padding, making a sort of flowery looking dent in the wall. I once heard someone say that in a padded room the pads would be fastened to the wall at regular intervals. "Countin' flowers on the wall" - This one is a but of a stretch, but sorta makes sense. As for the looking a fright, I would assume your grooming opportunities are somewhat limited in a mental hospital. "It's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright" - Visiting hours are over, it's time to go back to his room. "Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the town" - Before it's all buckled up a straight jacket has long tails on the back, kinda looks like an old tux with tails. "Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this lightĪnd my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete" - He's stuck in a padded cell all day, he's not used to being out in the bright sunshine and walking on concrete. "Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo" - Back in the 60's when this was written they would have allowed inmates to smoke to keep them docile and put Captain Kangaroo on the TV because it was less likely to rile patients up. "Playin' solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one" - He's not playing with a full deck. Anyone who listens to this song and misses all the clues pointing to the singer being in a mental institution isn't really listening at all. So I must go back to my room and make my day complete It's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a frightĪnyway my eyes are not accustomed to this lightĪnd my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete You can always find me here, I'm havin' quite a time So please don't give a thought to me, I'm really doin' fine Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the townĪs long as I can dream it's hard to slow this swinger down Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo Playin' solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one While you 'n' your friends are worried about me I'm havin' lots of fun If I was walkin' in your shoes, I wouldn't worry none I had known the expression that “places only have power over you if you let them.” I hadn’t had a lot of practice in putting those words to use, but I did it today.I keep hearin' you're concerned about my happinessīut all that thought you're givin' me is conscience I guess So having been near all of those places, I took a minute and stepped to the side and shook hands with each of the specters that I had unleashed. Lots of big, heavy places in terms of my current existence. Yesterday, I drove by the school I was photographing when I ultimately decided to follow through regarding my mysterious limp. The parking garage where I parked when I took my first IV steroid course. Today, I made a turn in a different place than I thought I had, so I drove by the building in which my diagnosis was delivered. It’s not for any real purpose, aside from seeing things. On a daily basis, I usually have about an hour and a half to kill, so sometimes I go wandering around town. Circumstance has me back in the town in which I was diagnosed. I wonder things sometimes… and it is probably dangerous that I do so.
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