Saturday, March 26, 2005
Keep My Younger Self Away From a PC
Two bands I was in, two horrific cassette covers I made (I'm glad I used a PC and not a commodore 64), two documents that are entirely embarassing :
What saves (or damns) the latter is the inclusion of covers of 'Jimmy Wray' and "Semi-Charmed Life'. After the recording I bought alcohol for the first time in my life. I puked three times. I had learned quickly about the power of liquor in helping you to forget.
Two bands I was in, two horrific cassette covers I made (I'm glad I used a PC and not a commodore 64), two documents that are entirely embarassing :
What saves (or damns) the latter is the inclusion of covers of 'Jimmy Wray' and "Semi-Charmed Life'. After the recording I bought alcohol for the first time in my life. I puked three times. I had learned quickly about the power of liquor in helping you to forget.
As kids we were allowed to play the shit out of our Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and Footloose tapes while we drove across the continent.
As a twelve year old I was barely allowed to watch the Kids in the Hall because of the use of words like 'bitch', 'slut', 'masturbate', and 'menstruate'. I have a video I made of an episode of Kids in the Hall that cuts out during the lead-in sketch before the opening credits because I had to hit power on the tv while my mother came into the room. The lead-in sketch liberally used the word 'slut' and had sexual overtones. I knew it'd be a week of shame around the (very catholic) Black household if my mom caught wind of that word.
As teenagers it was very rare that we were allowed to listen to any hip hop in the presence of my parents. I remember for my 13th birthday getting an Ice Cube cd, Amerikka's Most Wanted. I also remember that it was the clean version. Nary a swear was to be found. I still know all the clean lyrics to 'Who's The Mack?'
At 19 my dad gave me a talking to over this comic :
because it had an oral sex scene. He questioned my morals.
I can't understand why we were allowed to listen to songs about two guys picking up a prostitute,
From Darlington County
"Hey little girl standing on the corner
Today's your lucky day for sure all right
Me and my buddy we're from New York City
We got two hundred dollars we want to rock all night
Girl you're looking at two big spenders"
one of them getting arrested for it,
"My eyes seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
Driving out of Darlington County
Seen Wayne handcuffed to the bumper of a state trooper's Ford"
another guy kidnapping a minor and transporting her across state lines and also getting arrested for it,
From Working on the Highway
"I saved up my money and I put it all away
I went to see her daddy but we didn't have much to say
"Son can't you see that she's just a little girl
She don't know nothing about this cruel cruel world"
We lit out down to Florida we got along all right
One day her brothers came and got her and they took me in a black and white
The prosecutor kept the promise that he made on that day
And the judge got mad and he put me straight away
I wake up every morning to the work bell clang
Me and the warden go swinging on the Charlotte County road gang"
and this song that just has bad idea written all over it :
From I'm On Fire
"Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go away and leave you all alone
I got a bad desire
I'm on fire"
I'm sure he's not really speaking to a 'little girl', but it just seems creepy in juxtaposition to 'your daddy'.
Of course Biggie was never played in my house:
From Me and My Bitch
"She helped me plan out my robberies on my enemies
Didn't hesitate to squeeze, to get my life out of danger (yeah)
One day, she put nine one one on the page
Had to call back, whether it's minor or major (yeah)
No response, the phone just rung
Grab my vest, grab my gun, to find out the problem
When I pulled up, police was on the scene
Had to make the U-turn, make sure my shit was clean
Drove down the block, stashed the burner in the bushes
Stepped to police with the shoves and the pushes
It didn't take long before the tears start
I saw my bitch dead with the gunshot to the heart
And I know it was meant for me
I guess the niggaz felt they had to kill the closest one to me (uh, yeah)
And when I find em your life is to and end
They killed my best friend... me and my bitch"
Of course his 'antics' do end up getting her killed, at least she was of age.
As a twelve year old I was barely allowed to watch the Kids in the Hall because of the use of words like 'bitch', 'slut', 'masturbate', and 'menstruate'. I have a video I made of an episode of Kids in the Hall that cuts out during the lead-in sketch before the opening credits because I had to hit power on the tv while my mother came into the room. The lead-in sketch liberally used the word 'slut' and had sexual overtones. I knew it'd be a week of shame around the (very catholic) Black household if my mom caught wind of that word.
As teenagers it was very rare that we were allowed to listen to any hip hop in the presence of my parents. I remember for my 13th birthday getting an Ice Cube cd, Amerikka's Most Wanted. I also remember that it was the clean version. Nary a swear was to be found. I still know all the clean lyrics to 'Who's The Mack?'
At 19 my dad gave me a talking to over this comic :
because it had an oral sex scene. He questioned my morals.
I can't understand why we were allowed to listen to songs about two guys picking up a prostitute,
From Darlington County
"Hey little girl standing on the corner
Today's your lucky day for sure all right
Me and my buddy we're from New York City
We got two hundred dollars we want to rock all night
Girl you're looking at two big spenders"
one of them getting arrested for it,
"My eyes seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
Driving out of Darlington County
Seen Wayne handcuffed to the bumper of a state trooper's Ford"
another guy kidnapping a minor and transporting her across state lines and also getting arrested for it,
From Working on the Highway
"I saved up my money and I put it all away
I went to see her daddy but we didn't have much to say
"Son can't you see that she's just a little girl
She don't know nothing about this cruel cruel world"
We lit out down to Florida we got along all right
One day her brothers came and got her and they took me in a black and white
The prosecutor kept the promise that he made on that day
And the judge got mad and he put me straight away
I wake up every morning to the work bell clang
Me and the warden go swinging on the Charlotte County road gang"
and this song that just has bad idea written all over it :
From I'm On Fire
"Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go away and leave you all alone
I got a bad desire
I'm on fire"
I'm sure he's not really speaking to a 'little girl', but it just seems creepy in juxtaposition to 'your daddy'.
Of course Biggie was never played in my house:
From Me and My Bitch
"She helped me plan out my robberies on my enemies
Didn't hesitate to squeeze, to get my life out of danger (yeah)
One day, she put nine one one on the page
Had to call back, whether it's minor or major (yeah)
No response, the phone just rung
Grab my vest, grab my gun, to find out the problem
When I pulled up, police was on the scene
Had to make the U-turn, make sure my shit was clean
Drove down the block, stashed the burner in the bushes
Stepped to police with the shoves and the pushes
It didn't take long before the tears start
I saw my bitch dead with the gunshot to the heart
And I know it was meant for me
I guess the niggaz felt they had to kill the closest one to me (uh, yeah)
And when I find em your life is to and end
They killed my best friend... me and my bitch"
Of course his 'antics' do end up getting her killed, at least she was of age.
