Word has it that there will be a musical performance featuring various Canadian musicians. Included in this will be Rush performing (what I can only imagine is a snippet of) "YYZ". The only thing that stands between this possibility (it has not, and probably will not, be confirmed by anyone) is that Bryan Adams is also rumored to be performing. Crud.
This lead to a dream last night. Yeah, still occasionally remembering dreams. I dreamed that Jen and I were seeing Rush in concert. We were on the floor of the arena rather close to the stage. Good seats. It is not all that uncommon for Rush to follow the enormous Neil Peart drum solo (which runs for about 8-10 minutes or so) with something quiet. They have taken to doing a short acoustic tune or two on recent tours.
This show was no different. Only the song they chose was a cover song. An unusual cover song. It was Pink Floyd's "Southampton Dock" from the album The Final Cut.
For my money, that album is the single most depressing recording ever published. It is a lose story of a WWI veteran who has reached old age. He is having battlefield flash backs and feeling incredible survivor's guilt. This theme is interspersed with Roger Water's thoughts and commentary on the (then very recent) war over the Falkland Islands.
The song is very short and very quiet, consisting basically of a voice and some orchestral accompaniment. The lyrics are painful.
They disembarked in 45
And no-one spoke and no-one smiled
There were too many spaces in the line.
Gathered at the cenotaph
All agreed with hand on heart
To sheath the sacrificial Knifes.
But now
She stands upon Southampton dock
With her handkerchief
And her summer frock clings
To her wet body in the rain.
In quiet desperation knuckles
White upon the slippery reins
She bravely waves the boys Goodbye again.
And still the dark stain spreads between
Their shoulder blades.
A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves.
And when the fight was over
We spent what they had made.
But in the bottom of our hearts
We felt the final cut.
Far from something you'd expect from the guys who rocked the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.
If that is a representation of my frame of mind yesterday, then let's hope today is a better day.
It should be. We are thinking we might get some baby visit time tonight, not to mention tons of baby visit time tomorrow, and there are those opening ceremonies with the chance of Rush getting some global television time, and of course it is Red Sox truck day.
Yeah, it might be better today.
No comments:
Post a Comment