lost it

i lost my voice last nightit was cutting in and outi couldnt hang round and do encoreand the whole gig being filmed……so bitterly disappointedonly once before have i lost ityesi had manuka honeylemon etcno goodtoby from youth group says try whiskeyi didnonetheless my voice clapped outwhenever i needed itin wide open road it would not hit the notesinstead a woeful raggedy distorted racketgraham lee donged himself in the mouth with a guitar(thats rocknroll! says cheeky mick harvey)at the end i whisper to himi cant sing field of glass graham…ok he saysgo home and restwhile he dabs at swollen mouth with hankytodaytodaywill try not to talkalmost have no voice at all right nowwhy?another couple of days it wouldnae have matteredah human frailtykiller, you starting to fall apartand so much to doso much left to dopraying to roman god of voices for smooth sailingbut i fear tonite could be more of the sameim so saddamn it!

i lost my voice last night
it was cutting in and out
i couldnt hang round and do encore
and the whole gig being filmed……
so bitterly disappointed
only once before have i lost it
yes
i had manuka honey
lemon etc
no good
toby from youth group says try whiskey
i did
nonetheless my voice clapped out
whenever i needed it
in wide open road it would not hit the notes
instead a woeful raggedy distorted racket
graham lee donged himself in the mouth with a guitar
(thats rocknroll! says cheeky mick harvey)
at the end i whisper to him
i cant sing field of glass graham…
ok he says
go home and rest
while he dabs at swollen mouth with hanky
today
today
will try not to talk
almost have no voice at all right now
why?
another couple of days it wouldnae have mattered
ah human frailty
killer, you starting to fall apart
and so much to do
so much left to do
praying to roman god of voices for smooth sailing
but i fear tonite could be more of the same
im so sad
damn it!

i did seven miles….i couldnt find my way back

second night with triffids already last nightmy voice going going almost gonethere is an art to “belting” i obviously havent masteredmy brother jlk leaves phone message todaygood….but now yer voice is shot…..yes oh dear hes rightmy normally resonant voice reduced to a husky croaklast nite it failed mei would go for the big high powerful notewhich i know i can hit and….my voice would disintegrate before my eyesfirst my earsnow my voicei tell thee verily my childrentake nothing of thy physical body as a giventhings will and do clap outtoday i will try to talk as little as possbut my olde larynx aint happy with mebut i guessi cant control myselfwent for a swim today in the foggy misty rainits been raining nonstop for 2 or 3 days hereits lush and green and deliciousthis summer rainin the sauna i hear a ridiculous conversationbetween some fat hairy old git about my ageand some handsome well toned but slightly vacuous youngmanwho vaguely had something of the faun about himwith his curly hair n pointy beardhe was saying“havent you ever had ecstasy oh wowoh everyone should have itoh not that im advocating it or anything”and the old git saying“bloody drugs whos gonna pay for yer liverswhats wrong with a bit of boozedont talk to me about drugs!”all punctuated by my sudden guffawsas each side trotted out its clichesthe pool was crowdedand i got pissed off n climbed outive read some good reviews of triffs n mebut now am worried bout voicey voicetonite will be filmedvishnu guide us through this night

second night with triffids already last night
my voice going going almost gone
there is an art to “belting” i obviously havent mastered
my brother jlk leaves phone message today
good….but now yer voice is shot…..
yes oh dear hes right
my normally resonant voice reduced to a husky croak
last nite it failed me
i would go for the big high powerful note
which i know i can hit and….
my voice would disintegrate before my eyes
first my ears
now my voice
i tell thee verily my children
take nothing of thy physical body as a given
things will and do clap out
today i will try to talk as little as poss
but my olde larynx aint happy with me
but i guess
i cant control myself
went for a swim today in the foggy misty rain
its been raining nonstop for 2 or 3 days here
its lush and green and delicious
this summer rain
in the sauna i hear a ridiculous conversation
between some fat hairy old git about my age
and some handsome well toned but slightly vacuous youngman
who vaguely had something of the faun about him
with his curly hair n pointy beard
he was saying
“havent you ever had ecstasy oh wow
oh everyone should have it
oh not that im advocating it or anything”
and the old git saying
“bloody drugs whos gonna pay for yer livers
whats wrong with a bit of booze
dont talk to me about drugs!”
all punctuated by my sudden guffaws
as each side trotted out its cliches
the pool was crowded
and i got pissed off n climbed out
ive read some good reviews of triffs n me
but now am worried bout voicey voice
tonite will be filmed
vishnu guide us through this night

i never shoulda let that precious spirit escape

strange days indeed mamasinging with the triffids3 or 4 of best songs ever writtenby anyonehow weird it isi sit backstage and waitbackstage backstage3 different dressing roomsthe triffids sit in their room with their familiesmick harvey wanders in our roomphew! he says as he cops a faceful of my reefer uh oh contact high!i meet the real mccomb brother tonightjohn mccomb oh a lovely gentlemanhe gives me seal of approval…its important to me,understand?i want everybodys blessing for this as each person reassures me further and furtheri throw myself deeper into these songsim telling you if you aint heard born sandy devotional….its one of the very bestit aint glam rockit aint new wave or new romanticit aint showbizzy schmaltzy dollops neitheri dunno what is that word?some kinda intense authenticityone of them old fashioned geniusesyou know young hotblooded prolificdoomed to die way too youngborn sandy devotionaland im out there in those landscapesthe flatlands, the pines, the lonely stretchesanyhoweventually my cue is givenin which mr miller the mc spins some yarnhmmmm….i go onand wide open road starts upthat exact drum machine as on record(and it doth sound good!)the band kick in with that first big chordthe road opens up before mei see it all the blue skythe dark asphalt highway moves away into the distanceheat shimmerfeeling of revenge retributionfeeling of lonelinessi dont sing this one as well as i’d like towhats stopping me then?its just that….well…i dont knownevertheless the crowd love this songwho wouldnt?i dont wanna draw attention to myself reallyi am there as a hired gun to do my jobwhich is to sing these fucking songs in the spirit they were intendednamelywith passion intensity and (dare i say it) ballsballs as in no namby pamby malarkeybetter to sing wrong notesthan to sing these numbers with a limp wrist i guesstho of course thats […]

strange days indeed mama
singing with the triffids
3 or 4 of best songs ever written
by anyone
how weird it is
i sit backstage and wait
backstage backstage
3 different dressing rooms
the triffids sit in their room with their families
mick harvey wanders in our room
phew! he says as he cops a faceful of my reefer
uh oh contact high!
i meet the real mccomb brother tonight
john mccomb oh a lovely gentleman
he gives me seal of approval…its important to me,understand?
i want everybodys blessing for this
as each person reassures me further and further
i throw myself deeper into these songs
im telling you if you aint heard born sandy devotional….
its one of the very best
it aint glam rock
it aint new wave or new romantic
it aint showbizzy schmaltzy dollops neither
i dunno what is that word?
some kinda intense authenticity
one of them old fashioned geniuses
you know young hotblooded prolific
doomed to die way too young
born sandy devotional
and im out there in those landscapes
the flatlands, the pines, the lonely stretches
anyhow
eventually my cue is given
in which mr miller the mc spins some yarn
hmmmm….
i go on
and wide open road starts up
that exact drum machine as on record
(and it doth sound good!)
the band kick in with that first big chord
the road opens up before me
i see it all the blue sky
the dark asphalt highway moves away into the distance
heat shimmer
feeling of revenge retribution
feeling of loneliness
i dont sing this one as well as i’d like to
whats stopping me then?
its just that….well…i dont know
nevertheless the crowd love this song
who wouldnt?
i dont wanna draw attention to myself really
i am there as a hired gun to do my job
which is
to sing these fucking songs in the spirit they were intended
namely
with passion intensity and (dare i say it) balls
balls as in no namby pamby malarkey
better to sing wrong notes
than to sing these numbers
with a limp wrist i guess
tho of course thats my own take
anyway the audience seem to like w.o.r(despite me)
next up
the band hits stolen property
the audience gasp with pleasure as they recognize the intro
i sing this one better
oh its a beautiful song
convoluted confused brilliant song that it is
a dialogue with himself?
what a pleasure to sing something like this
then lonely stretch
i go totally “off”
better than all other road songs put together
yes you can go to town on this
a lonely lo a lonely stretch
i exit stage right
yeah a big rounda a plause
after all these are 3 of the best
wait around a bit more
all hot n sweaty but no where to go go go
finally its encore time
we do field of glass
i go totally nuts in this one
shredding my larynx
not used to being rudely used like this
my throat sounds shot
what they hell
i put more into it
and it rasps and splinters like an olde time blues guy
oh
is this how its done…?
i was just trying to sing it like dave and um….
it came out like this/that
never mind
everyone seems to likey by crikey
seals of approval
cool
i split immediately
lift home with chris n ann marie
who are valve bouncing on the show
wow they really loved it!
wow
my second hit musical festival thingo in one week
if only life was always like this
ok
onwards
to
night
two

just an aphorism for every occaision

killer wakes before dawna wild nightsydney has turned cold and desertedthe wind bite bite bites it comes in unexplainedall night longthe triffids songs go round in my troubled dreamssomethings got me so itchystanding in the warping auditoriumim all mixed upits all mixed upim singing the wrong wordsim leading the wrong lifeit almost seems right and then…..strange day the day beforetook evie starr and the woofle to the beachthe sun is irradiating out thereoh ocean is soothing cold clear i catch some little waveswoofle (looking more and more like dr seuss creature)the woofle plays in the sand on the shore in her pink zip up swim suitoccaisionally a wave reaches her and she breathes a ooohhhh!she asks lotta questions all the timedad whos that?dad whats this?dad where ya been?shower ok , dad?shops, dad, back soon?last nite i held the woofle on the balconyshe’d been annoying the other 3 trying to watch somethingwe looked at the moonless skymoon gone hinda clouds dad ?the woofle almost saysi start to sing moon rivershe leans back away from meand gives me a poignant meaningful looklike oh that song….of all songs…!thenshe clings on tightly tightly to mehe face pressed dramatically into my neckher chubby little arms squeezing for all theyre worthscarlet is a super senser of anything marvellousshe acts like we’re an old married coupleand moon river is “our song”i must admit i do a nice croony version of itout there in the foggy nightwider than a mile…im crossing you in style, one daysomething dave mccomb might have written almostwhy does the woofle carry on like this?shes been here before, babyoh you cant get like that at 2shes sentimental n nostalgic for times long pastshe still feels her memoriesburied deep deep downshe aint no first time arounder(none of us are presumably)anyway we stand on the balcony […]

killer wakes before dawn
a wild night
sydney has turned cold and deserted
the wind bite bite bites
it comes in unexplained
all night long
the triffids songs go round in my troubled dreams
somethings got me so itchy
standing in the warping auditorium
im all mixed up
its all mixed up
im singing the wrong words
im leading the wrong life
it almost seems right and then…..
strange day the day before
took evie starr and the woofle to the beach
the sun is irradiating out there
oh ocean is soothing cold clear
i catch some little waves
woofle (looking more and more like dr seuss creature)
the woofle plays in the sand on the shore
in her pink zip up swim suit
occaisionally a wave reaches her and she breathes a ooohhhh!
she asks lotta questions all the time
dad whos that?
dad whats this?
dad where ya been?
shower ok , dad?
shops, dad, back soon?
last nite i held the woofle on the balcony
she’d been annoying the other 3 trying to watch something
we looked at the moonless sky
moon gone hinda clouds dad ?the woofle almost says
i start to sing moon river
she leans back away from me
and gives me a poignant meaningful look
like
oh that song….of all songs…!
then
she clings on tightly tightly to me
he face pressed dramatically into my neck
her chubby little arms squeezing for all theyre worth
scarlet is a super senser of anything marvellous
she acts like we’re an old married couple
and moon river is “our song”
i must admit i do a nice croony version of it
out there in the foggy night
wider than a mile…im crossing you in style, one day
something dave mccomb might have written almost
why does the woofle carry on like this?
shes been here before, baby
oh you cant get like that at 2
shes sentimental n nostalgic for times long past
she still feels her memories
buried deep deep down
she aint no first time arounder
(none of us are presumably)
anyway we stand on the balcony in the night
with the chalk and the little toys i keep treading on
with the withered vegetables in planterboxes
and fleshy shrubs
towels hanging on railing
kids swimmers carelessly hung
the beautiful white flowers in the garden next door
the diffused lights of sydney
my little woofle childe like a baby beethoven
her wild hair
her broad forehead
her deep blue eyes
that look out at you so knowingly
woofle i couldnt bear anything to happen to you
the rehearsals have been going well
im getting on very well with everyone
ricki says that everyones happy with me
oh i like that
oh i do like it when everyones happy with me
oh i want to please the triffids and the audience
mick harveys a lovely bloke and a good singer to boot
chris abrahams on piano
what an amazing piano player oh how i wish i could be like him
and he is
the sweetest nicest most ‘umble geezer
melanie oxley singing beautiful versions of daves songs
sister to jeremy n peter from sunnyboys fame
again a nother lovely person
toby from youth group
a big triff fan
a warm mellifluous voice
rob snarski a real singers singer a creamy voice
his brother mark deep and resonant on bury me deep in love
the triffs emselves are an idiosyncratic bunch
they are each perfectly apt on their respective instruments
graham lee running the show plays exquisite steel n lap guitar
jill on keyboards plays in a very triffidy way
she steps out to sing occaisionally
and raining pleasure is a show stopper
“in your arms i believe its raining pleasure”
marty on bass now in bad seeds with mick h
wow
a propelling bassist who drives the entire band
he just plays n plays n plays
instantly recognizable style
hes borrowing my bass cos its so good
alsy on drums is inventive thoughtful and unique
rob mccomb is just right on guitar violin n a mean harp
ricki is cramming cramming cramming to learn everything
im trying to take too much in at once he says
nonetheless hes coping well
mick harvey jumps in on the xylophone or vibes
its a small orchestra
a tall thin suntanned weathered looking geezer
prowls around snapping shots
i get it in my head that its the other mccomb brother
he checks me out occaisionally
steve miller from the moodists is there
as an m.c. i guess
a few people at rehearsals are surprised by my dedication
and the way im throwing myself into these songs
steve miller is one i guess
he enthusiastically shakes my hand after i belt out my numbers
“youre…..youre…..(grasping for a word)…good!”
thank steve i hope so
these songs are some of the best ever written in rock
we do field of glass the ten minute epic
including weird spoken n screamed passages
thats right scream
i turn into joe cocker spaniel in this one
after i finish field of glass rob jill n marty say good job
jesus… daves were big shoes to fill and i need encouragement
when i sing the songs however
something takes over
i get sent
“sent” a word my dad would use in humourous awe
when he saw a muso or singer going off his head whilst performing
“look slim, hes been sent” hed say n we’d have a laugh
now im getting sent with daves songs
i walk around trying to get a look at the “3rd mccomb”
he looks bit like rob n dave
but he looks like a wizard too
i see him deep in conversations with various triffid alumni
i suddenly deeply need his approval
oh i hope he likes how im trying to do these most important songs
then unexpectedly we’re introduced
steve do you know….i cant hear his name over music
the guy smiles his strange smile
he makes me feel like a kid
hello he says and shakes my hand
have you met before ? says someone
how could we ? says the guy
we only just got introduced!
he walks off
i still dont know who he is
is that another mccomb brother? i ask
much laughter
it turns out its bleddyn butcher
legendary
i do mean legendary photographer for english NME
he was photographer du decade in the eighties
hes writing a book on triffids
he took loads of pix of em back in the day
when they were feted as superstars in england
too much wild acclaim n too much record co pressure
their calenture record an equivalent of our gaf
all drum machine souless n underdone
fighting against idiots in record co etc
wow bleddyn butcher, huh?
gee hes an imposing kinda lookin’ character
anyway
various peoples approving of my field of glass
including mark snarski sending me up a little
cos i was overdoing the “satchmo” stuff
thats right satchmo
and if ya cant beleave yer urbane olde hero
is singing like satchmo get yer bum down the metro
sydney, nsw aust
thurs
fri
sat
sun
darling wife coming on sun night
should be real good by then
oh jericho!

buy me buy me buy me

orlrite you bloody lotpeople’ve been bashing me bloody door downpeople been accosting me in the streetthe letters requests postcards emails telexes telegrams etcnever stopgive us steve kilbey live!give us steve kilbey live? give us steve kilbey live!gw bush says gimme steve kilbey dead or liveokits a veil a bullstevekilbeydvd.comgo ahead stop reading this bloggeand order a few dozenget em while theyre hotforget that absolutely terrible accoustic n intimatethis is the real dealthis is the one ya wantthis is the one ya needa real vidwith camera angles lightshow special feet-chas n everythingstevekilbeydvd.comhave that credit card ready and get ready to spendyoure gonna wanna loada these babiesthis is not a cheap shonky vid like a+iwhich went out before i’d seen itwhen i saw it i stopped itit is not a cheap but good vid like church 1992which i like by the way yes i doits rocknrollanyway this is nice visuallya few jokesa few songsabout 19 or 20 songs or somethingyou see me in the bathyou see me getting arrestedyou see me being assassinatedyou see me being embalmedyou see the hot juicy stuff they dont want ya to seeincluding the famous nude fat lady bicycle pump incidentyoull see sk in all his glorious opulenceaboard the nz pms yacht sniffing coke with nunsabsailing in amsterdamwhite water rafting in drought stricken victoria and laughingsit around at kilbeys table as he entertains napoleon elvis n ricki maymiwatch kilbey write under the milky way againyoull see interviews with kilbeys ancestors in dark ages englandyoull see kilbey trading riffs with beethoven mozart and fiery lisztyoull be amazed….or youre a total wankeryoull be absolutely satisfied 105%or somebody somewheremightrefund youprobably(name and address)zipthats rightnothing venturednothing back offerquite franklyi think steve kilbey live(hmmmm whatta great name for a vid!)i think steve kilbey liveis the bees kneesits the last wordits the nail in […]

orlrite you bloody lot
people’ve been bashing me bloody door down
people been accosting me in the street
the letters requests postcards emails telexes telegrams etc
never stop
give us steve kilbey live!
give us steve kilbey live?
give us steve kilbey live!
gw bush says gimme steve kilbey dead or live
ok
its a veil a bull
stevekilbeydvd.com
go ahead stop reading this blogge
and order a few dozen
get em while theyre hot
forget that absolutely terrible accoustic n intimate
this is the real deal
this is the one ya want
this is the one ya need
a real vid
with camera angles lightshow special feet-chas n everything
stevekilbeydvd.com
have that credit card ready and get ready to spend
youre gonna wanna loada these babies
this is not a cheap shonky vid like a+i
which went out before i’d seen it
when i saw it i stopped it
it is not a cheap but good vid like church 1992
which i like by the way yes i do
its rocknroll
anyway this is nice visually
a few jokes
a few songs
about 19 or 20 songs or something
you see me in the bath
you see me getting arrested
you see me being assassinated
you see me being embalmed
you see the hot juicy stuff they dont want ya to see
including the famous nude fat lady bicycle pump incident
youll see sk in all his glorious opulence
aboard the nz pms yacht sniffing coke with nuns
absailing in amsterdam
white water rafting in drought stricken victoria and laughing
sit around at kilbeys table as he entertains napoleon elvis n ricki maymi
watch kilbey write under the milky way again
youll see interviews with kilbeys ancestors in dark ages england
youll see kilbey trading riffs with beethoven mozart and fiery liszt
youll be amazed….or youre a total wanker
youll be absolutely satisfied 105%
or somebody somewhere
might
refund you
probably
(name and address)
zip
thats right
nothing ventured
nothing back offer
quite frankly
i think steve kilbey live
(hmmmm whatta great name for a vid!)
i think steve kilbey live
is the bees knees
its the last word
its the nail in the coffin of the rec biz
its a show biz miracle
its delight as a round shiny disc
its cooler than liq oxygen
and hotter than summer on mercury
kilbey talks
walks
he gives you tips on how to win millions
he explains how he got where he is now….THE TOP
he plays all his greatest hits
ju ju bang bang
hippy dribble bop song
mango womango we allgo
ungritted momentsworth
hoppy knock knock polka dot slot
ooma booma bonga bong bong
that ones by loo read ….oh i forget
he reads extracts of malt
he reads from his new book of recipes “vegan blechhh!”
he discusts his latest sandal foot bawl becks n posh n josh the pike
he implodes in slo mo and is reassembled out of kurts shank
matty d conceived directed and touched this vid
from an original idea by matty d
from an inkling by matty d
during a daydream by matty d
almost an afterthought by matty d
previously in matty d subconscious
matty d appears courtesy of matt davyddson ltd (wales div)
kurtains shank appears without any courtesy at all
paul lightfood appears curtsey of P inc
dutch pierre appears with courtesy of bondi police wanted doc
i’d like to thank new zealand film corp for the crisps
i’d like to thank my mother for the christmas pudding
i’d like to thank all the pests still continuing to bug my spam filter
i’d like to thank the ungrateful bastards who said i was washed up
jesus…you guys were right!
i’d like to shove this video up all the idiots who said i was
“a useless talented old wrinkled bore struggling to string 2 chords
together a voice like fingernails scraping on yer teeth
a face only a “mother” could love etc”
even though it was all true…
i’d like to thank rolling schtone maggyzeen
who said
“we did not review this junk
but if we did we’d probably ignore it”
anyway
hustler mag said
“unless kurt slips us a few k
or matty d stops painting all together
we think its rude!!!”
anyway
stevekilbeydvd.com
see what all the fluss is about
listen to it
watch it
love it
eat it
make love to/in/under/over/on/beside/all over it
yes
you gotta have it
steve kilbey live
OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

garage poet

erasedeleteput it outta its mizareeyou need garage poetlatest medieval caperthe worldy world all wordy and woollyoh i flaunt it if i can get itshackled in a tin of brimming dimstrackless shadow we have huntedgirls take off their closethe trees above the trees belowblank stumpclose to it nowyoure getting warmer youre getting coolerrain all day drizzle drizzlein a bedroom she takes off her closein a dull lighther white skin is revealedlaying down across the bed sleeping like a stonethe violet pricks in the grey skythe holes where the creatures have abodesthe moles and mice and bats and pangolinsthe fruity fruits the angel fruits the angels laughterthe juicy stainthe mark of caina god moves in a mysterious mazevishnu appears as krishnasatan comes as a man of peacejesus comes awalking on a wateri come knocking knocking knockingblocking out all lightmy profile cast suddenly against an oilskin screeni send your delerious trash to mag. heaven plus a copy to my lawyercos soon im getting nastythe drizzle is so so softly soft softit lingers and hovers and floats and it dithersit appearsin the thick airin the holiday magic airin the hotels and sex afternoonsin the wine and cheese informal dosin the brothels subdued lightsin the surgery glarethe stern judge with his vacant eyesthe dead stars who would have clung to lifeon mornings without any time it drizzlesin long evenings that become soakeddrink drink drinkpeople fall asleep one by onelights go out in their eyestheir streets are one wayno limit beyond this pointno point beyond thatobvious things are hidden toonone of us sees things the samei wanted i wanted i wantedwhat did i getwhat did i sayking john was rightim sureafter all he wassa kingright?that goes without slayinga bayou tapestrylook i am everymani ami am every every every manthe every brothersi am a man i ama […]

erase
delete
put it outta its mizaree
you need garage poet
latest medieval caper
the worldy world all wordy and woolly
oh i flaunt it if i can get it
shackled in a tin of brimming dims
trackless shadow we have hunted
girls take off their close
the trees above
the trees below
blank stump
close to it now
youre getting warmer youre getting cooler
rain all day drizzle drizzle
in a bedroom she takes off her close
in a dull light
her white skin is revealed
laying down across the bed sleeping like a stone
the violet pricks in the grey sky
the holes where the creatures have abodes
the moles and mice and bats and pangolins
the fruity fruits the angel fruits the angels laughter
the juicy stain
the mark of cain
a god moves in a mysterious maze
vishnu appears as krishna
satan comes as a man of peace
jesus comes awalking on a water
i come knocking knocking knocking
blocking out all light
my profile cast suddenly against an oilskin screen
i send your delerious trash to mag. heaven
plus a copy to my lawyer
cos soon im getting nasty
the drizzle is so so softly soft soft
it lingers and hovers and floats and it dithers
it appears
in the thick air
in the holiday magic air
in the hotels and sex afternoons
in the wine and cheese informal dos
in the brothels subdued lights
in the surgery glare
the stern judge with his vacant eyes
the dead stars who would have clung to life
on mornings without any time it drizzles
in long evenings that become soaked
drink drink drink
people fall asleep one by one
lights go out in their eyes
their streets are one way
no limit beyond this point
no point beyond that
obvious things are hidden too
none of us sees things the same
i wanted i wanted i wanted
what did i get
what did i say
king john was right
im sure
after all he wassa kingright?
that goes without slaying
a bayou tapestry
look i am everyman
i am
i am every every every man
the every brothers
i am a man i am
a man a man a man
i was there
i saw it all
i was a fly onna wall
i coiled in bosoms nursed
the worst
a mean and hungry crook
a leaning plunging sook
hooked on a drug called hook
drugged on a dream
minding a seam
seeming to mind
behind behind behind
the times
the crimes
the erstwhile rhymes
ju ju bang bang
kilbey sang
azzee gonn mad they grinned
cos he sinned n sinned n got singed n winged
wingless n wild he fell from the sky
and exploded on ‘itting the ground
till he dyed
and then
they all
simply cried
what a hide!

darkness you are my priestess

in the darki stumble n lunge for cockroachesi stand in kitchen n eat chocolate n sip soy milkin the wild windy nightwhen everything becomes stillas the night contracts giving birth to the starsspirits are abroad soaring through these skies to youwailing wondering wonderful spiritsspirits of the deadspirits of the stones you walk uponspirits of the wood you burnspirits of the nights you seedspirits of the open woundspirits in the distant hubtravelling underground along songlinesyes they sing sing sing themselves to youlike trains on astral tracks rushing towards youthe night is not whiteno the night is not whitethe night remembers oh it remembersso it sighs and it moves through the curtainsand it mentions your names and the names of its godswho are the winds gods you ask in your lovely waytell me their names that i may chanta chanta chant to themtell me the blames i must recant to themtell me of the shames i have to rant to themtell me of the games tell me how the night will always love us sotell me how the night will never let me gogo into it now gothe whispery nighty night night with its branchy fingersthe oozing night with its vanilla-y thrillthe groping night with its hands down your pantsthe enveloping cloak of velvety eveevening star shine and it breathepulse they do yes they doyes they doand they do and they dothe mercury stars in their tinny olde stylethe warrior stars in their arrows n spearsall frozen and distantly scatteredas if it mattered where they fell in the black deepat the bottom of the sky where they sinkinto depths we never sawleaving trails of comets and civilizationsbefore this after this you name ityou name ityou you youyou fool youre a geniusyou clever dummy youre the brightest sparkyoure the one one onenightworks blackout […]

in the dark
i stumble n lunge for cockroaches
i stand in kitchen n eat chocolate n sip soy milk
in the wild windy night
when everything becomes still
as the night contracts giving birth to the stars
spirits are abroad soaring through these skies to you
wailing wondering wonderful spirits
spirits of the dead
spirits of the stones you walk upon
spirits of the wood you burn
spirits of the nights you seed
spirits of the open wound
spirits in the distant hub
travelling underground along songlines
yes they sing sing sing themselves to you
like trains on astral tracks rushing towards you
the night is not white
no the night is not white
the night remembers oh it remembers
so it sighs and it moves through the curtains
and it mentions your names and the names of its gods
who are the winds gods you ask in your lovely way
tell me their names that i may chanta chanta chant to them
tell me the blames i must recant to them
tell me of the shames i have to rant to them
tell me of the games
tell me how the night will always love us so
tell me how the night will never let me go
go into it now go
the whispery nighty night night with its branchy fingers
the oozing night with its vanilla-y thrill
the groping night with its hands down your pants
the enveloping cloak of velvety eve
evening star shine and it breathe
pulse they do yes they do
yes they do
and they do and they do
the mercury stars in their tinny olde style
the warrior stars in their arrows n spears
all frozen and distantly scattered
as if it mattered where they fell in the black deep
at the bottom of the sky where they sink
into depths we never saw
leaving trails of comets and civilizations
before this after this you name it
you name it
you you you
you fool youre a genius
you clever dummy youre the brightest spark
youre the one one one
nightworks blackout darkcrumble hoofbeats raindrop brambledown
hawkstrike ripcrashing unenlightened beast-among-you
warren burrows rabbit run run run
go nights creatures in the meadows hide for godssake
run for cover
down your shelter
night awaits you
silent night creeping sleeping keeping on
violent night howling round the mountaintop
night ache-multiplier-magnifier
night writes this line
nightline straight from 2 am
woke me up up up
to talk to darkness
who can seldom say whats going on
i wait in wakeness weightless fateless
the night neither cares nor cries for you or Is
trust me the night is so cruel and sleek
like an eagles beak as it streaks behind your head
its talons tearing tufts of sweet baby curls oh no oh no
thats the night for you dont say i didnae warn you
summer you out there call the night by different names
but its the same olde night n its the same olde shames
clock tick tick never tock that clock
footsteps sssh listen frozen in fear you are a childe again
a horrible face you think you see watching you and me
ah thats just the moon ah thats justa sky
ah thats justa asteroid deep inner my
ah thats just lord vishnu with conch and his mace
and his lotus n disc n his beautiful face
aah thats just sweet nature with a smile honour face
thats just the trouble and time with this race
all of the people all over the place
as they run and they fall and they drift inter space
as they crash crush n rumble n tumble with grace
who scatters these stars all over the place
and the nightwind caresses the place on my back
where the chakras align along magnetic track
that leads to my headveins which pump endless black
and the seat of my soul at the back of the shack
where the skull at its deepest and ‘lectricity cracks
as the thoughts come together with a thump n a whack
clicketty clicketty clicketty clack
yeah the night is behind you
yeah the old night is back

extra-ordinary biting physical virgin

ahthank you sun-heralda good review in the home towntoday n yessaday rehearse with triffswell you aint heard my voice like this beforei aint heard my voice like this beforethe triffids #1 fan in sydney gives stamp of approvalband seem quite happyim gonna sing 5 songs nowincluding epic doors-like field of glassband are very nice calm typeseveryone very friendlyenjoyingmyselfmick h from bad seedschris a from the necksricki from all those things he doesmark dawson from b.e. susans n ed koopakiller from the whatsanamesyeahits a big gigim singing my heart n larynx outstormy in sydney tonightthe triffids are great to sing withgod its exciting to sing these songsfucking classics everyoneits worth ruining my throat forhow did he sing like that every night?hmmmmm…ok 2 days off nowmust learn wordsmust learn wordsmust learn words

ah
thank you sun-herald
a good review in the home town
today n yessaday rehearse with triffs
well you aint heard my voice like this before
i aint heard my voice like this before
the triffids #1 fan in sydney gives stamp of approval
band seem quite happy
im gonna sing 5 songs now
including epic doors-like field of glass
band are very nice calm types
everyone very friendly
enjoyingmyself
mick h from bad seeds
chris a from the necks
ricki from all those things he does
mark dawson from b.e. susans n ed koopa
killer from the whatsanames
yeah
its a big gig
im singing my heart n larynx out
stormy in sydney tonight
the triffids are great to sing with
god its exciting to sing these songs
fucking classics everyone
its worth ruining my throat for
how did he sing like that every night?
hmmmmm…
ok
2 days off now
must learn words
must learn words
must learn words

as i silently and sadly slipped away

spent avo with ricki my-aim:me, yessadayrunning over triffids songs im doingfunny i never broke the songs down into parts beforei never realised what happened where in arrangement termsi didnt know all the words as suchnor did i care towhen” lonely stretch” came oni was transported to the place i was in the songthe words and music flew past outside the dreami was with mccomb as he realised he was lost in that bushoh the australian bushoh the west australian bushlostgetting coldgotta be running out of petrolwhats out therea crisis of faithmemories collide in the treesin the pinesd mc n g mc now both gonei hit a lonely stretchnow i gotta sing this songa wild ridethis song is one his very bestone of the very bestmaybe you have to take that lost ridethrough the scrubby trees and the dead wood stonesits like davids life is always passing before his eyesin all his songshes lost in the bushbut he was lost before he found the bushno one else would have ever written this songany way i have to learn to sing iti heard it a hundred timesbut i didnt know the wordsor recognize all the things that happen in thereafter doing triffids all avowe drop ricki offand go to statenk has not seen the showwe share some pre show nibbliesi get called off to a meetingthe director has some things to run overhe promises me that my cue wont fail toniteisnt that one of the great lies of rocknroll …..it’ll be working tonight……!i say to very little laughter.the show was a successi watched drones from behind mixing desk……excellent stuffi do my thingi cant review itin a way the odd man and song outi am the most extremely europeani am outside looking ini present londonfor the ladies and gentlemeni am the interpreter of […]

spent avo with ricki my-aim:me, yessaday
running over triffids songs im doing
funny i never broke the songs down into parts before
i never realised what happened where in arrangement terms
i didnt know all the words as such
nor did i care to
when” lonely stretch” came on
i was transported to the place
i was in the song
the words and music flew past outside the dream
i was with mccomb as he realised he was lost in that bush
oh the australian bush
oh the west australian bush
lost
getting cold
gotta be running out of petrol
whats out there
a crisis of faith
memories collide in the trees
in the pines
d mc n g mc
now both gone
i hit a lonely stretch
now i gotta sing this song
a wild ride
this song is one his very best
one of the very best
maybe you have to take that lost ride
through the scrubby trees and the dead wood stones
its like davids life is always passing before his eyes
in all his songs
hes lost in the bush
but he was lost before he found the bush
no one else would have ever written this song
any way i have to learn to sing it
i heard it a hundred times
but i didnt know the words
or recognize all the things that happen in there
after doing triffids all avo
we drop ricki off
and go to state
nk has not seen the show
we share some pre show nibblies
i get called off to a meeting
the director has some things to run over
he promises me that my cue wont fail tonite
isnt that one of the great lies of rocknroll …..
it’ll be working tonight……!
i say to very little laughter.
the show was a success
i watched drones from behind mixing desk……excellent stuff
i do my thing
i cant review it
in a way the odd man and song out
i am the most extremely european
i am outside looking in
i present london
for the ladies and gentlemen
i am the interpreter of carmodys words
i re-present them with a spin
i add my assent to his sentiments
i offer another way in to this song
my movements
my looks
my accent
my whole schtick
euro man
i echo his sentiments and amplify them
i show the audience another aspect
of kevs propensity for reinterpretation
i did my thing
people said it was good
i ponced around a bit
waving my hands about
etc
you had to be there
it was theatrical
greg weaver doing excellent sound for the gig
told me that as i waved my arms upwards
when i sang
these illusions
that a fluttery series of chorused echos was released
into the air around me
i had joked with him before
that i’d give him a hundred bucks
if he made me sound better than everyone else
i suppose you want that hundred now ?i asked apprehensively
uh-huh he said
everyone had a good night
i finally “got” the herd
i chatted to tex perkyns
and almost missed the grande finale
afterwoods
i waited for nk to appear backstage
she turned up n was feeling shy
and
suddenly
a thousand people
wanted to meet mr kev carmody
and his pals
so i slipped off into the night with my wife
we sat in a lantern lit park
and drank a couple of cold beers
nk had enjoyed my act
i get her to describe it over n over
pressing for arcane details
she enthusiastically recounts my exploits
and said yes
the drones were the best thing since the last best thing
and that the show had made her cry over n over
ah yes
it was the feelgood teary eyed musical hit of the year
good on ya kev carmody n paul kelly et al
uh oh
phone rings
the triffids require my presence at conservatorium
now

reconciliation!

dear fiends and children of the knightlast nite a moving moving showkev carmody that wonderful man….everyone in tearsi was first to see kev in his dressing room after standing ovationwe just hugged and i cried…yes i didi am only beginning to understand…..understand what it could mean to hima vindicationan aboriginal ghandia non violent man of gentle meansa river of tears 200 yearssk now has more invites to go visit and hang out with these guysstories of shape shifters and file snakesstories of aboriginal bands playing unguarded momentoh these people without guilefriendly generousthey go on forgiving even as the odds stack upeverybody in show fantastici had a slight glitch to my startwhen my cue was repeated twicei just stood there in front of 2500 peoplelike a spare prick at a prostitutes weddingbut then when i get to singi nail itimages of fucking londonkev has seen the dark satanic mills up closethat capital of strife and upheavaland i turn it around to suit my purposesi take his black wordsspit them out of my white mouththese images of london…these illusionsyesthese people who lived here before usthey were something specialthey had a depth we can barely even understand existedthey care nothing for materialismkev’d give ya his last ten bucks n not even think about itwhatta cryin’ shameand the englishahwe totally fucking ruined iteverythingim confusedi dont knowits a huge topicits beyond my spherebut last nightwe struck a blowswallowed our differenceswe rocked for reconciliationwe honoured kev and we honoured what he stands forand we, as musicians, in our own waywe did what we couldandthats all you can doisnt it?

dear fiends and children of the knight
last nite a moving moving show
kev carmody that wonderful man….
everyone in tears
i was first to see kev in his dressing room after standing ovation
we just hugged and i cried…yes i did
i am only beginning to understand…..
understand what it could mean to him
a vindication
an aboriginal ghandi
a non violent man of gentle means
a river of tears 200 years
sk now has more invites to go visit
and hang out with these guys
stories of shape shifters and file snakes
stories of aboriginal bands playing unguarded moment
oh these people without guile
friendly generous
they go on forgiving even as the odds stack up
everybody in show fantastic
i had a slight glitch to my start
when my cue was repeated twice
i just stood there in front of 2500 people
like a spare prick at a prostitutes wedding
but then when i get to sing
i nail it
images of fucking london
kev has seen the dark satanic mills up close
that capital of strife and upheaval
and i turn it around to suit my purposes
i take his black words
spit them out of my white mouth
these images of london…these illusions
yes
these people who lived here before us
they were something special
they had a depth we can barely even understand existed
they care nothing for materialism
kev’d give ya his last ten bucks n not even think about it
whatta cryin’ shame
and the english
ah
we totally fucking ruined it
everything
im confused
i dont know
its a huge topic
its beyond my sphere
but last night
we struck a blow
swallowed our differences
we rocked for reconciliation
we honoured kev
and we honoured what he stands for
and we, as musicians, in our own way
we did what we could
and
thats all you can do
isnt it?