last nite i played a private function on outskirts of melb
it was a lotta fun
mr ricki played too with me
he was nervous tho
i wasnt
i hadda good time
i let people sing their fave tunes
i danced with my guitar under the taup
i sang in the hot dark
later i smoked on a verandah overlooking swimming pool
surrounded by the gently vibrating bush
i sat and talked to the locals
we had vegan banquet
we had local hydro
we had nice reception
we had mother energy drinks n vodka
we tune under the moon
balmy times in my life
well paid everything considering
nice people
nice b and b where i stayed
as i check in the the older but still nice owner-lady
says
what kinda entertainer are ya?
of course i come back with perennial
oh im a male stripper
the lady looks me up n down twice
ok she says what times that party startin’?
yeah wow a nice interlude
which we played by the way
now im at mel airport
waiting to go home
n start back on church for litle while
first will take doodles for a dippy dip dip
i hope
if my plane doesnae crash….
aaaaaarghhhhh!
private function
last nite i played a private function on outskirts of melbit was a lotta funmr ricki played too with mehe was nervous thoi wasnt i hadda good timei let people sing their fave tunesi danced with my guitar under the taupi sang in the hot darklater i smoked on a verandah overlooking swimming poolsurrounded by the gently vibrating bushi sat and talked to the localswe had vegan banquetwe had local hydrowe had nice receptionwe had mother energy drinks n vodkawe tune under the moonbalmy times in my lifewell paid everything consideringnice peoplenice b and b where i stayedas i check in the the older but still nice owner-ladysayswhat kinda entertainer are ya?of course i come back with perennialoh im a male stripperthe lady looks me up n down twiceok she says what times that party startin’?yeah wow a nice interludewhich we played by the waynow im at mel airportwaiting to go homen start back on church for litle whilefirst will take doodles for a dippy dip dipi hopeif my plane doesnae crash….aaaaaarghhhhh!
gosh
blah blah fucking blahkids yellin’ at meband yellin’ at mefriends yellin’ at mecars beeping and indicating and givin’ me the fingeri get lost in a tunneli came out at wrong spoti argue n argue in my hoarse n horrible voicei hate this i hate thati trip up n fall downi get angrier n angrierrude rude rudepeople hangin’ off me everywherepeople ignoring mepeople in my fucking facepeople in my car parkpeople in my seat on the buspeople in my coffin n gravephone ring ring ringhellobullshit bullshitgoodbyeyeah yeah yeahsureeverybodys in paineverybodys actingeverybodys got an idea bout what i should doeverybody all together nowphone ringshellorhubarb rhubarbgoodbyeno u-turnno standingno stoppingno mobile phonesno ulterior or anterior mo-tivesi am so tired of that person writing me 20 emails a daypleasedont ever write to me againcan it be any plainer?do you need to decipher this?dont ever write to me againby me i mean meby ever i mean as long as im aliveby dont i mean DONT!by writei would include all communicationany means whatsoever(i have no wish to have anything whatsoever to do with you!)by again i mean i hope you never contact meim tired im angry im emotionalplease stop it or im gonna send it all on to my lawyer!meanwhile its a hot cold day nightthe church are arent this n thatblather blather much malarkeybuy my new productsarent i clever i did this n i wrote thatnon plussed?me toois it me or am i crazy?help me out theni gotta nasty cold or new moania i cant tellim irresponsibleim rantingim hot and bothersomeim gonna getcha and you aint gonna like itim already goneim just going on n onim wasted hereim no one but im everywhereis this the catch?
blah blah fucking blah
kids yellin’ at me
band yellin’ at me
friends yellin’ at me
cars beeping and indicating and givin’ me the finger
i get lost in a tunnel
i came out at wrong spot
i argue n argue in my hoarse n horrible voice
i hate this i hate that
i trip up n fall down
i get angrier n angrier
rude rude rude
people hangin’ off me everywhere
people ignoring me
people in my fucking face
people in my car park
people in my seat on the bus
people in my coffin n grave
phone ring ring ring
hello
bullshit bullshit
goodbye
yeah yeah yeah
sure
everybodys in pain
everybodys acting
everybodys got an idea bout what i should do
everybody all together now
phone rings
hello
rhubarb rhubarb
goodbye
no u-turn
no standing
no stopping
no mobile phones
no ulterior or anterior mo-tives
i am so tired of that person writing me 20 emails a day
please
dont ever write to me again
can it be any plainer?
do you need to decipher this?
dont ever write to me again
by me i mean me
by ever i mean as long as im alive
by dont i mean DONT!
by write
i would include all communication
any means whatsoever
(i have no wish to have anything whatsoever to do with you!)
by again i mean
i hope you never contact me
im tired im angry im emotional
please stop it or im gonna send it all on to my lawyer!
meanwhile its a hot cold day night
the church are arent this n that
blather blather much malarkey
buy my new products
arent i clever i did this n i wrote that
non plussed?
me too
is it me or am i crazy?
help me out then
i gotta nasty cold or new moania i cant tell
im irresponsible
im ranting
im hot and bothersome
im gonna getcha and you aint gonna like it
im already gone
im just going on n on
im wasted here
im no one but im everywhere
is this the catch?
pieces of eight lives
no cat no pantheryou were sleeping you were lying nakedlike marilynlike anyoneanyone sleeping reallysleeping sleeping sleepingso tired you were so tired oh god you were so tiredtired of being tired showbiz huh agent waffleaudition slimepreview jitters2nd day jinxescontract spasmmanage a smileopening night yawning in parishounded by cameracramming a scriptgossip fodder scratched up n badbullshit lies n innuendopressure inner and outerthe other sidethe other side starts to calla pressure on you to departdream of a train leaving a stationlast drinks gentlemeneat up its closing the doordoor between the 2 places at onceyou fall asleep new york was it?was it even importantwho saw it comingthe invisible draft that never said nothing7 pages in a sydney newspaperone inch= 20 thousand children who die in congo warper monthpeople weep and mournthe world of sadnessyet you sleep and sleephow strange to never wake uphow strange to sleep and sleepdo you ever think of us as you dreamwhen you wake up on the other sidewill the sun be shiningwill the stars gone before yoube showing you the ropesthe lie of the landthe perfect seathe gentle rainthe theatres full of applausefilms about filmsthe lightsthe actionall the morethe more the morenot the more or lessforeveror notwho can tell?
no cat
no panther
you were sleeping
you were lying naked
like marilyn
like anyone
anyone sleeping really
sleeping sleeping sleeping
so tired you were
so tired oh god
you were so tired
tired of being tired
showbiz huh
agent waffle
audition slime
preview jitters
2nd day jinxes
contract spasm
manage a smile
opening night yawning in paris
hounded by camera
cramming a script
gossip fodder scratched up n bad
bullshit lies n innuendo
pressure
inner and outer
the other side
the other side starts to call
a pressure on you to depart
dream of a train leaving a station
last drinks gentlemen
eat up
its closing
the door
door between the 2 places at once
you fall asleep
new york was it?
was it even important
who saw it coming
the invisible draft that never said nothing
7 pages in a sydney newspaper
one inch= 20 thousand children who die in congo war
per month
people weep and mourn
the world of sadness
yet you sleep and sleep
how strange to never wake up
how strange to sleep and sleep
do you ever think of us as you dream
when you wake up on the other side
will the sun be shining
will the stars gone before you
be showing you the ropes
the lie of the land
the perfect sea
the gentle rain
the theatres full of applause
films about films
the lights
the action
all the more
the more the more
not the more or less
forever
or not
who can tell?
perma n temp
on the balconyin the filmi meanthat film they madethey used your songrememberand on the balcony it was summeroh it was always summersome a summerthe bodysurfersthe wetsuits hanging over the fencestheir blond hair under the outside showerand the leafy shady places down the pathand the garden where we smoked dope and played mah jongga kind of pavilliona kind of a afternoona kind of an obscured sunand the spiders n worms under the planksand the sound of a far away radioand the love lonely songs it emittedand the cars that sat parked in the driveand the letters yet to be deliveredadvice i never heardexuse me did you leave this behindsplinters of it allbits and blobsdobs and knobsblows and showsempty bottlessandy soilweedsantscig buttsbits of papera keya dead birdlinga rocka stonea blade of grassa drop of watersmell of rainsmell of lightningsmell of food cookingdrizzlestop
on the balcony
in the film
i mean
that film they made
they used your song
remember
and on the balcony it was summer
oh it was always summer
some a summer
the bodysurfers
the wetsuits hanging over the fences
their blond hair under the outside shower
and the leafy shady places down the path
and the garden where we smoked dope and played mah jongg
a kind of pavillion
a kind of a afternoon
a kind of an obscured sun
and the spiders n worms under the planks
and the sound of a far away radio
and the love lonely songs it emitted
and the cars that sat parked in the drive
and the letters yet to be delivered
advice i never heard
exuse me did you leave this behind
splinters of it all
bits and blobs
dobs and knobs
blows and shows
empty bottles
sandy soil
weeds
ants
cig butts
bits of paper
a key
a dead birdling
a rock
a stone
a blade of grass
a drop of water
smell of rain
smell of lightning
smell of food cooking
drizzle
stop
ticket to ryde
sitting up here at timbos placelooking out over trees and clouds and blue skiesdown below they fiddle with drumsit could be sweden up here on this balconypines ferns leafy evergreensoaks and elms and nativesall react to the wind in their own characteristic waythe clouds today are simply stupendousi can hardly tear my eyes away from em to write these wordsthe size of small mountainsthe clouds proceed with deliberation across the bluenessan empty hammock swings in the winda very scandanavian afternoonhint of distant stormtrees stretch in all directionslemons gleam in lemon treesthe pools undulate under the breezeswomen read magazines in the shadedad rolls a smokethe children laugh somewhere indoorsa bird sings so sadly out therelike a morning from my own childhoodlike an echo in echomachinery humscivilization murmurs beyond the wall of treesthe clouds frown down at methe clouds are onto meon top of methese clouds with their agonizing slownessthese clouds with their water from whereabove me casting shadows thrown into the murk of the pastred roofsred flowerswhite flowerswhite cloudsblue skyblue blues
sitting up here at timbos place
looking out over trees and clouds and blue skies
down below they fiddle with drums
it could be sweden up here on this balcony
pines ferns leafy evergreens
oaks and elms and natives
all react to the wind in their own characteristic way
the clouds today are simply stupendous
i can hardly tear my eyes away from em to write these words
the size of small mountains
the clouds proceed with deliberation across the blueness
an empty hammock swings in the wind
a very scandanavian afternoon
hint of distant storm
trees stretch in all directions
lemons gleam in lemon trees
the pools undulate under the breezes
women read magazines in the shade
dad rolls a smoke
the children laugh somewhere indoors
a bird sings so sadly out there
like a morning from my own childhood
like an echo in echo
machinery hums
civilization murmurs beyond the wall of trees
the clouds frown down at me
the clouds are onto me
on top of me
these clouds with their agonizing slowness
these clouds with their water from where
above me casting shadows
thrown into the murk of the past
red roofs
red flowers
white flowers
white clouds
blue sky
blue blues
come ride come ride this pleasure slide with me
yessaday morningme n evie go to pharmacisthe saysi can sell ya whatever ya wantbut nothing gonna help yer throatso you should just shut up all day(i have paraphrased him a little)family has lovely swim at bondinatalie swimming like a dolphinevie like an otteraurora wades aroundthe woofle eventually gets in n she loves itwe all eat sno cones on the boardwalknk= grapeek =red raspberrylil sk =red raspberryak=fairy flossbig sk = bubblegum + pineapplehey says evie …howcome you get 2 flavours, dad?me: cos i bloody well paid for em!meanwhile the woofle does the “nakey” dance at the showersolde ladies fainting with pleasureas the chubby little woofle bounces around sans clothesfamily stops in to organic cafeowner says sorryno food for you….ive run out!me n nk swear we’ll never go there again…we go instead to a lovely jewish jointwhere we have felafels n chipsall the timei no talky talkyeveryone has advicewhisper says pharmacistdont whisper says jlk who comes to babysitdont drink says someconjac or red wine say othersfinally we get to gignk comes backstage for a whiletalk to rickymick harvey etcfinally after much anticipationi hit the stagei do my songs with much gusto n little voiceyes i channelled dave mccomband many triffids peopleincluding his big brother johnsayyes yes the passionyou had the passionthen encorei come on n do field of glassten minute doors-y epici go fucking nutsyou AINT never seen me like thisi channel mccomb , morrison n any other blokegoing nuts on a stageDADDY DADDY HE DONT UNDERSTANDWHACK!DOGGIE DOGGIE HE DONT UNDERSTAND WHACK! WHACK!i finish in a pool of sweat n shredded (wheat) voicethe normally restrained marty casey gives me a hugjill n graham say well donealsy n rob like itive made itjulian n james the triffs #1 fans give blessingsnk comes backstagewow!i told ya darlin’ you aint never seen me sing like […]
yessaday morning
me n evie go to pharmacist
he says
i can sell ya whatever ya want
but nothing gonna help yer throat
so you should just shut up all day
(i have paraphrased him a little)
family has lovely swim at bondi
natalie swimming like a dolphin
evie like an otter
aurora wades around
the woofle eventually gets in n she loves it
we all eat sno cones on the boardwalk
nk= grape
ek =red raspberry
lil sk =red raspberry
ak=fairy floss
big sk = bubblegum + pineapple
hey says evie …howcome you get 2 flavours, dad?
me: cos i bloody well paid for em!
meanwhile the woofle does the “nakey” dance at the showers
olde ladies fainting with pleasure
as the chubby little woofle bounces around sans clothes
family stops in to organic cafe
owner says sorry
no food for you….ive run out!
me n nk swear we’ll never go there again…
we go instead to a lovely jewish joint
where we have felafels n chips
all the time
i no talky talky
everyone has advice
whisper says pharmacist
dont whisper says jlk who comes to babysit
dont drink says some
conjac or red wine say others
finally we get to gig
nk comes backstage for a while
talk to ricky
mick harvey etc
finally after much anticipation
i hit the stage
i do my songs with much gusto n little voice
yes i channelled dave mccomb
and many triffids people
including his big brother john
say
yes yes the passion
you had the passion
then encore
i come on n do field of glass
ten minute doors-y epic
i go fucking nuts
you AINT never seen me like this
i channel mccomb , morrison n any other bloke
going nuts on a stage
DADDY DADDY HE DONT UNDERSTAND
WHACK!
DOGGIE DOGGIE HE DONT UNDERSTAND
WHACK! WHACK!
i finish in a pool of sweat n shredded (wheat) voice
the normally restrained marty casey gives me a hug
jill n graham say well done
alsy n rob like it
ive made it
julian n james the triffs #1 fans give blessings
nk comes backstage
wow!
i told ya darlin’ you aint never seen me sing like that
a conversation ensues
in which nk says something like
she wants to take me home and “discuss” my performance
all the way home in cab she holds my hand
and giggles
looking at me all starry-eyed
ok i gotta do more gigs like this i think
get home doodles n woofle all safely asleep
and then nk …..
and then i wake up today
1st day of new church album
hmmmmmm
hard to change gears
ok
onward n upward
sk
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!