My dad used to have a sign taped on the front of one of his tall, metal filing cabinets that said
Due to lack of interest, tomorrow has been cancelled
I guess he thought it was funny. The other sign was this and when I asked my mom about it once she said this is how he truly felt about his life. I don’t quite believe it, but he probably felt this way somewhat and he must have thought it was funny, too.
When my life is over
And my time has come to pass,
I hope they bury me upside-down,
So the world may kiss my ass
My dad was an atheist, but I can tell you that when he was dying of cancer, he told me that God got the aging and dying thing wrong—too much pain. God was something he referred to as a matter of course. It was a concept that we all grew up with, maybe him especially, having been a kid in a kosher household and all. When I’d talk to him about his childhood and religion and whether or not he believed in God, he would say he was an atheist, but he would tear up. I thought that meant he really did believe in God. It was a bit confusing, but also I was in awe. It was like God was right there with us when he talked about Hungary and his bar mitzvah and his mother and father, all his friends running around being bad young boys, his younger brother, his older sisters, the lumber business his father and uncle ran. When he ate pork at the age of 13 because he was curious and he didn’t believe the stuff he was taught anyway. He talked about the dishes and the milk and the meat and why. Having been brought up without religion, I listened with intent. Like if it made enough sense, I would understand something. He had his stories and I had the pictures from them. I loved my dad so much.
♥
Remember, you keepers of the truth, I want a banjo played at my funeral. I know there will be Shape Note singing, so that’s not a thing anyone needs to remember.
I like this song my kid turned me on to last year. The video is goofy and makes no sense. What’s the narrative here exactly? Nonetheless, 13 million hits don’t lie.
the fiddle and the banjo. Like the song Roseville Fair which I used to sing to my kids as a lullaby.
Rock me momma.
This is a sweet post — AND — I love this song! We used to play in at the visitor center/gift shop at the botanical garden where I work. I always thought this song was sexy — especially when he says “rock me mama like a southbound train” — whoa! Yeah the video I never would have imagined for this song. I always imagined the players in a threadbare cabin somewhere, very basic, in the woods. Your kid has great taste in music. I love your reflection of your dad. Nice.
Thanks, Sandee.
I liked the women with their belly-dancing hips and their hose and their tattoos all right, but I expected the buxom woman on the stage in the beginning of the video to get to dance. Why isn’t she dancing? Why do they go into the tent? Is it supposed to mean the band guys had sex with the dancers? I liked that the women seemed in control, but then they just seemed there to service the band. I know I’m making too much of this. It’s either these musings or I have to go clean under the stove. It’s pretty gross and I don’t like it so I’m stalling. We have mice, too. Oh why can’t I have a giant clean house?
twinkly
good tune and video, sparkly. we saw ocms open for david and gillian a while back, the whole crew finished with a smoking cover of the weight.
if the missus and i are still around, there will be banjo at your funeral (if tim erikson is unavailable).
ptd
Thanks for offering to play, but I’d like to see the day a couple of Californians fly across to the bluest fucking state in the union, even for a funeral.
I don’t even know what that means, but I suppose it shows I’m in a feistier mood than I realized. Maybe I should delete it because it’s so rude, but I sort of like it.
you won’t know either way–you’ll be dead. just be happy i offered.
ptd
Crap. I’ll be dead? That sucks balls. But the banjo will be heavenly. Thanks.