RIP Goth Girl
Do you remember, at your friend's wedding, how someone's uncle Bernie went coo coo for Cocoa Puffs when the DJ played Bust A Move? It was like he'd just stumbled on a lost African tribe conducting their annual masking ceremony, and we couldn't take our eyes off him - a captive audience to his confused excitement and the spastic, off-beat twitching it produced.
On Friday I attended the taping of a top-notch live radio show, called Live Wire, as part of the local Wordstock literary festival that's happening in town this week. It was a well-produced, ecclectic show and in typical Portland fashion, the audience was whiter than those creepy kids that work behind your mall's Hot Dog on a Stick counter. We were swimmin' in uncle Bernies, which made the appearance of the gifted hip hop poet Libretto fantastically awkward and wonderful. For eighty percent of this 500 member audience, it was the first and last time a man in a "RIP JMJ" t-shirt would ask them to wave their hands in the air, in the manner of someone that just doesn't care, to lyrics about a Watts childhood performed over deep crate samples of George Clinton, Ron Isley and Cameo. If you're in the market for some smart and infectious new hip hop, Libretto's worth a listen. And if you immediately understood the RIP JMJ reference, you know you're one of my favorite people. Now give us a kiss.
The real highlight of the night for me though was an appearance by the wickedly clever British singer/songwriter turned novelist, John Wesley Harding. He's a terrific, hilarious storyteller and he performed a couple of his songs acoustically, including the one below. You'll have to close your eyes and imagine the best part - his tender whispering of "undead...undead...undead" on the outro.
Goth Girl
Goth girl
What are you wearing today?
Black again
Goth girl
It's such a fine day in May
But you think it's raining
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Why so afraid of the sun?
Do you hate the light?
Goth girl
You should be out having fun
And home by midnight
I can't see your eyes behind your bangs
As you sit there on the wall and bare your fangs
At men like me but
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Goth girl
Who is the guy on the leash?
Does he wash dishes
Goth girl
He looks like Pete Murphy to me
Oh yeah he wishes
I know he's appropriately frail
But I bet he can't afford to take you to Nine Inch Nails
(I've got two tickets)
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Goth girl
I know you're supersmart
You've turned your bad habits into art
Your fake black magic accessories
Have cast a real spell on me
Goth girl
When will I see you again?
It's been two weeks
Goth girl
I asked the rest of your friends
But they don't speak to me
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
I'm gonna wipe the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Goth girl
Undead, undead, undead
On Friday I attended the taping of a top-notch live radio show, called Live Wire, as part of the local Wordstock literary festival that's happening in town this week. It was a well-produced, ecclectic show and in typical Portland fashion, the audience was whiter than those creepy kids that work behind your mall's Hot Dog on a Stick counter. We were swimmin' in uncle Bernies, which made the appearance of the gifted hip hop poet Libretto fantastically awkward and wonderful. For eighty percent of this 500 member audience, it was the first and last time a man in a "RIP JMJ" t-shirt would ask them to wave their hands in the air, in the manner of someone that just doesn't care, to lyrics about a Watts childhood performed over deep crate samples of George Clinton, Ron Isley and Cameo. If you're in the market for some smart and infectious new hip hop, Libretto's worth a listen. And if you immediately understood the RIP JMJ reference, you know you're one of my favorite people. Now give us a kiss.
The real highlight of the night for me though was an appearance by the wickedly clever British singer/songwriter turned novelist, John Wesley Harding. He's a terrific, hilarious storyteller and he performed a couple of his songs acoustically, including the one below. You'll have to close your eyes and imagine the best part - his tender whispering of "undead...undead...undead" on the outro.
Goth Girl
Goth girl
What are you wearing today?
Black again
Goth girl
It's such a fine day in May
But you think it's raining
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Why so afraid of the sun?
Do you hate the light?
Goth girl
You should be out having fun
And home by midnight
I can't see your eyes behind your bangs
As you sit there on the wall and bare your fangs
At men like me but
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Goth girl
Who is the guy on the leash?
Does he wash dishes
Goth girl
He looks like Pete Murphy to me
Oh yeah he wishes
I know he's appropriately frail
But I bet he can't afford to take you to Nine Inch Nails
(I've got two tickets)
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Goth girl
I know you're supersmart
You've turned your bad habits into art
Your fake black magic accessories
Have cast a real spell on me
Goth girl
When will I see you again?
It's been two weeks
Goth girl
I asked the rest of your friends
But they don't speak to me
One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth
I'm gonna wipe the lipstick off your mouth
Goth girl
Goth girl
Undead, undead, undead
Labels: Not Fiction
Discussion:
I like the Libretto; I know I'm extremely white, but I think the dude's vocals sound like the lead singer of Ozomatli. Rest In Peace, Jam Master Jay. Where's my kiss? Did you ever get into Talib Kweli? He opened for the Boys when they blew through T-Town last year. Good stuff.
I was all over T Kweli when everyone was saying he'd be the next Mos Def. Don't think that ever happened and he peaked with Quality in 02. Hey, speaking of Ozomatli, I've got a spare bedroom for you when you get tired of that whole "family" thing: mine.
great strip, man.
While I was taking a time out from being super husbdad (read:hiding in the office), I started busting a gut reading your site. Katie came in and asked if I was reading her site again. I told her no, I was reading your ABOUT link. She called us both fags and has witheld "doin' the beast with two backs" ever since. Silly woman...as long as I have your blog, I'M A SEXUAL CAMEL, DAMNIT!
Unfortunately, the lyrics alone fail to describe how entrancing Goth Girl was...the brit accent is a required supplement. Just out of curiosity, were you ready to blow that joint to find your own goth girl to sing to, or was that just me?
On slightly different and maybe obvious note, I found it quite reminiscent of Dead Milkmen's "Punk Rock Girl." Another good one.
Special K: Agreed. Many things sound better when spoken with a British accent, including the phrase "Keep your oar in the water", which is totally original and something I came up with just now. And the best line in that DM song is the one that goes something like "Punk rock girl, let's slam dance and dress like Minnie Pearl." Let me know how it goes with the goth girls.
oh common man!
this is so idiotic!
Go look in a porn site or something instead of writing lousy "poems" like this.
YOU SUCK!DROP IT!
K-Z,aka,GothVamp.
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