If the music seems to be a labyrinth of confusion, a maze of indirection, a tangle of illogic -- well, I suppose that is because it is. This is what happens when it snows in May, when memories of May include (to borrow a line from Charles Dickens) the best of times and the worst of times, when the month of May seems to be a literal castle of indolence. (That bit of allusion was borrowed from James Thomson, a Scottish poet; it seems only fair to balance an Englishman with a Scot, does it not?) These songs, along with another two or three seemingly
dissimulated pieces entered my mind a few evenings ago when mixed with Southern Comfort, so I listened to them each a number of times. There should be a pattern to them -- a common bond -- but, if there is, I cannot find it. It seemed quite reasonable, therefore, for me to toss into this cocktail of music a photograph which might also seem purposeless, perplexing, pointless. A man and a dog, resting, it would seem, on a hallway floor. So, who are they, why are they there, what are they awaiting, what comes next? That is for me to know (actually, "to contemplate" would be a more accurate phrase to use) and for you to speculate, if you so choose. Hallways are like roads and rivers. They lead to somewhere, usually to nowhere of significance on a personal level, but sometimes the journey along them proves to offer a glimpse into another world -- into another reality -- into another time.
13 comments:
Blimey, snow in May? No wonder you have The Stones and Boston on your blog. The latter is good for a drive out on a spring day once the snow has melted.
Greetings from London.
A harsh winter has given way to a miserable spring, CiL. Weather has no master (despite what some people claim), and even keeps the music of the mind confused. The temperature did rise to eight degrees Celsius today, which seems mild compared to recent times, but a year ago today it climbed to thirty-four degrees. The weather always does as it pleases.
I was a bit surprised you did not notice the photograph, but I am glad for your visit in any event. Thank you, for your presence and your words here.
Very nice upload in every way ...
the weather (bad), the old songs not bad to hear and to remember again.
LOVE the Stones.
An interesting photograph .. a man in his suit and tie, like a beggar
(maybe he feels bad).
Regards
Monika
What a nice surprise to find you here, Monika. Your presence on the sea of blogs has been somewhat rare during recent times, and I am glad you stopped by to visit me.
It is not unusual for me to have a radio on and tuned to a "classic rock" station during the day, so I am often listening to songs such as these. The Dean Martin version of "Sway" was in a film, "Easy Virtue," that I recently watched. I like both the song and the film. They sort of go hand-in-hand with "Play With Fire." Hmmmm .... a bond.
The man in the photograph might have been habitually sad. (Perhaps, "perpetually" would be a better choice of words.) He was well known in literary and counterculture circles once upon a time, but probably not one person in ten would recognize him now from a photograph, especially one in profile, such as this shot. As I recall, the Labrador retriever was simply doing what I am frequently known to do: Hanging out.
Again, it was sweet of you to visit me, Monika. Thank you, for your kind words.
Thats funny!!!!!Yesterday we looked at this Dean Martin Sway and we tried to find out what movie was played..And here by you I found it :))Really really good music this time!!Love the Stones and Dean Martin :)The photo hehe reminds me of yesterday here in Norway..Our constitution day The 17 Mai!Here teh norwegians stays sober for soo long time and when they finally sees the oppurtuity to drink they do to the bottom..so many are those that sits like that here, but in the sunshine :))))We have had very good weathe r here this last 6 months :)))Its good to see you post Fram!Myself is thinking soon to go to the mountain Bergsdalen in Dale.Stay a couple of days at the Alexander Grieg hut..just relaxing from everydays normality..Alot of hugs and kisses is on the way to you..Your friend Anita
Gran seleccion musical para la nieve de Mayo, saludos.
Our gentleman in the photograph was not feeling the effects of too much liquor, Anita. Of that, I am sure. And, although he was known to "experiment" with a number of drugs and was an early advocate for the legalization of marijuana, I can safety report he was not under the influence of anything the evening that the photograph was taken. He was a Buddhist and a devotee of Krishna, and probably was chanting a mantra in his mind.
By the way, I cannot vouch for the retriever. I am not sure if he was under the influence of liquor, drugs, a religious trance or simply taking a nap.
I enjoy a number of Dean Martin songs, but I think I have come to appreciate him more as an actor than as a singer. He probably never could have accomplished an academy award performance, but he did fine work in several very varied supporting roles.
So, what is your excuse for being gone so long from the sea of blogs this time? I think you must be in love again.
If you go to the mountains, Anita, I wish you much enjoyment while you are there. Take care, and do not be away so long next time ....
Thank you, Boris, for your visit and your comment.
I think "classic rock" is among the best music ever -- during snow, rain or the heat of brilliant sunshine -- and I am glad you enjoyed a bit of it here today.
No.not in love Fram.simply borded.i mean whats the use of doing this and doing that?i dont know..but yea i will come back sooner or later..when do you come north?Next year may be?
i have found a pleasent fjord tour for you......Ok..i shall not tease..see you soon ! :)
It seems to me boredom is battled in two ways: With the body, by constantly going places and doing things; with the mind, by constantly studying people, places, concepts. I jump from one to the other, and I think it probably will be a losing battle in the end.
You might have "heard me say" in earlier posts that I thought I had done everything there was to do in one form or another by the time I was age twenty-five. I really believe that, although I sometimes hope there might be one or two things I have not yet done. I could give up or I can continue traveling along a road, a river or even a hallway -- hopefully, to discover something which has been worth the journey. I guess that is true for all of us, but I think I lose my patience with repetition more so than do most people.
Cruising the fjords, hmmmm. It is a thought, Anita. In recent weeks, I have been looking at possibilities for crossing the Atlantic on a tramp steamer or going on a European river cruise or one that includes some stops in Baltic Sea ports.
Last year, I had wanted to leave here around the middle of October for a few months, but ridiculous delays in repairs to storm damage to this house ended that idea. I am thinking the same for this year -- heading out in September or October and, ideally, remain traveling for a few months or pick out another country/city in which to live for a few months. Long weekend escapes or even a week or two are hardly worth the expense and the effort, from my point of view. We shall see ....
This is long .... I guess I was in the mood to talk for a while today .... thank you, for another visit and the conversation, Anita ....
Thank you for inspiration and wise words Fram...You are so lucky..having that great house and be able to travel may be in autumm :)I dont know what it is with you..but feels good to hear your voice.
Thank you for answering.I will come back later ...Greetings Anita
Thank you, Anita, for the compliment and the kind words.
For sure, I am Fram the Fortunate in most ways. But, a few chapters in a book do not tell the entire story. We must wait for the ending to arrive before making a final judgment.
I do not know what it is with me, either. If you figure it out, tell me, please. Seriously, I enjoy your company, too.
Well, a week has passed since this post went up. I am disappointed. Apparently, no one who passed by here and looked at the post recognized and/or thought it worth acknowledging the man in the photograph is Allen Ginsberg. If you are not familiar with the name, I would suggest you go back to school -- study poetry; study social/cultural movements in the U.S.; maybe, read Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" and check out the character Carlo Marx. The photo was taken a couple of decades ago, at a time both Ginsberg's face and name and the entire context of the "Beat Generation" were worth considerably more than fifteen minutes of fame.
I would also mention that unless someone begs, borrows or steals this photograph from this post, it will never be seen elsewhere since I own it.
To quote the poet:
"I'm with you in Rockland
in my dreams you walk dripping from a sea-journey on the highway across America in tears to the door of my cottage in the Western night ...."
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