Date archives "November 2020"
Stephen King
Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is a prolific author of novels and graphic novels and has written for television, film and theatre. In this short video he describes his early experience of realizing that authors play with language.
The Illustrated Man (Introduction), Ray Bradbury
Landslide, Stevie Nicks
I took my love, I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
‘Till the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
‘Cause I’ve built my life around yours
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I’m getting older too
Oh, take my love, take it down
Oh, climb a mountain and turn around
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well the landslide will bring it down
Beautiful Girl, INXS
The song below implies a sad story of a desperate runaway surviving on the streets. The visual images create new meaning and extend our thinking with irony: the song may appear to be an ode to beauty, while it laments the tragic impact of objectification.
Nicky’s in the corner
With a black coat on
Running from a bad home
With some cat inside
Now where did you find her?
Among the neon lights
That haunt the streets outside
She says, “Stay with me”
Beautiful girl (stay with me)
She wants to go home
From doorway to doorway
Street corner to corner
With the neon ghosts in the city
And she says, “Stay with me”
She’s so scared
So very frightened
Anything could happen
Right here tonight
Beautiful girl (stay with me)
She wants to go home
Young and Beautiful, Lana Del Rey
I’ve seen the world
Done it all
Had my cake now
Diamonds, brilliant
And Bel Air now
Hot summer nights, mid July
When you and I were forever wild
The crazy days, city lights
The way you’d play with me like a child
[Chorus]
Will you still love me
When I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my aching soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?
[Verse 2]
I’ve seen the world, lit it up
As my stage now
Channeling angels in the new age now
Hot summer days, rock ‘n’ roll
The way you play for me at your show
And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul
[Chorus]
Will you still love me
When I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my aching soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?
[Bridge]
Dear lord, when I get to heaven
Please let me bring my man
When he comes tell me that you’ll let him in
Father tell me if you can
Oh that grace, oh that body
Oh that face makes me wanna party
He’s my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds
[Chorus]
Will you still love me
When I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my aching soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?
The Veldt, Ray Bradbury
Girl from the North Country, Bob Dylan (and Johnny Cash)
If you’re traveling in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
For she was once a true love of mine.
Well, if you go when the snowflakes storm
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see for me if she’s wearing a coat so warm
To keep her from the howlin’ winds.
Please see from me if her hair hanging down
If it curls and flows all down her breast
Please see from me if her hair hanging down
That’s the way I remember her best.
Well, if you’re traveling in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Please say hello to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine.
If you’re travelin’ in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine.
Rocket Man, by Bernie Taupin & Elton John
She packed my bags last night, pre-flight
Zero hour. Nine A.M.
And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much, I miss my wife
It’s lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no.
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don’t understand
It’s just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
‘Til touchdown brings me ’round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no.
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone