Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Win I win the lottery...


Here are some lyrics from an excellent song called "When I win the lottery" by Camper Van Beethoven (from Richmond, VA!) I don't know why but when I hear this song, a comic book plays in my head to the lyrics. This is an idea I've had for a while now. Make comic books out of some great songs I like.
See also, Murder By Death, The Rollingstones, Lucero, REM, VCR, The Clash, etc.

Anyways see if a comic book doesn't flip pages in your head when you hear this song and tell me what you see. If you can't find it on itunes or somewhere else, it will be on the next mix tape and until then you can just read it and imagine David Lowery singing it to you.

Well I lost an eye in Mexico
Lost two teeth where I don't know
People see me comin' and they move to the other side of the road.

I robbed a liquor store or two
Made myself at home a few times
Borrowed myself a car when I needed it.

I got me a shack at the bottom of the road
Fixin' cars and givin' tows
Spend all my money on the lottery.

When I win the lottery
I'm gonna buy all girls on my block
A color TV and a bottle of French perfume
When I win the lottery
gonna donate half my money to the city
So they have to name a street or a school or a park after me
When I win the lottery

Never run a flag up a pole
Like Mr. Red, White, and Blue down the road
But I never called myself a hero for killing a known communist.

Now I can walk into any old bar
Find a fight without looking too hard
But I never killed someone I don't know just 'cause someone told me to.

And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy the house next to Mr. Red, White and Blue
And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy Post 306 American Legion, paint it red with five gold stars.
When I win the lottery.

When the end comes to this old world
The rocks will cry and the rest will curl up
And God won't take the time to sort your ashes(asses?) from mine.

'Cause we zig and zag between good and bad
Stumble and fall on right and wrong
'Cause the tumbling dice and the luck of the draw just leads us on.

And when I win the lottery,
gonna buy all the girls on my block
Silver-plated six shooters and a quart of the finest highland scotch

'Cause when I win the lottery,
the rocks will shake their heads and say that
God is good but surely he works in mysterious ways.
When I win the lottery.

2 comments:

hittjen said...

I love it. What does the song sound like? Or maybe you just posted the lyrics so you can announce your songwriting contest. Cause I definitely had a melody in my head - some cross between Johnny Cash and Buck 65.

Anonymous said...

This song is from 1989 from the album called Key Lime Pie. It sounds a LOT a Murder By Death song actually. I could see them doing a KILLER cover of this song.

Well, the vocals and the music start at the same time in the begining. At first there is just some banjo, maybe a little electric, slide gutar, but it's just playing the rythym.

The drums don't really get started until 1/2 way through the chorus. They are slow and steady drums, nothing fancy, but really steady. Before the chorus there is just some sybols and shakers, still really steady though.

The melody is played by a really beautiful the fiddle and I think a cello. The fiddle swells and sinks this really wonderful and catchy tune. The Strings and slide guitar really compliment David Lowery's nasal, well-enouncieated, drawl.

JEN! I think I need to send this song to you sooner than everyone else because I think you will really appreciate it. Especially on the heels of all that great Americana from the fest. Hit me up with a mailing address. xo