Thursday, August 6, 2009

Oh Josephine

Oh Josephine is a ballad off TBC's latest, Warpaint, and the band has played Oh Josephine 79 times live. Oh Josephine is defintely one of the seminal songs off Warpaint and about it, Chris said, “It's probably the song I'm most proud of on this album. The last verse sums up a lot [‘It's too late to play it safe/So let's let it all ride’]. That's our attitude. There's no reason for anybody here to ever hold back. We're doing this full bore, and it's gonna be open. I always thought our best writing was our ballads. People want to identify the Black Crowes as this guitar band–which we are–but I think ‘Oh Josephine’ is the quintessential Black Crowes song, and the coda at the end says, ‘We know who we are.’ It's one of those songs you can put on at 5:30 in the morning and decide whether you're going to keep going or put it down for the night.”

Oh Josephine is definitely a gorgeous song-- and in cases like this, I find myself hard pressed to say something about a song when Chris has already said it. As the writers, Chris and Rich obviously have way more insight than I could ever offer. That being said, my favourite lyric in Oh Josephine is 'Make a wish and call it "maybe".' I absolutely love that sentiment and given how amazing Warpaint, I cannot wait for the new album from this "new" TBC!

Diamonds hold the mirrors
And the spoon it holds the stars
It's been a long time baby
Since I seen the sun rise like this
Make a wish and call it "maybe"
And give me one more kiss
Ooh, I like it like this, I like it like this

Oh Josephine
You're dressed in black
Oh Josephine
Your eyes are blue
And I know now
That there's no turning back
Oh Josephine
What will we do

Still dreaming through the comedown
Still fillin' every page
C'mon and touch me baby
Before I turn to rust

You know there ain't no other
It's not a matter of trust
Just sometimes love ain't enough
Love ain't enough

Oh Josephine
You're dressed in black
Oh Josephine
Your eyes are blue
And I know now
That there's no turning back
Oh Josephine
What will we do

For a while I was dealing in tears and powders
For a while I was strung out beyond my means
I lost at love while climbing down the ladder
Just looking for the song to set me free

No waiting for redemption
No leaving love behind
You gotta know where you wanna be
It gets cold outside

It's too late to play it safe
So let's let it all ride
Let's let it all ride
Let it all ride

Oh Josephine
You're dressed in black
Oh Josephine
Your eyes are blue
And I know now
That there's no turning back
Oh Josephine
What will we do


Tuesday, August 4, 2009

(only) halfway to everywhere

(Only) Halfway to Everywhere has been played 62 times live and that's probably growing considering they're playing it a lot this summer! (Only) Halfway to Everywhere is off Three Snakes and One Charm and it's one of those songs that is just so funky it lends itself perfectly to jamming. Another thing is that the beginning chords/instrumentation of (Only) Halfway to Everywhere are probably some of the best TBC has every written and played-- and that's probably why they love playing this song live and starting shows with it! It's just nearly impossible to hear (Only) Halfway to Everywhere and stand or sit still.

Although, generally, I love TBC for their lyrics, (Only) Halfway to Everywhere is another song that I just love to listen and move to -- the whole thing is just electric.

You could be so energy
Electricity
You could be lightening
You could be anything
A masterpiece
A revolutionary
You can see what you want to see
Can you let it be?
Learn or teach

I'm only halfway to everywhere

I'm thinking positivety
Positively
This is possible
They can say right or wrong
Never hear this song
Or look you in the eye
I'm getting rid of negativity
Lose the loss in me
Call it equality
Good luck is a frame of mind
Call it humankind
And say it's destiny