The number of songs that I have collected on my iPod over the years has easily reached the thousands. There are a number of songs that I could say are good enough to be called my favorites. But if I had to choose one right now I would have to say it is "Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis" by Brand New. This is post one out of--what I hope to be--thirty. I will post the lyrics and then write a little about how I feel about the song. So now for the lyrics:
"Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis"
With one or two I get used to the room
We go slow when we first make our moves
By five or six bring you out to the car
Number nine with my head on the bar
And it's sad, but true
Out of cash and I.O.U's
I've got desperate desires and unadmirable plans
My tongue will taste of gin and malicious intent
Bring you back to the bar
Get you out of the cold
A sober, straight face gets you out of your clothes
And they're scared that we know
All the crimes they'll commit
Who they'll kiss before they get home
I will lie awake
Lie for fun and fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say
Barely conscious in the door where you stand
Your eyes are fighting sleep as your mouth makes your demands
You laugh at every word trying hard to be cute
I almost feel sorry for what I'm going to do
And your hair smells of smoke
Who will cast the first stone?
You can sin or spend the night all alone
Brass buttons on your coat hold the cold
In the shape of a heart that they cut out of stone
You're using all your looks that you've thrown from the start
If you let me have my way I swear I'll tear you apart
'cause it's all you can be
You're a drunk and you're scared
It's ladies' night, all the girls drink for free
I will lie awake
And lie for fun and fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say
I will lie awake
And lie for fun and fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say
I will lie awake
And lie for fun and fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say
And there we have it; the lyrics for my first post. The song is played almost entirely on a palm muted electric guitar. Once the song finishes the last pre-chorus it erupts into a distorted rendition of the chorus as it is sung at the top of the singer's lungs. The beginning of the song shows the uneasiness of the writer and how he uses alcohol to "get used to the room" and eventually how he has "desperate desires and unadmirable plans." The image of someone who has made it home with nine drinks in their system and their attempt to keep a sober straight face to get a girl out of their clothes. Although these events never came close to anything that happened to me in high school, they seem to radiate some of my inner feelings. Those feelings in high school as though I was the only one who understood me and how I longed for a companion. That feeling of not caring who that companion was. That feeling of desperately wanting to dissociate myself from the world and get lost in the physical contact of another. The thoughts of saying anything to make someone care about you. The song hits me the most when it says "You laugh at every word trying hard to be cute. I almost feel sorry for what I'm going to do. And your hair smells of smoke. Who will cast the first stone? You can sin or spend the night all alone." You can sin or spend the night all alone. My nights were spent alone and because of that I believe I have become a better man for it. It doesn't mean that I didn't long for a physical relationship. I would be lying if I said I didn't. My eyes would wander from here to there. The entire time I had a friend who would listen to my thoughts and to who I was crushing on from week to week. I wouldn't trade that friendship for anything. I realized that the relationship with that friend was what I truly needed. A friend that I could trust, to hand over my heavy heart, and place my entire life in their hands is what I needed. I found that with Allison. She was always there, even when I was too blind to see it. And she is there today. To my dearest friend, Allison--my wife--I owe you everything.
