Oh, and go read Hourglass.
NOTE: The comments inside the brackets are Sam's, the one's that aren't are mine.
Enjoy!
Cal.
Retrospect: A Mix for Hourglass, Side B
The second in a set of four discs for Sam’s novel Hourglass. Part I here.
[Full Zip]
1. America – Simon and Garfunkel [ysi link]
I've gone to look for America.
Upton’s Theme.
2. This Soldiering Life – the Decemberists [ysi link]
But you, my brother in arms-
I'd rather I'd lose my limbs than let you come to harm.
But you, my bombazine doll-
the bullets may singe our skin and the mortars may fall in,
but I? I've never felt so much life than tonight, huddled in the trenches, and
gazing on the battlefield,
our rifles blaze away.
Sam says, “Lieutenant in a sappy mood”.
3. A Martyr For My Love For You – White Stripes [ysi link]
I’m beginning to like you, so you probably won’t get what I’m going to do.
I’m walking away from you-
it probably don’t make much sense to you.
But I’m trying to save you
from all of the things that I’ll probably say or do.
I’ll probably do, now.
Mr. Smart.
[The song’s about a guy who falls in love with a teenaged girl. And feels guilty, apparently… Change it to another guy, and it fits Smart oh-so-perfectly.]
4. So Says I – The Shins [ysi link]
So we burned all our uniforms
And let nature take its course again
And the big ones just eat all the little ones
That sends us back to the drawing board.
[We’ve got rules and maps and guns to our backs but we still can’t behave ourselves, even if to save our own lives. // It could be for anyone, really. One of those ‘theme’ songs that are so puzzling, but that fits Hourglass. To a T, whatever that means.]
5. Soldier Jane – Beck [ysi link]
No one wake her up, she’s sleeping still
So put a candle on her window sill.
For Lieutenant.
6. Chicago – Sufjan Stevens [ysi link]
I don't mind, I don't mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind.
Upton. [And his weird hippie mood after a certain plot twist.]
7. Elephant – Page France [ysi link]
hey, mr. elephant
there's been an accident down here
you, and your trickery
played a trick on me down here
hey, mr. elephant
it's important that you see
that there is a big reward
if you cooperate with me
This quirky song just screamed Hourglass to me. I think it especially fits with one of the shorts Sam posted, [A CHANGE FOR THE SINISTER- OR, CAN YOU SPOT LIEUTENANT?], the one where Sergeant Thwaite needs to be smacked upside the head with the trauma stick, yeah, that one.
Hourglass wrote:“So you’ll simply come with us. There’s a little Scotty boy in the woods that’s been picking us off one by one; a nuisance, really…hundred pounds bounty. And then you can go home.”
Matthias’ jaw began to shake. “No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“I won’t.”
“Won’t? Or need a little more…persuasion?” Sergeant Thwaite dipped his hand into his waistcoat and pulled out a handgun; a little thing with horn carvings on the side.
8. The Chemical Workers Song – Great Big Sea [ysi link]
And it's go boys go
They'll time your every breath
And every day you're in this place
You're two days nearer death.
A song for those chaps of the Death Brigade.
9. Soft Revolution – Stars [ysi link]
We are here to save your life
The fool, the drunk, the child and his wife
We won't let the sun go down
We're gonna chase the demons out of town.
This one is for David’s crazy Mum, among other characters.
[And Adelais’ crazy mum. Everyone has a crazy mum; it’s kind of my staple.]
10. Our Swords – Band of Horses [ysi link]
Count on us all stepping on our own toes tonight,
Count on us all stepping on our own toes,
Count on us all follow our own swords tonight.
11. Legionnaire's Lament – the Decemberists [ysi link]
It's been a year or more
Since they shipped me to this foreign shore
Fighting in a foreign war
So far away from my home.
For George – the male split of Lieutenant’s personality.
[Which is highly ironic, considering this song is about a French solider and Lieutenant is about as anti-Froggie as you can be.]
12. The Geese of Beverly Road – The National [ysi link]
we'll set off the geese of beverly road
hey, love, we'll get away with it
we'll run like we're awesome, totally genius
hey, love, we'll get away with it
Another one of those songs that screamed at me: “Hourglass!” – I’m not sure why, but I like it, and it seems to fit quite nicely.
13. Benzai-Ten – Blackmore's Night [ysi link]
Sister of the seas
Wrapped in silken robes
Waves are falling at your feet.
Play your haunted songs to charm the dragon king…
Mei Cheng’s theme song.
14. I Enjoy Being a Girl – Doris Day from Flower Drum Song [ysi link
I'm a girl, and by me that's only great!
I am proud that my silhouette is curvy,
That I walk with a sweet and girlish gait
With my hips kind of swivelly and swervy.
For Georgia – the female split in Lieutenant’s personality.
15. Things Don't Always Turn Out that Way – the Calling [ysi link]
So wipe that smile off your face
Before it gets too late
There's only so much time
For you to make up your mind.
16. The Infanta – the Decemberists [ysi link]
Here she comes in her palanquin
On the back of an elephant
On a bed made of linen and sequins and silk.
For the Infanta.
17. I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair – Mitzi Gaynor from South Pacific
[ysi link]
I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair,
And send him on his way.
A song for Mary Reeve. [Luke’s mum, who would rather pretend Matthias never existed- even though we all are very much aware that Luke and Jeremy were…er, you know. Half her fault.]
18. Lolita – Elefant [ysi link]
Can you tell me what you're thinking?
I just melt inside your eyes
Kiss me like they do in movies
Modern child of the night.
Mr. Smart, “Minus the 'pretty dresses'...” Sam says.
19. Mistakes We Knew We Were Making – Straylight Run [ysi link]
And all our sins, come back to haunt us in the end.
20. Sweet Polly Oliver – Sarah Brightman [ysi link]
So early next morning she softly arose,
And dressed herself up in her dead brother's clothes.
She cut her hair close, and she stained her face brown,
And went for a soldier to fair London Town.
Louie’s (The Lieutenant) theme song, I’m sure she’ll whistle its tune for you.
21. Wake Up – The Arcade Fire [ysi link]
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We're just a million little gods causing rainstorms
Turning every good thing to rust.
A really sad song for Hourglass, but I think it is relevant to all the characters. [And their million-ton egos, I’ll bet.]
Look out for III & IV.
Ta,
Cal.
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