Ah fuck. I let the ball drop again. Weeks passed. The ball lay where it had rolled to. Dust settled on its upper dome. No foot stepped up to kick it, no hand to bounce it. I was elsewhere, in thought and body. But before, while the ball was yet in motion, I put aside five songs to be posted – as I thought then – imminently. So now, like a kitten stealing up to the mysterious sphere to curiously nudge it into action, here is a list of sad songs. I am not sad at this point. It just so happens that this was my approximate mood back a month ago, when the dropping of the ball occurred.
Nicolas Jaar - No
The king of gorgeous beat-drops does it again at 5:19.
Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer
Sometimes even the most over-played classics suddenly shed their familiarity and reveal themselves in all their glory again. What a fucking song this. All that thundering production (the bass harmonica in the 5th verse being the most awesome of course) and yet Paul's words shear through it all in their humane brilliancy.
I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles; such are promises
All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest
Kris Kristofferson - When I Loved Her
Aw. Laying it on a bit too thick here maybe. But don't we all want someone to make what we're doing seem worthwhile?
Leonard Cohen - Treaty
Tired, not quite awake, en route to work with my head against the bus window, Leonard caught me off guard and suddenly the tears were streaming. No special reason for my silent weeping, just everything summed up in that melody and those words. And then, just when I thought I'd gotten my defences up again, there's the reprise string version at the end of the album and afore long my eyes welled up again. It's crazy how he ended his entire recorded output with one of his most achingly beautiful songs ever.
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I’m angry and I’m tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty between your love and mine
Fred Åkerström - Epistel nr 80: Liksom En Herdinna
The sublime, surreal and melancholic experience of listening to a Swedish 18th century pastoral love ballad whilst looking out on a rainy London from the top deck of a red bus.
