Sunday, September 25, 2011

Cooksferry Queen: Issa's Sunday Service, #120


Cooksferry Queen by Richard Thompson on Grooveshark

This past week, a friend insisted I keep at it with two things: John Keats' poetry and Richard Thompson's music. I'm happy to say that both clicked and, in the later case, after a few years of insistence.

A tip of the hat to Che for his insistence and always spot-on taste.

The album that won me over was Mock Tudor and what was to be discovered there? Not one, not two, but three songs that qualify for the Sunday Service and today's is a beauty: "Cooksferry Queen." The litrock connection comes from a line that has been referenced in a previous selection. The Alice books seem to be an endless source for rock bands; along with the Bible, they have by far have provided the most tunes for this regular feature.

I got a bit of a charge out of the description of the song on Songfacts:

"The song is about a thug who gets dosed with acid and adopts the paisley."


There are a number of different videos of this song floating around; here's one I like a lot.





--------------------------

This week's archival poem comes from Lilliput Review #68, April 1995, by the esteemed small press legend, A. D. Winans. Enjoy.




Coffee Gallery Blues
I don't care how god
damn smart they are
I'm bored with their writing
for each other

Just the other day
one of them said
poetry isn't for
the masses

It's been raining
intellectual snobs
all day
long
A. D. Winans









the masses wait
but all in vain...
cuckoo
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue









best,
Don



Send a single haiku for the Wednesday Haiku feature. Here's how.

Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 120 songs

7 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

"adopts the Paisley." now that suggests several possibilities to me.

Poet Hound said...

LOVE A. D. Winans' poem, so perfect!
Sincerely,
Paula

Issa's Untidy Hut said...

Glad you liked, Paula ... having done two readings in two days, it resonates ...

Anonymous said...

"paisley" like

gone into the psychedelics of "it" all..

remember the Beatles and their album covers.. their movies ken Kesey's psychedelic/painted bus...

the cover of Tim Leary's The Politics of Ecstasy

or his (now priceless) 1966 book : Psychedelic Prayers

all "paisley"

Issa's Untidy Hut said...

Yes, indeed, Kokkie-san. Just saw "Magic Trip" the Kesey doco ... paisley all over the place.

Loved the British usage here ... not really something an American would say or would have said but is perfectly clear, less the none.

Jim H. said...

There's a reason Prince's recording studio is called Paisley Park...

Issa's Untidy Hut said...

Yes, indeed, Jim ... always good to hear you out there. Don