Sunday, July 5, 2009

Issa's Sunday Service, #11: Bertolt Brecht & Jim Morrison




Alabama Song by The Doors on Grooveshark


It is just incredible to think that Jim Morrison died on July 3, 1971, 38 years ago at the age of 27. Though this is the first appearance of The Doors at Issa's Sunday Service, it certainly won't be the last, because The Doors were the consummate LitRock band; unlike some, the balance between the rock and lit was never skewed in either direction. Nor will this be the last time that the work of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill will be featured, a pair of favorites among art rock bands. Of course, The Doors could bring the grit and did; "Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)," like many a Brecht composition, actually has some of its darker undercurrents toned down in execution. Still, a classic, if ever there was one. Enjoy.

This week's feature poem comes from Lilliput Review#20, March 1990. Here's looking at ya ...




don't blame the Third World
for pissing on your grave.
you've got no rhyme
left
in your body.

Charlie Mehrhoff







the smell of piss
wafting too...
chrysanthemums

Issa
translated by David Lanoue





best,
Don


Click LitRock @ from Issa's Sunday Service for full list of songs and postings.

4 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

In the alley by the bar
piss watered ground
never sprouts seeds.

Jim H. said...

For some reason, I could never stomach Jim Morrison. Seemed like he was trying a bit too hard; anguish as an affectation. I don't know; just never quite clicked with me.

Brecht und Weill, on the other hand...oh yeah!

Charles G.: well done.

Diane Dehler said...

Stopped by to visit and see what you were up to.

This is an interesting post. Morrison still has a large and devoted fan base. If you put his name in your tags you'll be surprised at how many hits you will get on it.

There are a few articles comparing him with Rimbaud and Baudelaire but you have a new perspective.

I like to think that the raw potential in his lyrics could have emerged into great poetry if he hadn't been such a stoner. -But then I think about all of the stoner poets who didn't let that get in their way. lol

Anyway, I still like his music and his lyrics.

Issa's Untidy Hut said...

Thanks Charles and Jim ... I know folks who feel the same way about Morrison. I don't revere him as the second coming but what he did within the context of the rock medium opened up a whole new world for me.

Princess H, thanks for the note. I'm a huge Baudelaire fan, Rimbaud, not so much, but the biographical details have a lot in common with Morrison. Morrison brought theater to rock, ultimately it overwhelmed him but he has his day ... there'll be a couple of more entries by the Doors for Issa's Sunday Service before its through.