Riding to the mall

[vaneramos]

Speed River, crossing Gordon Street bridge



Speed River at my feet running low and flat
I'm sitting here burning daylight,
thinking about the past
and that distance out there
where the earth meets the sky

~Cowboy Junkies: Bea's Song (River Song Trilogy: part II)

Comments

[bluedevilsf.livejournal.com]

I just love that song. It's easily the best of the River Song Trilogy (for me, anyway).

In showing my ignorance, however, I didn't know the song referred to an actual river. :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I don't know their music and didn't make the connection until trapezebear asked about it when I posted pictures of the Speed River yesterday. Turns out Jeff Bird is from Guelph and the band, which formed in Toronto, has often performed here. I think I remember them playing on campus when I went to Univeristy of Guelph in the mid 80s. I never clued into their music, guess I want to now. Those lines seemed to go nicely with this photo.

[bluedevilsf.livejournal.com]

I've been a big fan of their work for years, though their last few albums (since Lay it Down) haven't really spoken to me all that much.

I don't know how much info trapezebear gave you on the song, but it forms a story with the other two songs, "River Waltz" (Part I) and "Dragging Hooks" (Part II) about a relationship from its hopeful beginning to the doubts, questions, and insecurities midway through, and then the bitter end. Actually, that describes several of their songs. :) It's not usually happy music, but it's not so mired in melancholy that it's unlistenable.

One of my favorite songs is "Five Room Love Story." It was inspired by the true story of an elderly man who, after his wife passed away, decorated every room in their home in her memory using anything and everything he could find that seemed to fit. I just love the picture it paints even if it is a bit sentimental. I'll post the lyrics on my LJ. :)

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for filling this in. I didn't know the story behind the sequence. My brother is the big CJ fan in the family, though I own several CDs. Lay It Down is probably my favorite album unless I'm feeling "pop," in which case it's Miles From Our Home (I know, it's very different from most of their other work).

Not usually happy music, no, but beautiful. I got to see them on the tour for Lay It Down ... amazing. Especially Margo.

[bluedevilsf.livejournal.com]

I haven't cared a great deal for anything that came after Lay it Down, but you're right, that's a fantastic album. My favorite is probably Black-Eyed Man.

The River Trilogy wasn't even released in sequence. Part 2 came first, Part 1 was on the B-Sides and Rarities compilation, and Part 3 wound up on Open.

Amazingly enough, I've never seen them in concert. They've been to San Francisco many times during my time here, and I've had to miss out for one reason or another. Judging by what I hear on 200 More Miles, I gather Margo has quite a sense of humor. :)

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

I can burn you a CD of the album the song comes from. As well as others, if you like them. Although of course, I also urge you to rush out and buy for yourself, if you can, because they deserve every penny of whatever royalties they can get.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

That image and text has a filmic quality that makes it look like a film still. There's a moment in looking at that image that has such longing, such a wonderful feeling, it really feels alive. Of course, since it's not staged, that moment seen from your eyes must be one that actually could be a script.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Usually when I post photos of my children, I'm only conscious of the real story behind the picture. But this one somehow implies possible stories much deeper than what was actually happening. The same was true of this other photo I took of Brenna on Sunday:

http://www.wonderboymi.com/vwaffle/03082405.jpg

Brenna is more extraverted than myself, her sister or her mother, and I suspect she experiences the world much differently. Lately when I take pictures like this, I feel like I'm getting a hint of another person's way of seeing things, even suggestions of imaginary children whose stories I might tell. One thing I like about this photo is that Brenna's view of the river is evidently clear, bright and lovely, but the camera's view is clouded. It is a delightful tribute to Brenna's sunny disposition.