Otis and me
In August of 2001 I flew to Madison, Wisconsin to spend a week with my lady friend who had recently accepted a job oppourtunity too good to pass up and had moved there in June. One of the first things I did upon arriving was read up on all of the things that made Madison 'famous'. The one item that stood out for me was the piece on Lake Monona, which was just blocks away from where she was living. Lake Monona is the lake where Otis Redding's plane had crashed enroute to a gig in Madison on December 10, 1967. At that time I was listening to a lot of Otis' music and so I was very intrigued with this bit of music history I had just enquired. We rented bikes that week and rode past Lake Monona several times. There's even a plaque located on a terrace that was placed there in rememberance of Otis. We rode past that many times as well. I knew then that at some point I would write a song containing my new knowledge.
On the eve of my flight back to Toronto, my lady friend decided that we should end our relationship that night. Given the fact that she was now living in Wisconsin and me still in Toronto it made sense. I was very saddened but understood it was for the best. Hmmmm...now I had material for another song!
Upon returning home I began writing those 2 songs. For some reason not long after, I decided to blend both songs into one (writing 2 songs was just too much work) and after several weeks I had finished 'Lake Monona Last Night'. Well actually, I had the lyrics written but I do recall working for a while longer on the music. When I did feel I had nailed it, I played it for a few friends and probably got the best response I had ever received for a song of mine. I began recording this for the 'Home is Where the Heart Attack is' record in 2004. It just didn't get finished in time for the October release date. I knew that I would probably save it for the next record. BUT I did not know that the next record would be filled entirely with songs about being dumped by my lady friend. Oh by the way, that was the first time I was dumped by her. A few months later, post 9/11, she, feeling entirely alone in Madison, decided that maybe we should get back together again. I being the complete idiot went along with it. But it was never the same again. It was really hard being in a relationship and seeing your partner 3 times a year. But at the same I could never get her out of my head. It would always stop me from pursuing other relationships successfully. At the same time I could never totally commit to her because of the distance involved. Then May 2005 arrived. I flew down to Madison for another week. I remember feeling very lacklustre about it when departing. I thought that we were both wasting our time. But upon arriving there it all became crystal clear to me. I loved being there! I wanted to be there! Seeing her again after not seeing her for a few months felt wonderful. We had an incredible week together. We even talked about me moving to Madison. It would be the last time we were 'together'. I wonder what Otis would have done.
Here's........
Lake Monona Last Night
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
A twin engine Beachcraft in Lake Monona last night.
December waters are cold, Lord have mercy on the king of soul’s soul.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
My heart sank in Lake Monona last night.
She made me walk the plank on Lake Monona last night.
She said to quote the song; she’d been loving me too long.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
Down down down like a song in the charts.
You know his crown was found by some record sharks.
My heart drowned in Lake Monona last night.
Not to be found in Lake Monona last night.
Submerged, it succumbed, like the silencing of Mr. Jackson’s drums.
Down down down like a song in the charts.
You know his crown was found by some record sharks.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
December waters are cold, Lord have mercy on the king of soul’s soul.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
© James Clark 2005
I think last time I promised another song from '98. Ooops....sorry. Next time fer sure....I promise.
Yer pal,
james
On the eve of my flight back to Toronto, my lady friend decided that we should end our relationship that night. Given the fact that she was now living in Wisconsin and me still in Toronto it made sense. I was very saddened but understood it was for the best. Hmmmm...now I had material for another song!
Upon returning home I began writing those 2 songs. For some reason not long after, I decided to blend both songs into one (writing 2 songs was just too much work) and after several weeks I had finished 'Lake Monona Last Night'. Well actually, I had the lyrics written but I do recall working for a while longer on the music. When I did feel I had nailed it, I played it for a few friends and probably got the best response I had ever received for a song of mine. I began recording this for the 'Home is Where the Heart Attack is' record in 2004. It just didn't get finished in time for the October release date. I knew that I would probably save it for the next record. BUT I did not know that the next record would be filled entirely with songs about being dumped by my lady friend. Oh by the way, that was the first time I was dumped by her. A few months later, post 9/11, she, feeling entirely alone in Madison, decided that maybe we should get back together again. I being the complete idiot went along with it. But it was never the same again. It was really hard being in a relationship and seeing your partner 3 times a year. But at the same I could never get her out of my head. It would always stop me from pursuing other relationships successfully. At the same time I could never totally commit to her because of the distance involved. Then May 2005 arrived. I flew down to Madison for another week. I remember feeling very lacklustre about it when departing. I thought that we were both wasting our time. But upon arriving there it all became crystal clear to me. I loved being there! I wanted to be there! Seeing her again after not seeing her for a few months felt wonderful. We had an incredible week together. We even talked about me moving to Madison. It would be the last time we were 'together'. I wonder what Otis would have done.
Here's........
Lake Monona Last Night
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
A twin engine Beachcraft in Lake Monona last night.
December waters are cold, Lord have mercy on the king of soul’s soul.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
My heart sank in Lake Monona last night.
She made me walk the plank on Lake Monona last night.
She said to quote the song; she’d been loving me too long.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
Down down down like a song in the charts.
You know his crown was found by some record sharks.
My heart drowned in Lake Monona last night.
Not to be found in Lake Monona last night.
Submerged, it succumbed, like the silencing of Mr. Jackson’s drums.
Down down down like a song in the charts.
You know his crown was found by some record sharks.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
December waters are cold, Lord have mercy on the king of soul’s soul.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
© James Clark 2005
I think last time I promised another song from '98. Ooops....sorry. Next time fer sure....I promise.
Yer pal,
james
posted by james clark | 2:37 PM
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