Thailand...hot! Refridgerator...cold!

Well hello there. Thanks for dropping by. Just in time for another fantastic story behind another fantastic song on the new fantastic forthcoming record! By the way I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but the new record, 'Sideshow Unattraction' will be officially released on May 23rd with a celebration that evening at C'est What in downtown Toronto. I'll have an incredible backing band with me and my friend Jennifer Foster will be opening up the night. My other friend (yes I have 2) Ann who dj's at Songplanet.com will be flying in from Victoria to MC the evening. I'm giggling right now with anticipation.

Oh yeah, the song! This song is one of two on the record that originate back to 1998. The lady in question in this song (and every other song on the record) was away in Thailand for six months that year. Our relationship was still very new when she decided she needed to go there and work on her art. She left an open invitation for me to join her. That created a huge dilemma in my tiny mind. So regrettably I never made it there. Just as well I suppose for I would have been there when my brother passed away. But needless to say I missed her terribly and wrote a few songs about her during that time. I recall having the verses and bridge to this one but I was struggling for a catchy lyrical chorus. At one point during a writing session I walked into the kitchen, opened the refridgerator door and my eye caught a photo that I had pinned there. This lady had previously given me baseball card-type photos of 50's pin up queen Bettie Page in various ridiculous poses. There was one where she was posing with zebras. In another she was tied to a tree and seemed to be being tickled by a witch doctor. Then there was the one that caught my eye. The one where she was riding a donkey. I'm not sure what I found in that photo that inspired me (besides the obvious) but the song was finished in no time after that. I was never really sure if it was a good song or just a throw away piece of poo. I do recall playing it for my lady friend upon her return and not getting much response from her. That's probably the main reason I hadn't recorded it up until now. Even up to the mixing stages of this record I wasn't sure if it would make the final cut. But people seem to like it and it's really grown on me. Of course the guys playing on it really helped to make it special. Thank you Greg and Vince and Mike. Garry had some great ideas too. It's a really solid tune. I hope you get to hear it. If so, now with the lyrics you'll be able to sing a long with.....

Bettie Page Rides a Donkey

She’s off in Thailand now living in Changmai,
Banishing herself to the other side.
She’s eating corn and lychee; I have a new dilemma,
Do I cash the cheque or wait for September?
It feels like forever.

While Bettie Page rides a donkey, she’s a million miles away.
She says “act your age” but I’m feeling funky today.

I’m living vicariously through her cards and letters
Sometimes I even think I have it all together.
She’s heading down to Changrai then on to Noah’s village,
While I’m at home learning there’s no rest for the wicked.
Should I be more specific? Not feeling too terrific.

While Bettie Page rides her donkey, I’m a million miles away oh yeah.
She says “act your age”, but I’m feeling funky today.

While I’m contemplating she’s so tired of waiting.
She’s so tired of waiting for me.

While Bettie Page rides her donkey, she’s a million miles away oh yeah.
She says “act your age” but I’m feeling funky today.
Funky today, I’m funky today.

(c) james clark 2008. SOCAN

So we're running out of time. Two weeks before the release and I really want to have all of the lyrics posted here before then. I'd better get my hairy little bum in gear! Next time we'll visit another song from 1998 as well. Until then mark Friday May 23rd on your calendar.

Yer pal,

james