"One Of Us....One Of Us....One Of Us....."

Well then, since we're on the sideshow wagon, why not make the ride last a little longer? Hang on to your bale of hay kids!

So along with 'Big Shoes To Fill', the lyric we visited last time, there is one more song on the new record with a sideshow theme. Here's the story behind that one: One Saturday night a couple of years back, not long after being dumped, I was at home feeling mighty, mighty lonely and alone. Let's say I was feeling pathetic and ugly! I decided to watch a movie and threw 'Freaks' into the DVD player. I'm sure anyone reading this is familiar with 'Freaks' but if not here's a brief synopsis. 'Freaks' was made in 1932 and centers around a sideshow freakshow. It cast some of the most popular human oddities in the business at that time. When it was originally released it was banned in the United States as it was considered to be to grotesque for the general public. But it is now widely available on the very popular DVD format and if you have not seen it, it is certainly worth a viewing. Anyhooooo, getting back to my own freakshow, I watched that movie on that lonely Saturday night and as I sat there on the couch I felt a real relation to these people. Not in a physical sense of course, but more in an emotional way. Through words and accusations that were said to me upon the breakup of my relationship, I could not help but feel somewhat like a freak! The movie ended, I watched the special features because they're always fun and make me giggle, picked up my guitar and out came the song 'I Wonder Where You Are Tonight Jennie Lee'. A while later I briefly renamed it 'Tonight I Wonder Where You Are Jenny R.' to give it more of a personal touch, but felt that it just didn't flow as nicely lyrically.

From a musical standpoint, when I was writing it I was going for something crossed between a Dylan vibe circa 'Highway 61' and a mid Beatles period. There definitely is a nod to 'Help' going on in the verses. After it was written I could hear a bit of Michael Nesmith happening as well. The vocal effect we used in the bridge certainly lends itself to late '60s Nesmith. I'm wearing three of my biggest influences from that era all at the same time on my tear drenched sleeve.

So without further ado, I present for you......

I Wonder Where You Are Tonight Jennie Lee

Casting long shadows I can’t smile but I can weep.
Under your spotlights with the secrets I can’t keep.
My horoscope said I am having a bad week,
And I wonder where you are tonight my Jennie Lee.

Elizabeth singing like a bird.
My apologies, I don’t understand a word.
The little prince rolls a smoke just for me,
As I wonder where you are tonight my Jennie Lee.

Romance, ambulance…one follows the other,
When you’re addicted, afflicted with the memory of another.

Venus De Milo, while sipping at her wine,
Waves to the people, claiming a good time.
While Martha wonders what it is that’s gotten into me,
But all I can wonder is where you are tonight my Jennie Lee.

Romance, ambulance…one follows the other.
When you’re addicted…afflicted with the memory of another.

Daisy and Violet rarely feel alone.
Joining each other on their saxophones.
On Wilkinson Boulevard they weigh in happily.
But there’s no way they can tell me where you are.
No they can’t say where you are.
So I’ll stay a humiliated star tonight my Jennie Lee.
My Jennie Lee.
My Jennie Lee.

(c) James Clark 2008

Thanks for reading. Is anybody reading these things at all? Everyone onthe planet Earth has a blog these days. Well at least I'm making myself feel important for a brief moment. That's a better feeling than pathetic and ugly.

Yer pal,

james

Those are awfully big shoes fella!

Well, well, well! Where does the time go when you're mixing and remixing a record while painting a 9'x6' sideshow banner?!!! I don't know, but that's what I've been doing pretty much full time since last we met. Excuses, excuses. I know, but oh I remember how I used to love to sleep. Anyhoooo...yes!...a sideshow banner. The record is now officially entitled 'Sideshow Unattraction' and because of that I have created a lifesize canvas banner. It will be photographed for the record cover and as well it will be used as a backdrop for the record release show coming up in May. Hopefully I'll be able to use it beyond that at future shows as well. I'd better because jeeez... it was a lot of work just to roll it up and stick it in the corner of my apartment.

Which takes us to this entry's lyrical content. If there was to be a so-called 'theme' song to this record then it would be this one. 'Big Shoes To Fill.' I'm not sure when this was written exactly, or why for that matter. I believe I was reflecting on a tourist amusement park located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It's called 'Circus World' and was originally the winter home for barnum and Bailey during the off season. I visited there in May of 2005 when life was looking good again, just months before it wasn't looking good at all. I suppose it's my kiss-off song rolled up in a circus theme. The problem was that I never did forget about 'you.' Here ya go.

BIG SHOES TO FILL

Step right up! Watch me forget about you.
There’s a special place for me in Baraboo.
I hope you’ll come up and see me fall down.
I know you have another, maybe two.
Juggling’s never been so difficult for you.
If I know you, and I do, you’re not wearing a frown.

But I am leaving these big shoes to fill, big shoes to fill.
I know you want to so I know you will fill these big shoes to fill.

There’s a broken seltzer bottle on the 3rd ring floor.
A broken heart in trailer number four,
Because I am sure he fills you up with passion and with mirth.
I understand this show, it can’t go on,
We’ve been pretending for eight years on.
Now I know you’ve gone and this heart’s taken the greatest blow on earth.

But it’s leaving you with big shoes to fill, big shoes to fill.
I know you want to so I know you will fill those big shoes to fill.

I’m not a strong man but I’m very tall.
But you can make me feel oh so very small.
Like the dwarf in the 2 o’clock show,
I’m a wonder of the world and I wonder where’ll you go…now!...

The sword swallower and the acrobat,
Both agree your words were sharp as tacks.
Now there’s no turning back and no net down below.
The tattooed lady is looking blue.
The elephants are grey just like me too.
Unlike them you’ll forget me by tomorrow.

But please remember these big shoes to fill, big shoes to fill.
I know you’re searching for new sights and thrills,
Big shoes to fill, big shoes to fill.
I know you want to but you never will fill these big shoes to fill.

Step right up! Watch me forget about you!

(c) 2008 James Clark

Thanks for reading as always. I'm going to try my darndest to get back here real soon. I promised lyrics, lyrics and more lyrics before the record arrives. I'd better get a crackin'.

yer pal

james

ps. Speaking of big things, the biggest thankyou in the world goes out to Vanessa for allowing me to turn her apartment upside down for 3 months and paint a sideshow banner screwed into her living room wall. What a gal!