Tag Archives: poetry

Back to Normal! At least for 14 seconds…

July 6, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

We shall see, gang.

I’m actually hoping that we can stay “back to normal” around here for the entire day. But you never know.

I will be spending most of today getting stuff organized for the M. Christian tribute anthology: Replying to emails! Sending out more emails! Waiting for emails to return!

And on Thursday, I’ll be catching up with Ralph Greco, Jr. to compare notes, and after that, I will officially send out the call for submissions.

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I’m also hoping to catch up with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn sometime today.

We texted throughout the almost unbearably hot holiday weekend–

SHE (texting): ARE YOU STAYING HYDRATED?

ME (texting): YES. ORGANIC COCONUT WATER WITH POTASSIUM!

— but we haven’t actually spoken in a while. So here’s hoping we get to chat today.

All I know for sure is that she has recovered really well from her first hand surgery; the next surgery is next week; and she still very much wants to move forward with the launch of our mini artists & writers podcast, “Marilyn’s Room,” so somehow we will get all that figured out later this summer.

We have the logo, now all we need is the rest of the stuff…

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And in another “potentially good news” department–

Sandra is back in NY from Atlanta — after shooting a couple more episodes of “The Ms. Pat Show.”

She’s planning on catching up with me either tomorrow evening, or Wednesday afternoon.

I have no clue if we’ll be developing our TV show, or if we’re just going to focus on the play for now (“The Guide To Being Fabulous”), but I will soon find out.

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Okay.

Oddly, there are not many “here’s this’s” today. But here’s this!

It was actually posted for the 4th of July — Bob Dylan!! (I totally relate to the comment):

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And I really appreciated this–

Cigarettes abound!!

Keith smoking with a lit cigarette also in an ashtray — with one of his grandsons!

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And I believe this was from Montreux. It was the first thing I saw on Facebook yesterday morning!!

Nick Cave in the blue, blue water!!

And this is the only photo I have from the show in Montreux yesterday, although there were a TON of videos and the show looked absolutely fantastic — and Nick Cave, especially, looked so happy!

And here’s the set list:

Tonight the Bad Seeds play Stuttgart, Germany, however it is sold out. But you can buy tickets for the Portugal show on Thursday, HERE!

And while we’re at it–

Sun Kil Moon – “I Love Portugal”, 2016 (I love this extremely long song!!):

“I Love Portugal”

In my hotel where the band is staying
I’m off desert but what I’d give to not get on that plane
Woke to the sound of birds calling and I wanna water the flowers in the garden
And the maid scooting her tray around the echoey hall
I just want to stay in Portugal today, that’s all
‘Cause when I’m here there’s a sense of calm
People living day to day and enjoying the moment
Last night we found a cozy place and we listened to fado music and we ate steak
And bacalhau and caldo verde
Then we went and got gelato and we drank iced lattes

And the fans have always shown me love (shown me love)
And so have my friends Vasco, Miguel, and Nadia, and Monica (Nadia and Monica)
I can’t complain, I get to visit every year
Last night my driver said my music brought him to tears

I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
I love Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
I love Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
I love Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
I love Portugal

Was listening to Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Liala’s Dance”
As I drifted off into rare afternoon nap
Yesterday, one shot in Minnesota, one in Baton Rouge, and then retaliation in Dallas
Someone shot and killed five cops
And the cops came back and killed that sniper with a robot
But all was peaceful here at the Seculo Hotel in the Bonfim neighborhood of Oporto
Now I’m on my way to Zürich at Gate 35
TAP operator by Swiss Airlines
I miss my quiet day in Oporto, sleeping and listening to the many birds sing
And the shoe store that I wanted to shop in
Was closed and, man, it pissed me off
As we drove by twice on the way to soundcheck and on the way to the hotel that night

I’m gonna return some day, I know it (some day)
I’m gonna buy me a home looking over the river in Oporto (river in Oporto)
Gonna get me a plate of melon and prosciutto and grilled sardines, a cup of coffee, and a bowl of gazpacho (bowl of gazpacho)
The USA can’t pull the guns from the trolls of the country I live in
Can’t get a grip on gun control
If we’re gonna live with a president who’s a huge fucking asshole
Then believe me, baby, I’m gonna buy me a home in Portugal

I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
Where the people don’t walk
I love Portugal
They just stroll
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
Where the people go to bars, relax
I love Portugal
And listen to fado
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
Where I feel at peace from my
I love Portugal
Head to my toe
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
Particularly I love the city of Oporto
I love Portugal

At the Rothaus, Room 301, in Zurich
The Bern show is cancelled tomorrow night due to violence and a bunch of crazy shit
It’s found its way into the venue
I’m not going to sing about it
I’m just gonna read the statement from the promoter to you

“Dear Mark, Dear all at Sun Kil Moon
I have really, really, really bad news. We’re deeply afraid but see ourselves in circumstances that unfortunately urge us to have to cancel. The Sun Kil Moon show at Dachstock Reitschule, Bern, the open space in front of our house Reitschule, Bern is causing increasing troubles with violence and sexes. An organized drug dealer and the [?] we decided to shut the place down and its ongoing activities. For a while, at least ten days, or maybe longer and find a way of how to deal with our society’s problems erupted in front of our house, creating a rather explosive atmosphere at times in front of our house. We’re very sorry that due to this reaction the show with Sun Kil Moon will have to be cancelled. As we’re in general enforcing this temporary shutdown, apologies for any inconveniences to you, I know your band just got into town. Of course we’re gonna pay full agreed guaranteed fee as well as covering your hotel for 12/7/16. Also tickets will be reimbursed, it can be used to see your show tonight in Zürich. We strongly hope you reschedule your concert in Bern next time your band is touring in Europe. Reitschule remains closed until further notice. Again, my deepest apologies, but it’s totally out of my control. Let me know if you need any more info
Sincerely, your promoter at Breathing Hope.”

I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
And the sparkling Douro River estuary
I love Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
And when I die I want some of my ashes spread there
I love Portugal
And skip the Hail Mary
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
I’m gonna back next year and I’m gonna find that same shoe store
I love Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
It’s gotta be somewhere between the venue and the Fnac bookstore
I love Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
And it doesn’t have a goddamned thing to do with football
I love Portugal

I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh
I love Portugal
I love Portugal

c – 2016 – Mark Kozelek

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And I think that’s it!

The laundry is finished. And I am NOT planning to vacuum today because for some inexplicable reason I found time to vacuum the entire fucking downstairs yesterday before I left for my shift!! (WTF is my deal, anyway??? I’m always fucking doing stuff!!)

Anyway…

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Driving-home-last-night-listening music!!

I know I’ve posted this song here a million times, but it’s always so great when it comes up on the playlist in the car! Such a great “driving” song.

France Gall, “Laisse tomber les filles”, 1964!! Enjoy, gang!!! I always do.

“Laisse Tomber Les Filles”

Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c’est toi qu’on laissera
Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c’est toi qui pleureras

Oui, j’ai pleuré mais ce jour-là
Non, je ne pleurerai pas
Non, je ne pleurerai pas
Je dirai c’est bien fait pour toi
Je dirai ça t’apprendra
Je dirai ça t’apprendra

Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Ça te jouera un mauvais tour
Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Tu le paieras un de ces jours
On ne joue pas impunément
Avec un cœur innocent
Avec un cœur innocent

Tu verras ce que je ressens
Avant qu’il ne soit longtemps
Avant qu’il ne soit longtemps
La chance abandonne
Celui qui ne sait
Que laisser les cœurs blessés
Tu n’auras personne pour te consoler
Tu ne l’auras pas volé

Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c’est toi qu’on laissera
Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c’est toi qui pleureras
Non, pour te plaindre il n’y aura
Personne d’autre que toi
Personne d’autre que toi
Alors tu te rappelleras
Tout ce que je te dis là
Tout ce que je te dis là
Alors tu te rappelleras
Tout ce que je te dis là
Tout ce que je te dis là
Alors tu te rappelleras
Tout ce que je te dis là
Tout ce que je te dis là

c – 1964 – Serge Gainsbourg

Happy 250th, America!

July 4, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

And that said, of course — it’s still nothing like how the Bicentennial was.

But back then, there were only 3 network TV stations, 2 or 3 UHF TV stations per State. A bunch of radio stations, but we listened to them all the time. National magazines, daily newspapers — we were all reading them.

Everybody, regardless of politics, was on the same page regarding the Bicentennial 4th of July. It was exciting and really FUN.

Now everything is too spread out and watered down and hard to keep track of. Not to mention, no one having their fireworks on the actual 4th…

But here’s this, regardless:

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Okay!

Wow, yesterday wound up being a really nice day. That new client I have on Fridays is just such a treasure. Plus, she has 2 huge white German Shepherd dogs that are just adorable and they want to be wherever you are at all times:

THEM (at all times); “Hi! It’s me!!”

And today, I’m spending 7 hours with the retired Chaplain — and some of her kids and grandkids will be coming over later to celebrate the 4th of July. So it should be another really good shift.

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And since I didn’t post yesterday, I have a TON of “here’s this’s” so let’s get started!!

Here’s this!!

On July 2nd, it was the heavenly birthday of another one of my favorite writers:

Hermann Hesse!

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And yesterday, was Kafka’s heavenly birthday!!

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And yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Brian Jones.

I tell you, it really moves me that so many people still adore Brian Jones. He has tribute sites all over Instagram. He has been dead since July 3rd, 1969. (If you’re too young to know who he was, he was the founder of the Rolling Stones.)

Brian’s gravesite yesterday, in Cheltenham, Wales:

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And here’s this!

From Steve Vai — onstage with a full moon. Photo by his wife!

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And here’s this!

Tom Petty and Prince, onstage honoring the induction of the late George Harrison in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame–

And in case you were doing something else that night back in 2004– it really was incredible —

Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, & More “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” | Rock Hall 2004 Induction:

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And speaking of great nights–

Here’s this!!

Keith, tuning up backstage at Madison Square Garden in NYC, on July 26th, 1972. That night was Mick Jagger’s 29th (!!) birthday:

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This poem by the late poet Jack Gilbert, was posted on the Poetic Outlaws substack page the other day. I just loved it:

The Lost Hotels of Paris
Jack Gilbert

The Lord gives everything and charges
by taking it back. What a bargain.
Like being young for a while. We are
allowed to visit hearts of women,
to go into their bodies so we feel
no longer alone. We are permitted
romantic love with its bounty and half-life
of two years. It is right to mourn
for the small hotels of Paris that used to be
when we used to be. My mansard looking
down on Notre Dame every morning is gone,
and me listening to the bell at night.
Venice is no more. The best Greek Islands
have drowned in acceleration. But it’s the having
not the keeping that is the treasure.
Ginsberg came to my house one afternoon
and said he was giving up poetry
because it told lies, that language distorts.
I agreed, but asked what we have
that gets it right even that much.
We look up at the stars and they are
not there. We see the memory
of when they were, once upon a time.
And that too is more than enough.

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And here’s this!

Flannery O’Connor at home, sitting under a self-portrait:

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And here’s a re-enactment of something that blew my mind. Truly, gang.

Yesterday, for some reason my attention was drawn to these books on a shelf in my family room:

Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, Volume One, jumped out at me.

I loved that book! But he never wrote Volume Two!!

I know the book has been out a long time now, and I clearly remember reading it when I lived, briefly, in Easton, Pennsylvania. Was the book really published that long ago?

I pulled it off the shelf. I’d forgotten it had that cool vintage photo of Times Square on the cover!! (My old stomping ground in my early days as a folksinger in NYC, when I was married to Chong and we lived one block from Times Square.)

When I opened the book, to see when it was published, I found this written on the title page and I was absolutely astounded.

The book had been a gift to me back in 2004 from Patrick Thomas, a journalist who occasionally wrote for Rolling Stone.

I had totally forgotten this.

Wow, gang. What a thing to discover in one of my favorite books. I hadn’t opened that book in 22 years…

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Okay.

Here’s this!

From Nick Cave Official!! Get ready for Brighton, gang!

Gates will open at 13:00 at Preston Park on 31st July.

SET TIMES
13:00 Gates
13:30 – 14:15 Warmduscher
14:45 – 15:30 Cate Le Bon
16:00 – 16:45 English Teacher
17:30 – 18:30 The Flaming Lips
19:30 – 22:00 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Please allow plenty of time to enter the site.

13:00 – 15:00 Best time to arrive

15:00 – 17:00 Expect the gates to be busy and short queue times

17:00 – 19:00 Expect gates to be very busy with longer queue times

Outside of the official lineup, there is lots going on at Preston Park from 1pm including; food and drink with over 15 bars and 50 stalls, DJs throughout the day, exclusive Brighton merchandise, an Arcade Treasure Hunt with a range of prizes, chillout zones, a Bad Seeds Fish & Chips van and more.

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And here’s more Bad Seeds stuff!

Blixa looking happy backstage, Nick Cave — not so much!!

Spring forward a thousand years!!

Warren Ellis, looking really peppy!! (The Bad Seeds play Montreux tomorrow!! Buy tickets HERE!!)

I don’t have any photos yet from the show in Poland, because I haven’t had time to scroll through them yet but here’s the set list from the show!!

After Montreux, the Bad Seeds play Germany but it is sold out! But tickets are available for the show in Portugal on July 9th!

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And I believe that is it for today.

Enjoy your holiday if you live state-side!!

Otherwise, enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting!!

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this today!

Ray Charles, “America the Beautiful” 1972. Enjoy, gang.

Holiday Weekend Sort of Begins!

July 2, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

But obviously not for me, since I will be working the ENTIRE weekend!! Yay!!

(And I just this moment received a text from the Agency: “If you have ANY availability left this weekend, please let us know!!”)

Jeepers.

Anyway.

Yes, today is my only day off heading into the holiday. I had an exhausting week so far, and most of the exhaustion came from the added high heat and humidity everywhere I went.

But I made myself promise today that I won’t do ANY housecleaning. I won’t run ANY errands. I won’t do ANY stressing about anything. I will be getting my notes together for the M. Christian tribute anthology, and then I’ll do some more reading, (oh, and study French!!), but that’s it. I’m just gonna try to get my energy back before everybody needs me again.

And thank you, once again, God, for this amazing Air Conditioning!!

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Okay!

This is what I’m watching right now on Metrograph and I absolutely LOVE IT!!

From writer/director Gregg Araki, the first in his Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, “Totally F**ked Up”, from 1993:

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And in addition to the TON of reading James Tabor gave us for what he jokingly calls “summer school” — a bunch of essays and articles connected to the primary book we are also reading right now, which is very interesting:

— in addition to all that, I am also reading a really sweet children’s novel, Palace Beautiful.

“Three girls discover a hidden journal in their attic detailing a girl’s life during the 1918 flu epidemic, leading them to investigate her mysterious fate.”

That new client I have on Friday mornings, gave me a copy of the book.

She didn’t say, “Oh, look at this book, it was really sweet.”

She literally handed it to me and said, ‘Here, take this home and read it. It’s really good.”

We were in the spare bedroom where she has a huge collection of children’s books for her grandchildren.

None of my clients has ever done that — handed me a children’s book and told me to take it home and read it — so I did! And, honestly, it is very well written and a refreshing break from everything else under the sun that is crammed into my brain these days.

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And this came in from Ronnie Wood yesterday– all his Summer Set lists are on sale!

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And on a sort of similar topic, here’s this!

Keith smoking!! Up close!!

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And another great one from Phyllis Stein– Richard Hell! In NYC in 1977!

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And Joe Satriani had an art exhibit in DC ! (And he also gave away some guitars!!)

And he had this song accompanying his post. I listened to a mere few seconds of it and, wow, did it bring back memories!! I played this song a lot while I lived on E. 12th Street! “Always With Me, Always With You”, 1987:

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I thought these were very interesting.

My great-great-grandmother was a full-blooded Black Foot Indian from Montana. These are current photos from the Black Foot Reservation. “It’s all about Jesus”…and pizza:

And here’s an idea of what it looked like when my great-great-grandmother lived there:

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And, as expected, the Bad Seeds show in Berlin looked astounding.

First, the size of the audience was jaw-dropping:

Berlin, in no particular order:

From George Vjestica, photo by Colin Greenwood:

These next 2 photos were so strange!!

And Nick Cave Official just announced that right after the upcoming Brighton show, there will also be a film festival, with films curated by Nick Cave. (I would STRONGLY suggest that if you’ve never seen “Irreversible” — Jesus, don’t go see it on a first date!!) (Probably wouldn’t see any of these on a first date, except maybe “Pinocchio”…) Anyway!

And tonight the Bad Seeds play Poland!! I guess if you hurry, you can still BUY TICKETS HERE!

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And that is it.

I am going to get this day-off underway. I seriously HOPE it involves relaxing. We shall soon see!

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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And more breakfast-listening music from the “Rockin’ Down the Block” CD collection (1987)!

The Contours, “Do You Love Me”, 1962. Enjoy, gang!!

A very happy Friday!

April 24, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Okay, so–

It has happened.

As of now — 1954 Powder Blue Pickup has been published on Amazon Kindle, in eBook and in print!

The eBook is available now — $2.99 (free if you are in Kindle Unlimited).

And the print book is now available here!!! ($8.95) Yay!!

“A young man with a pickup truck in 1950s America, navigates the strict sexual morals of the era by introducing a pretty, unmarried virgin to the true joys of “backdoor” sex — how it can save her virginity for her wedding night so that no one will ever be the wiser. The two agree to embark on an affair of unbridled licentious behavior with no strings attached, in the privacy of his pickup truck out on the edge of town. However, neither of them is prepared for just how well suited they are to each other’s carnal appetites, as the young woman is introduced to more and more sexual surprises, until they are each forced to admit that they’ve crossed over a line they can’t come back from without each other.“

It is a love story, but it is absolutely hardcore and absolutely for ADULTS ONLY. (“Thank you for your attention to this matter!” — DJT)

(“Wow, Jane, this is the best book you ever wrote!” — my seriously open-minded 94-year-old uncle in Virginia.) (It’s a long story, but my uncle’s nickname for me is “Jane Galloway.”)

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I am just so thrilled, gang. And I’m still sort of holding my breath, because we’ve gotten this far before…

But so far, so good. And it only took me about an hour and a half, yesterday, to get both editions back up there.

I still had plenty of time to take that walk yesterday — it was unbelievably gorgeous outside.

And I did yoga. And I vacuumed the whole house. All the windows were open, so the air just felt so great in here. Like, I could actually breathe. Yay!

And I officially put in my request at the Agency yesterday for time off in June to go to NYC for the Lammy Awards.

As of right now, I will be staying in a hotel west of Times Square, in my old OLD neighborhood — in Hell’s Kitchen, between 9th & 10th Avenues.

I lived in that area briefly when I was 20 years old, from February 1981 until I married Chong, in April 1981, and then moved with him to 8th Ave and W. 45th Street and my whole life turned around .

I don’t have the best memories from that Hell’s Kitchen apartment, or of the guy I lived with there.

In fact, below is the song I wrote later in 1981, about that brief and intense time in my life!

However, the song was very popular when I finally started performing in the folk clubs in the West Village, a couple months later. (Photo below is of me in the E. 12th Street apartment, a few years later.)

My song, “Breaking Glass” — as it appeared on vinyl in 1982!! Still available on Folkways Records!!

“Breaking Glass”

I was doomed to live in New York City
On a block where accidental babies
Went out with the trash;
We shared a two-room apartment,
Tiny and cold
To the tune of a love, by winter,
Growing old
And the sound of an angry young woman
Breaking glass.

I recall our lives were never empty
There were tears enough for the third who entered
And beckoned your past;
The hours you kept were deceitful
And it had to show
The passion of time she burned
I couldn’t control;
I was trapped in my raging fury
And breaking glass.

CHORUS
There’s no telling how the coming of love
Will find us
There’s no guessing in what way
It’s gonna set us free
There’s no doubting that the anger of love
Can break us
When our actions don’t even come close
To the people we wanna be most
And our dreams don’t work out as the glories
They’d promised to be.

Without excuses I left the table
Well, I ran like hell while I was still able
I started anew;
I’ve lost some weight and I’m strong 
And happy now
I got over the fiery anger, though
I don’t know how;
The songs we knew, they don’t drive me crazy
Well, I stopped the drinking and being lazy
It’s over at last;
The painful sheer rejection has 
All gone past;
The tunes of deceit and loneliness
Fading fast;
Gone are the days of anger
And breaking glass.

CHORUS
 There’s no telling how the coming of love
Will find us
There’s no guessing in what way
It’s gonna set us free
There’s no doubting that the anger of love
Can break us
When our actions don’t even come close
To the people we wanna be most
And our dreams don’t work out as the glories
They’d promised to be.

c- 1981 Marilyn Jaye Lewis
First of May Songs, BMI

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Anyway. I digress. It will be interesting being back in the old neighborhood — in a hotel, no less. It’s a lot nicer there now than it was 45 years ago. (Unless of course, I end up staying with Sandra on the Upper West Side, then all of what I’ve just said, changes…)

Okay!

Here’s this!!

I have never seen these photos of Keith before and I just love them!!

Photographer is Jean Marie Mazeau. Not sure, but maybe 1966?

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And here’s this!

Two photos of Nick Cave that I don’t think I’ve seen before, either!

Nick, waiting on a phone call from the distant past??

And Nick, reading from his upcoming novel And the Ass Saw the Angel, in Melbourne, in 1988 (?) (I absolutely loved that novel!):

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And this just in!

Official lyric video of ‘Haunted’ performed by Johnny Depp & Imelda May. Written by Shane MacGowan. From the upcoming “20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan”. (Pre-order here.)

Johnny Depp & Imelda May – Haunted (Official Lyric Video):

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Okay!!

You know, I forgot to mention that back on April 17th, my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man and I were not able to go to the clubhouse at the golf course that has those fantastic views! (There was a health problem with his private nurse last week, so things got screwy for a few days.)

However!! Assuming he is up to it when I get there–

We are indeed going today!! And the weather is perfect once again!! So here’s hoping that in a few hours, he’ll be having his vodka martini while sitting next to one of these windows!! (I don’ t know where I’ll be, but my guess is that I’ll be sitting right next to him!! Minus the martini!!)