If the title, "Harlem River" sounds familiar, it is because my last post had the same title. It was an original haiku inspired by Ernest Lawson's 1915 painting, "Washington Bridge, Harlem Rover." I'm dwelling on the Harlem River a bit linger because I discovered an indie rock artist, Kevin Morby who has a song called "Harlem River. Morby is a new artist to me, and I like his sound. This is from his 2013 debut album by the same name.
I knew nothing about Kodaline until last week when I heard their impressive rendition of the sea shanty, "Haul Away Joe," in the movie, The Finest Hours. They are an Irish indie rock band, originally known as 21 Demands, and have had songs featured on Grey's Anatomy, MTV's Catfish and other television venues. You can check out other songs of theirs on their YouTube channel.
I asked my daughter to pick out today's Monday Music feature. This one was rocking the airwaves when she rolled out of college and into graduate school. Often it is the youth who are the most articulate in talking about an existential crisis and these kids do it with a catchy tune and a nice beat. Performed by American indie rock band Fun, the song was released on June 4, 2012, as the second single and the title track from their second studio album of the same name.
Some Nights
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure, what I stand for oh oh oh
What do I stand for? Oh what do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore
Oh whoa, oh whoa, oh whoa oh oh
Oh whoa, oh whoa, oh whoa oh oh
This is it, boys, this is war, what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype,
Save that for the black and white I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked,
But here they come again to jack my style
That's alright, I found a martyr in my bed tonight
Stops my bones from wondering just who I, who I, who I am, oh who am I, mm, mm
Well some nights, I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights, I always win, I always win
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for? Oh what do I stand for? Most nights, I don't know (come on)
So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
No. When I see stars, when I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on
Oh, come on, oh, come on, oh come on!
Well that is it, guys, that is all, five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This is not one for the folks at home, I'm sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called "love"
But when I look into my nephew's eyes,
Man you wouldn't believe, the most amazing things, that can come from,
Some terrible nights, ah (oh whoa, oh whoa, oh whoa, oh oh)
The other night, you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we'd both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
