I’ll bet that most of you know the song, “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Legions of people have recorded it, including Joe Cocker and Paul McCartney. Here are the lyrics everyone seems to know:

Pack up all my care and woe,
Here I go,
Singing low,
Bye bye blackbird,
Where somebody waits for me,
Sugar’s sweet, so is she,
Bye bye
Blackbird!

No one here can love or understand me,
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me,
Make my bed and light the light,
I’ll be home late tonight,
Blackbird bye bye.

I’ve sung it countless times, but I had never really thought about the lyrics until the other night (no idea what brought it on). “Blackbird?” What’s that about?

I found on You Tube the original recording, which was done in 1926, and I learned why the song, as we commonly know it, doesn’t make much sense. The reason is that what we know as the song is really only the chorus. There are two verses, which clear things up a bit. There’s even a bluebird involved.

Have a listen:

My curiosity was satisfied simply by hearing the chorus sandwiched between the two verses, but I see that other folks have analyzed the lyrics and have opined that the song is about a prostitute who is leaving the trade and going home to mom. Damned if I know. I’ll think about that another time.

It’s a great song.

Behold the views of Obama’s acolytes on the subject of corporate profits.

Words fail.

November may well be our last chance.

via iOTW

This has been flying around the internet, but for those of you who may not have seen it, here it is.

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I typically cringe when I hear some knucklehead do stylistic vocal tricks with the National Anthem. I prefer it sung the way it was written. I also have no patience with those who complain that the National Anthem is “… like toooo violent, with all those splodey bombs and stuff.” Here are two examples, each of which appeal to me for different reasons.

Version 1: Pure, beautiful simplicity – sung, unaccompanied, by three young siblings in their living room.

Version 2: The precise opposite of Version 1. It’s Madison Rising rockin’ the National Anthem. Yes, they do not perform the Anthem as written, but I like that their version goes straight into the face of the “toooo violent, splodey bomb” crowd. I understand that the lead singer is a Navy Vet. I like it.

Thanks to da Chef of da Future for Version 1
Thanks to my buddy Brian, the Air Force Vet for Version 2

You may have experienced some difficulties accessing this site (not that there has been a helluva lot going on here) over the past day or so. There was some problems, well beyond my understanding, with the server (a corrupted database?), which Craig located and fixed. For all these many years, Craig has maintained this blog. I would be positively schnitzled without his gracious help, abundant patience and seemingly boundless expertise.

Bonus: To me, the lead singer sounds tad like Don Henley.

via Moonbattery

I am, as many of you know, a hopeless peanut butter addict. I also have been known to sip a bit of vodka. As such, you can imagine my delight in learning that Van Gogh makes vodka that tastes like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Vodka that tastes like a PB&J? Be still my farookin’ heart!

A while ago, my buddy, Captain Artie told me about Van Gogh PB&J vodka, but, alas, my local liquor emporium did not have it. Artie promised to bring me a bottle on the occasion of his next visit, but my most excellent daughter beat him to the punch. Ten seconds after she gifted me with the bottle, out came two tall shot glasses for an instant tasting. The fragrance is more nutty than fruity, but it all comes together when sipped slammed down.

I keep it in the freezer and do it straight. Yum!

Note: I actually know a few people who claim to have never eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. How farookin’ sad is that?

Undecided? Bullshit!

I often read and hear about those who identify themselves as “undecided” with respect to the candidate they intend to vote for in November. Undecided? To me, that means that such people: (a) have not and are not paying attention; (b) are brain damaged , or (c) seek attention, viewing themselves as somehow above the fray.

I could understand someone being “undecided” if the differences between the candidates were substantively nuanced. Yeah, it used to happen. History tells us that the substantive differences between Richard Nixon and JFK were not that great (It really was an image thing – I was around then).

By contrast, the differences between the two candidates this year could hardly be more palpable. One candidate believes that big government central planning, along with massive spending and high taxes is the way to invigorate the economy, while the other urges smaller government, lower taxes (for everyone), respect for private property and reliance on the free market system as the road to recovery.

For my part, I’ll take Door Number Two, and I could not possibly disagree more with those who choose Door Number One. But, for those who, despite the gargantuan differences between the two candidates, still claim to be “undecided,” I suggest that you stay home on Election Day and let the grownups sort this out.