"The Lamps And Their Light"

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. . ... .(pictured above: "The Lamps And Their Light" and my son)



Hey folks,

My son Andy has just written a beautiful new song, tentatively titled "The Lamps And Their Light." In a nutshell: it kicks my heart's ass like nothing else since "Goodbye Ohio" (the song).

The new song is performed in 3/4 waltz time and has been recorded by a new side project called "Tables & Chairs" which currently features Andrew and the Pretty Punchers, but eventually will include a half dozen or so other local guest musicians from generations past and present, and from genres as diverse as bluegrass, reggae, and rhythm & blues.

Or at least that's my understanding.

The "Tables & Chairs" project is somewhat shrouded in mystery, but the bottomline appears to be this: the songs will be quieter, more acoustic, and apparently - really fucking sad.

I have gotten the OK to share the new song's lyrics with you, although it will not be released until later this summer. Please note: The line breaks below are my best estimate, and don't forget (as per usual) - adding music & vocals to the lyrics ups the emotional ante considerably:


the lamps and their light
(a. smith)

i knew you was smokin'
cause your window was open
and from the ground below
i felt like an ashtray and
the moon was a nail
on a finger in midair
that pointed right at you,
but i keep forgettin' that

i-i-i-i was telling you
terrible lies
and you-oo-oo-oo
were ever so, ever so, kind
i'll keep that in mind

i knew you was leavin'
cause you told me last evening
by the shitty truck
that doesn't start in the summer
and our love was a song
i hadn't heard in so long
and by the second verse
i forgot why i liked it

and i-i-i-i was telling you
terrible lies
and you-oo-oo-oo
were ever so, ever so, kind
i'll keep that in mind

don't you wanna believe?
don't you wanna believe?
don't you wanna believe?
in me.
so do i.


It's at this point that the listener (i.e. me) picks their heart up off the floor and returns it to its upright and (rib)caged position.

Yes I do believe that the boy is turning it up a notch on the lyrical front.

And I also do believe that this song (once it is formally released) will be entering the hallowed halls of that great pantheon of song: "The Sadly Beautiful Song Series" (see blog entries below).

And regarding those first seven lines:

i knew you was smokin'
'cause your window was open
and from the ground below
i felt like an ashtray and
the moon was a nail
on a finger in midair
that pointed right at you

Can you say "cinematic"?

Can you say "John Cusack sans boombox" in the movie "Say Anything"?

And it only gets better. The music and vocal melody are off the charts gorgeous, and there is some wonderful piano playing by Pretty Puncher rhythm guitarist, Greg Saluke.

And the best part about all of this? . . .

I have a copy of the song that I get to play *over and over* and you don't!

[ED NOTE: "nya nya-nya nya nya"].

But you will . . . some summer day very soon . . . get to play this song and many others because I have a sneaking suspicion that upcoming CD releases by Andrew And The Pretty Punchers *and* Tables & Chairs are gonna be double-teaming your heart & soul before the leaves fall and the snow flies. :-)

Also . . . the word on the street is that "The Lamps And Their Light" *may* receive its world premier performance at the Canal Street Tavern show on Saturday, June 20th. This is somewhat tentative but by now you should know the rules:

If you wanna know, you gotsta go.

See you on the 20th!



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