Prompt: "A song that lacks closure"
Selected by Gilson
"Exiles Among You"
The Weakerthans
Left and Leaving, 2000
At the risk of overstating things, I believe that John K. Samson of the Weakerthans (formerly of Propagandhi, and now a solo artist) is the best lyricist in indie/punk music today. I also love Craig Finn, but sometimes listening to the Weakerthans is like watching Rickey Henderson (RIP) run the bases in his prime: there are people doing things that are basically what he's doing, but Rickey is just doing it at a different level.
This song is, to me, a perfect example of that. The story that this song tells, the picture that it paints, is a heartbreaking one. We are left with Ella at the side of the road, wondering what she does next, where she goes, what her tomorrow looks like. We will never know.
Better writers (like Samson) could do this song more justice than I can. But I urge you to check it out yourself.
1 comment:
Nate's claim that "Gilson called his shots on Day 1" has been in my head all morning. He's right. Honestly, rereading Day 1, it feels like the beginning of The Ten Commandments, where Cecil B. DeMille comes on stage and explains what the movie is gonna be about. And then the story is told. It's been a pleasure see that story unfold over the year.
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