Saturday, November 05, 2005

Dave Matthews Band- #41

This song has always seemed cubical to me. Somehow, as it starts, I imagine a clear cubic box, made of glass perhaps. It is beautiful the way it reflects the light, bright white light. The cube is right up close next to my eyes, and it shines into my soul. Right behind the cube is a backdrop of sea green and winter blue, with hints of a deep black texture. Maybe this picture comes from something about the guitar or maybe its just the way that all of the angles of the song build up together to create a layered whole. But as soon as that hissing snake of an initial drum beat starts the song, I always know I am in for a taste as sweet as any dream.
The intro builds into a fierce duck call lost in the wind. The call is of hope. Enter dancing guitar riff. Before the song has even started, this rhythmic guitar ecstasy has already begun, and it celebrates over the blunt bass and slick drums like a dancing metallic robot that has just learned how to feel.
Enter Dave Matthews' voice. "The difficulty's coming heeeeeere." His voice climbs up until it trails off to join the duck call in the field of dreams it disappeared into earlier. But there's no need to worry about the destination of that voice. The hope is drowned out by dancing angels that let us know all is well and we are safe. They dance their jig.
Enter Dave. "In the way we used to play all of the loneliness that nobody notices now." He scats this line out like he's Louis Armstrong. I just want to get down low and shake my hips and arms like its the hokey pokey. And then in builds to... "Coming heeeeeeere." Another hopeful wind storm and the angels are back to the rescue. This time, Dave keeps singing. "I'm only this far, and only tomorrow leads the way, I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head." The saxophone punches note after note out over the angels' jig. "Why wont you ever be glad," you can actually hear the wind here. It is an eerie whistling gust of wind right at the end of the phrase but it glazes over you like an icy winter chill. "Why wont you run into the rain and break and let tears splash all over you?"
Begin jam. It sounds like a fiddle dancing around, the sax has taken the back seat. We are in new territory. This isn’t the hopeful windstorm from before, this is picking up in a much happier place. It's the joyful celebration of ferries and dwarfs. Perhaps it is the angels' theme song. It's an evening walk after dinner. And it comes to our rescue just as Dave's hopeful message has been signed, sealed, and delivered; sent out like a bottle into the ocean. Finally, there is no worry. There is nothing left to do, but to enjoy this peaceful song. And it is summer sweet and safe.

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