“American Trash 2011”

The was the first song we played where I KNEW we had something. Everyone in the clubs took notice when we kicked this in. Maybe it was the minor chords. Maybe the creepy mandolin. Maybe the screaming guitar. I’m guessing the whole thing wound up and thrown down at once was what did it.

The whole song is Em-Am. Easy as they come. Lyrically, I like to use the James Bond model. Simple plot. Complicated story. This whole tale takes place on South Grand in St. Louis. My dad, First Air Cavalry, Bravo Company, United Stated Army 67-69, still calls Vietnamese people “Charlie.” That’s where the opening line comes from.

It’s the underneath of the city that breaths in this song. Not the trinket shops. Not the festivals at Tower Grove Park. Not the families in the ice cream shop on Saturday. It’s what happens after 10pm. In the back of the bars. In that alley a half block north.

I still feel this line every time I sing it

Tommy’s just waitin’ for the pills to kick in
He’s got a brain full of whiskey and a gut full of Jen

The Midwest Harmonium

Charlie’s sellin’ cocaine down on the corner
He says, “I got what ya need and ya know ya really want it”
Five more dollars and the first bump is free
I give ya five more dollars you’d be taking every dime from me

Rachel’s got the Midwest buried deep in her chest
She said “I’m goin’ out east where the candy’s the best”
But he’s got fifty dollars and a Colt .45
Yea he’s got fifty dollars and she ain’t comin’ home alive

She said, “I can’t move to the sound or the shiver or the shake
I can’t dance to the noise or the rhythm or the break
Yer coming downtown raisin all that sound
Ya give me five more dollars and I won’t leave you all alone”
I give her five more dollars and she won’t leave me all alone

Tommy’s just waitin’ for the pills to kick in
He’s got a brain full of whiskey and a gut full of Jen
He said “I got fifty dollars and a Colt .45
Oh yea I got fifty dollars and she ain’t coming home alive”
Oh yea he’s got fifty dollars and she ain’t comin home alive