WOW! Finally found it! For years, I've been trying to remember who did this song. I only remembered the chorus. Finally found it through lyrics lookup (I'd tried unsuccessfully years ago, but it finally popped up). That led me to the full Cypress album, which I had also forgotten, but listening now I remember almost every darn lyric! I got turned on to Let's Active when I saw them open for R.E.M. in the early-mid 80s. Only now did I learn what the connections was - Mitch Easter producing R.E.M.'s earliest work. It all fits together now... VASTLY underrated band. SO glad to have re-found them!
Who can now remember Zebediah Lane? The great singing sensation of 1909 With his chicken and his monkey and his ukelele He achieved what seemed like undying fame But now his multi-platinum wax cyclinder rolls Like his name, have crumbled away One hundred years from now Who will still be famous? Scott McCaughey of The Minus 5 John Crist of the Dashboard Saviours Or their collaborators Pearl Jam, REM, Sonic Youth, Guided By Voices The Walkabouts, The Posies (Ken and John) The Presidents of the United States Of America (Not them, the other ones)? Massive popularity is never enough Not even worldwide acclaim or universal love Can guarantee eternities of honour For our names As Velazquez and Picasso will happily explain History remembers the names Of those who creep out of the shadows And reposition the frames Beam me up, Scott McCaughey Let's take The Minus 5 at warp factor 3 To a planet just like Earth, to a city like Madrid To a place just like the Prado Gallery We'll spend the day just looking at Las Meninas Asking ourselves 'Who was that king? What was his name? The one who let his family get in the way Of the self-portrait Velazquez was painting?' Wearing shades at night is never enough Not exceptional skill or below zero cool at Minus 5 degrees Can guarantee eternities of honour for our names As Scott McCaughey and I have no doubt realised History remembers the names Of those who creep out of the shadows And reposition the frames
@@Soulsfromthevoid per interviews with and writings of band members. Here's Carl Marsh: "The working methods may be reflected in references to “pounding hearts and hungry eyes” and declarations that I “rattle like a train” or I’m “ringing like a telephone” but on the whole that was a, ahem, lifestyle choice at the time anyway (see Under The Lights). " www.tumblr.com/shriekbackmusic/120792286592/jam-science-sleeve-notes-part-1
This song, as well as others by Don Dixon, Marti Jones, the db's, Connells, these songs made up a raft that kept me afloat during those weird adolescent years. Thank you, Mitch and friends. The life y'all saved was my own.
