This is the most 'beautiful', in a haunting elegy sense, music, and lyrics. Maggies' metal pedal and Marks' voice are a perfect match <3 Picking flowers from your hair Your angels once kind now landed us here They singing our song: "If Only, If Only" Coming home, coming home You know it's the end Them worm summer touch has run like sand I have not the strength to take your hand Your angels once kind Had landed us here. They singing our song: "If Only, If Only"
Maggie played the slide (I think) on Mark's version of AIC's Nutshell...the whole thing was absolutely magical. And so desperately sad, thinking of Layne. Love how she plays. Love how he sings.
I have to start by admitting I had never heard of Mark Lanegan until someone sent my son a copy of his book Sing Backwards and Weep. I read the book and found a thoroughly unlikeable man whose only intererst was in getting drugs, taking drugs or being high from taking drugs. I acknowledge that he had a pretty awful childhood with a mother who seemed to have no regard for him. By his own admission after several brushes with the law he as given an opportunity to clean up his life (he admits to being an alcoholic by the time he was 19) but chose to be a smart arse and blag his way through it only to revert to the previous behaviour. I don't want to spoil the book so I won't tell you how it ended but those who know his music will know how it ended. I sought out his music via YT videos and found song after song about drugs, the need for them, the terrible hold they have on you and your life, the desire for drugs and even desperate attempts to get clean. I didn't love the music but I didn't hate it and it has grown on me. It is dark and miserable (he seems to have gotten no pleasure from the drugs or the music). What you do and where you draw inspiration as a musician is very much influenced by life experience. What you write and sing about when and if your life changes is the challenge. Before Mark's fans all rush to criticise me I don't think he would/does look at his life (at least it doesn't come through in the book) as one that should be looked upon as one to worship. It was an awful life ruled by addiction. Some musicians feel the need to take drugs to find inspiration but the tragedy of the wasted lives of his friends Cobain, Staley, Cornell and others shows the cost of that thinking (that is not a lecture on drug taking or a simple don't do drugs drugs are bad response) but all of those who I mentioned and others lives lost to addiction are a waste. To return to Mark Lanegan and his music; the hell raiser life can only last last so long even Keith Richards hasn't lived a hell raiser life for more years than he can remember. Mark is probably in a position where he can/does the things he likes and works with people he wants to work with or likes.
Here's lyrics and chords :) 3 people tried to transcribe lyrics, and two people - chords:D [Intro] C Eb Bb F Cm Eb F [Verse] [F] [Eb] [Eb/D] [C#] Could it be such a crime [Gm] [C] Giving back what was mine All that time in the dark Waiting for daylight [delight] spark [Chorus] [Eb] Deal you into my game [Bb] now the time is changing [Gm] aces and aids affects [C] me now the chips are down [Eb] card after card you break me, [Bb] smiling while forsaking, [Gm] talent there for taking [Cm] [Eb] [F] when every end I'm dealt to play is wrong [Solo] Do you have what it takes To hit the notes in the break It’s easier for you to cry Than it is to even try Blind you into my tune Now you're clearing the room vanish all too soon, no one's getting paid I’ve known it all along and written into this song where do I belong every chord I try to play is wrong yes and every end I’m dealt to play is wrong yes and every chord I try to play is wrong
This song rates up there in Rock Immortality with the Flamin'Groovies' "Shake Some Action" and the Nashville Ramblers' "The Trains." (but this unplugged version features stronger harmonies.)
