Get Started, Start a Fire
The Mona Lisa's sister doesn't smile... But the Mona Lisa did, 83% of the time. Danish scientists using "emotion recognition" software suggest that Sra. Francesco del Giocando was 83 percent happy, 9 percent disgusted, 6 percent fearful, 2 percent angry, 1 percent neutral, and not at all surprised. Hmm, kinda the way I feel most of the time. The software apparently can't detect subtle emotions like sexual suggestion or disdain. Hmm, kinda the way I feel most of the time.
One of the few of times I saw Graham Parker live was at the Stone Pony on the The Mona Lisa's Sister tour. Maybe not his best work, but what fabulous imagery in Get Started, Start a Fire; I'm going to have to dig this out tonight...
One of the few of times I saw Graham Parker live was at the Stone Pony on the The Mona Lisa's Sister tour. Maybe not his best work, but what fabulous imagery in Get Started, Start a Fire; I'm going to have to dig this out tonight...
posted by Sharon at Friday, December 16, 2005
3 Comments:
I couldn't find a link to the lyrics without guitar chords or annoying pop-ups, so I'm posting them here.
The Mona Lisa's sister doesn't smile
She tried to pose but only for a while
Leonardo sent her home
Since then she has lived alone
With her few belongings and a copy
Of a painting of herself unhappy
She is going to burn it when she's ready
Chorus:
Get started, start a fire (4 times)
Marilyn was lying all alone
With an empty bottle by the phone
Kennedy was not around
She was cold when she was found
But she'd gone where goddesses are sleeping
Where the molten tongues of flame are leaping
Or where the angel's hearts are heating
Instrumental VERSE, INTRO RPT)
Joan of Arc was burning at the stake
Somebody had made a big mistake
She had lit a cigarette
In an aiport where you get your fingers taken off for smoking
Meanwhile up the road a factory's choking
The ones who killed her work there I'm not joking
"Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art?"
thus quoth Nat King Cole...
Bob Hoskins soothed (or stoked?) the fires of his mixed up tough guy-good guy life in "Mona Lisa" - playing the tune over and over in his car.
Sam Cooke also had another great version...little heard, on some impossible to get import - ain't that the way of it?
...and right on with Graham Parker...yeh
oh coma girl, on the excitment gang
mona lisa, on a motorcylce gang
coma girl, coma girl...
-Joe Strummer
I promised my friend Robert I would write a review of the Strummer tribute show last week, but, alas, have not been able to find the words. It was fittingly billed as a "memorial." Maybe later...
Post a Comment
<< Home