i’m only a lot obsessed with can you read my mind?
by the killers today. i don’t know how many times
i’ve listened to the song on youtube. so indulge me
as i play this what if game, will you?
it’s a question i’ve asked myself and others before,
and i’m not sure if i know the answer, years later.
let’s start with the lyrics to the song. i’ve italicized
my favorite lines. they twist me up inside.
On the corner of main street
Just tryin’ to keep it in line.
You say you wanna move on and
You say I’m falling behind.
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
I never really gave up on
Breakin’ out of this two-star town.
I got the green light,
I got a little fight.
I’m gonna turn this thing around.
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The good old days, the honest man;
The restless heart, the Promised Land,
A subtle kiss that no one sees;
A broken wrist and a picture piece.
Oh well I don’t mind, if you don’t mind.
‘Cause I don’t shine if you don’t shine
Before you go, can you read my mind?
It’s funny how you just break down,
Waitin’ on some sign
I pull up to the front of your driveway
With magic soakin’ my spine.
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The teenage queen, the loaded gun;
The drop dead dream, the Chosen One,
A southern drawl, a world unseen;
A city wall and a trampoline.
Oh well I don’t mind, if you don’t mind
‘Cause I don’t shine if you don’t shine
Before you jump,
tell me what you find
when you read my mind.
Slippin’ in my faith until I fall.
You never returned that call.
Woman, open the door, don’t let it sting
I wanna breathe that fire again.
She said I don’t mind, if you don’t mind
‘Cause I don’t shine if you don’t shine.
Put your back on me,
Put your back on me,
Put your back on me.
The stars are blazing like rebel diamonds cut out of the sun.
Can you read my mind?
…
someone said in the youtube comments that
this song renders him/her to tears. it does
the same to me. so click and watch / listen
once with me. because if i’m awake, i’m probably
listening as well. =)
…
pretty nifty video, isn’t it?
now imagine the video and take away
the images–no visuals.
now imagine the song and take
away the lyrics–no words.
now imagine the song and take
away the music…
…
i’ve always thought that creativity
in any form is therapy. it certainly is
for me. i can never lose myself like
i can when i’m brush painting or
writing. when time ceases to exisit–
when you cease to exist–is when
you know you’re in it.
so my what if question is : if you had
to choose between art (images),
music (sound), words (poetry and prose)
as the only creative pursuit you could enjoy
or indulge in–which would you choose?
visually. one of my favorite artists is
gustav klimt. it’s the reason i went to vienna
years back. he’s most well known for his
painting “the kiss”, which is breathtakingly
stunning seen in person–bigger than you
could have imagined. and his works, they leave
me speechless. i absolutely love his paintings.
imagine never seeing anything visually
creative ever again : paintings, photography,
moasics, calligraphy, stained-glass, carvings…
or taking a hand in those arts?
music. could you imagine never hearing
music again? any type of song? to me,
visual art and words are mostly a very
personal experience. music can be too,
but anyone who has ever been to a concert
knows how tribal it can be. how fundamental
and visceral it is. is there anything creative
that can replicate the power of music or song?
and finally, words.
you’ll never read a novel again.
or a poem. or a play or anything
ever creatively written with words.
so. which would you choose?
me? damn. i really can’t say. i can’t
imagine living without any of these things.
i’m only a baby artist, but to never see those
colors again? i’m getting teary just imagining it.
or never painting again?
and i’ve zilch musical talent, but am forever
humming and singing. so is my mother. and
perhaps sweet pea will too. how barren and
meaningless my life would be without music.
and finally, if i’ll take any label for myself,
i’ll take writer and reader gladly. how would
i be able to live this life without reading stories?
without ever being able to tell them again?
you see how impossible this is?
which one would you choose, forsaking
two others forever?
eta : i swear i’m not premenstrual. ha! but
i did finish writing the ending to my sequel today.
15 Comments
I would choose writing above all else. Even though my strongest talent is composing music and most of my friends are visual artists, I feel that only with writing can I truly express myself.
That really is a powerful song! Thank you for sharing.
Congrats on THE END!
That’s always a big moment.
I do love the Killers. They put me in a mood too. I don’t know which I’d choose, but definitely a thought provoking question.
philomela, glad you enjoyed the song. and wow that you can choose! i guess maybe i would choose that as well–it’s just so sad for me to think of living without the other two.
jeannie, thank you! i just found out they’ll be in concert here while i’m in nyc. i was so sad!
Yeah, I wouldn’t be able to choose. I’m just glad there ARE so many differnt forms of art so that if I ever go deaf, I can still see the sunrise. Or if I ever lose my sight I will still have stories and poems to make visuals in my head.
Cindy – How weird is that? This is one of my favorite songs and videos! I’ve had it on my ipod for awhile now and it is still my most played video. That and the bones are my two favorite killers videos. But that video itself always gets to me – its so sweet and funny.
Like you – there is no real way to choose among your senses. I’d add the incredible pleasures that the sense of smell brings to food and the sense of taste to indulge in it. I wouldn’t want to lose any of it. Life’s too short. We need all our senses to enjoy and live a full and wonderful life.
Good question, Cindy, and good song.
Since I’ve done all three at one point (drawing, singing for a band/writing lyrics for original songs and writing) I’d have to say writing.
You can show me a beautiful picture of the ocean, but can I hear the waves crashing? Can I feel the misty spray and smell the salt in the air?
I can write about the experience and include all of those senses.
Lyrics in a song can accomplish some of this (and can evoke deeper feelings with the music), but they are often constrained within the boundaries of rhyme, repetition and brevity. I’ve never been good with brevity!
I watched and listened and it didn’t affect me the same way that it does for you. I guess if I chose, I would undoubtedly choose music above all else. I’m not good at expressing myself in music, but I prefer to experience than to create. And I think if I only had a single medium to create with, I guess I’d be forced to do it. I think nothing has as direct a connection to my mind and body as music, though.
I don’t know how I could possibly choose. Writing and reading and playing/creating music (I’m a pianist) have always been a part of me. I can’t draw/paint worth anything, but I love looking at paintings; I find them ridiculously inspiring. And that’s the thing, I think: all three of these creative pursuits are linked so tightly together I’m not sure it’s possible to separate them. For me, music and art inspire story ideas, and reading inspires music. I can’t choose! Don’t make me choose!!
mirian and ello–exactly. life is too short and creativity in all its forms is a blessing.
ello–so funny that you have been listening to this! i just found it yesterday. i’m so out of it with music.
robinson, indeed. i think if truly forced, i’d probably choose words too. but the thought of it leaves me bereft.
faye,i didn’t expect you to connect to the song like i did. but i was using it as an example of music / lyric / images.
joanna, i will not make you choose then! because i can’t.
words. you can always visualize the images from a vivid description. you can always produce music just with the sounds of words, like poetry. but art and music on its own cannot produce words – not without effort.
Congratulations on writing the ending to your sequel! What a lovely accomplishment!
I love the Killers. I love lyrics that are stunning. I love writing. Thus, I would chose writing/reading.
Visual would be second, music third.
I feel like you can achieve the color and the song you would miss from words itself.
Geez, what a terrible thing to do to a person. It’s like those “would you rather” questions. Would you rather drown or hang? Would you rather be lonely (and smart) or stupid (and popular)?
I’d probably choose words, but I’d write poem after poem lamenting the loss of landscapes and Jamiroquai.
I can’t choose. Even though I have NO artistic talent when it comes to drawing or painting or photography, I can’t imagine life without it.
Or music. As much as I long to play an instrument, I just have no talent for it (tried a few times and it’s not there, LOL). And I’m pretty close to tone deaf but I still like singing, when I’m alone anyway. And I can’t live without music at work–when the office is silent, it bothers me–I need something to keep myself going.
And writing? How can I live without telling another story or reading another book?
It’s too hard.
thanks for all the responses!
i think my main point is :
aren’t we blessed to have these
creative outlets and that most
of us *do* get to enjoy it all?
I couldn’t possibly choose!
And I love, love, love the Killers. Their lyrics, their music, their videos.