Song

[avevale_intelligencer]

So my FB wanderings today led me to the West Wing tribute to John Spencer, which you may or may not know features a performance of that much misunderstood song, "Hallelujah." I've been feeling a bit fragile and tearful about politics in general lately, and harking back to that initially so idealistic vision was just too much. So, I'm sorry, but I have to do this.

Well, I know that there's a secret road
That you can find, if you know the code,
But sadly my decoder ring no worky.
It goes like this, the twist, the bend,
The sudden turn at the twilight's end,
I should have made a left at Albuquerque.
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque.

Well, your maps are good but they're out of date,
They've redesigned the interstate
And now the route through town is kind of quirky.
They'll send you down a one way street
To where a dozen highways meet
And none of them have signs for Albuquerque.
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque.

You'll swear that you've been here before
You've seen that bar and the grocery store
Although with time your memory has grown murky.
And you've seen that flag on the City Hall
But now they've dumped a shopping mall
Slap bang across the road to Albuquerque.
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque.

There was a time you used to know
The way to where you had to go
But now you sit here feeling like a turkey.
Your progress was so free and light
And you know it still could be all right
If you could just get back to Albuquerque.
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque.

Now maybe there's a judgement day
But all I learned along the way
Was how to live on Gatorade and jerky.
So now I'll end this final song
And join the lost and broken throng
Of weary pilgrims seeking Albuquerque.
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque,
Albuquerque. (and repeat out)

Comments

*Applauds*

[polydad.livejournal.com]

...even though I kept hearing this in Mel's "Bugs" voice.

RE: *Applauds*

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

I know, but it doesn't really work on the lower held notes. I think the only way to do it would be dead straight. (And I'm now looking nervously over my shoulder in case there's some unwritten rule about you don't filk the Leonard.)

RE: *Applauds*

[eintx.livejournal.com]

If you run away you should take the Crooklets with you, I seem to remember they did, too! :)

[zaivala.livejournal.com]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh my god!

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Wow. Thank you. :)

[alun dudek (from livejournal.com)]

Very good, I enjoyed that very much.

[kayshapero]

That is flat out hilarious!!! And yeah, Bugs' voice does turn up there on reading. Thank you SO much and worry not, I've seen several filks of that tune... :)

[kayshapero]

And if you haven't sent this to Lee for Xenofilkia, you really should. (Have made a copy myself for future reference... :))

[jhayman.livejournal.com]

Oh, my... Thank you for doing this so very, very well. You may filk my fellow Canadian, Leonard Cohen, any day.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

::applauds::

ETA: I know you wrote it with a repeat/fade of the chorus, but I keep hearing it lead out with the faintest overlay of the ending to "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"

Permission

[zaivala.livejournal.com]

Request permission to perform this in January at my GAFilk Twofer... I tried it on guitar last night and it worked beautifully... recording will be available from whomever is doing sound this year, usually Bill Sutton or Harold Stein.