Laurie Anderson
Born, Never Asked
It was a large room. Full of people. All kinds.
And they had all arrived at the same buidling
at more or less the same time.
And they were all free. And they were all
asking themselves the same question:
What is behind that curtain?
You were born. And so you’re free. So happy birthday.
(From Big Science)
Happy Birthday! Laurie Anderson
Laurie is a Gemini/Pig. (THE INDUSTRIOUS CONNOISSEUR).
What do you know, Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes shared a birthday with Laurie.
June 5, 1723 Economist Adam Smith was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
June 5, 1883 Economist John Maynard Keynes was born in Cambridge, England.
Nytimes today described Laurie as Rock singer on On this day birthday page. No fact checking? (the times they are changing, ha).
“Some common themes in her works are airplanes, dogs, family, the United States, dreams, and language. ” I must add Walter Benjamin, Italo Calvino and all the other smart people are referenced in her work.
A very useful site if you want to know more about her work, L.A FAQ
by John Gluck and Jim Davies.
(Fassbinder and Marilyn Monroe have appeared in Laurie’s songs, the Gemini compatriots were born one day apart, Fassbinder on May 31 and Marilyn on June 1st. Andy Warhol and Fassbinder wanted to be Marilyn and Norma Jean thought she wanted to be Marilyn. )
Sound Zero, an interview.
Songs and Stories from Moby Dick
Moon Rocks (Interview on her work with Nasa)
(via)
Gravity’s Angel
You can dance. You can make me laugh. You’ve got x-ray eyes.
You know how to sing. You’re a diplomat. You’ve got it all.
Everybody loves you.
You can charm the birds out of the sky. but I, I’ve got one thing.
You always know just what to say. And when to go.
But I’ve got one thing. You can see in the dark.
But I’ve got one thing: I loved you better.
Last night I woke up. Saw this angel. He flew in my window.
And he said: Girl, pretty proud of yourself, huh?
And I looked around and said: Who me?
And he said: The higher you fly, the faster you fall. He said:
Send it up. Watch it rise. See it fall. Gravity’s rainbow.
Send it up. Watch it rise. See it fall. Gravity’s angel.
Why these mountains? Why this sky? This long road. This ugly train.
Well he was an ugly guy. With an ugly face.
An also ran in the human race.
And even God got sad just looking at him. And at his funeral
all his friends stood around looking said. But they were really
thinking of all the ham and cheese sandwiches in the next room.
And everybody used to hang around him. And I know why.
They said: There but for the grace of the angels go I.
Why these mountains? Why this sky?
Send it up. Watch it rise. See it fall. Gravity’s rainbow.
Send it up. Watch it rise. And fall. Gravity’s angel.
Well, we were just laying there.
And this ghost of your other lover walked in.
And stood there. Made of thin air. Full of desire.
Look. Look. Look. You forgot to take your shirt.
And there’s your book. And there’s your pen, sitting on the table.
Why these mountains? Why this sky? This long road? This empty room?
Why these mountains? Why this sky? This long road? This empty room.