Pinklon

mp3: The Mountain Goats - Pinklon

Melodrama gets a bad rap, and no one does it better these days than John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats. I love the vivid imagery in this song:

Let the bright colors come blushing gently back
to the cherry blossom trees around Pontiac
and guys in powder blue Starter jackets down on the street
let them come up from the corners, so light on their feet

Let the ticker tape come cascading down
above the Greyhound station out at the edge of town
and at the schoolyard fences where the children shout
let the chains fall away and let 'em all rush out

And though all good things in time will melt away
Pinklon Thomas is getting out of prison today

Out to the curbside let the grandmothers come
and stand in red gingham dresses in the afternoon sun
and from the windows high above the street, let the trumpets sound
and let confetti fill the air and gather on the ground

Let the guys all hurry on down to the gym
and throw the doors wide open and clear a space for him
let messages from strangers, spray painted on cheap drapes
hang from all the fire escapes

Let them spell it out on marquees and on window displays
Pinklon Thomas is getting out of prison today

You can get this and two other songs at the Daytrotter website, where Mr. Darnielle writes a paragraph on each. The rendition of Red River Valley is particularly of note. The fourth song is no longer available, but was the least worthwhile anyway.

I sincerely doubt that this is the last time you'll see the Mountain Goats mentioned around here.