Domino and Jimmy
The Afghan Whigs
This is the magic of art and music. Right here, released yesterday!
How something might percolate for years and then be born almost unexpectedly. In this case I’m only the consumer as I’m speaking of this track from HOW DO YOU BURN?, the new Whigs record.
I think it was Charles Bukowski who had “don’t try” written on his gravestone. He was referring to his creative method — how he lets the bug walk all the way down the wall, nice and close to him before he kills it. Or if he likes the way it looks? He’ll make a pet out of it.
I am purely speculating here, but I like to imagine that this cursed bug has been walking down the wall to Greg Dulli for decades. When it finally reached him? He decided to make a pet out of it. He brought back Marcy Mays to sing this new song — which feels like an unofficial sequel to yesterday’s song MY CURSE from GENTLEMEN — a record that is nearly thirty years old.
Love how this song somehow makes a piano ballad with major chords feel original, fresh and new. Hard to do. And these vocals from Marcy are glorious. And what a suprise to hear Dulli take on some verses too and come clean about his own regret and feelings in this storyline. Something gorgeous I wasn’t expecting as I thought he’d remain silent.
Here we are, all these years later with these two characters — it’s as if cooler heads have prevailed and something beautiful has been salvaged from shared, deep pain. Somewhere between past and present there’s an unconditional love lurking and possibly healing. What a song.
"Let me re-read my testimony,"
I almost said
Of our uncertain ceremony
Upon the rock I bled
I am your sadness, baby
Your light of day
Like a living ghost
You get lost inside my head
You are lost in sight
And lost inside my head
Ever lost in part
Ever lost inside my head
You seem to insinuate that I leave
I know it's been a while
But baby if you were waiting for me
We're going out in style
I am your madness, baby
Your light of day
I can see the smoke
And you're lost inside my head
You are lost in sight
And lost inside my head
I was lost inside
Ever lost inside my head
