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Lice in a Hurricane

from Hotel Oregon by vonHummer

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about

Some songs of mine are inspired by famous songs, in which I'm inspired to write a sequel to it, or a counter to it, or whatever, and so it is with "Lice in a Hurricane," which is a lyrical negative of Bob Seger's "Against the Wind."

Why I felt compelled to do that, I really can't say. It's not one of my favorite songs of his, (that would be "Feel Like a Number") and not one of his most hated ("Like a Rock"—a song about not being able to get a boner anymore! And eventually sold to Chevy??). "Against the Wind" is just so...so...straightforward? Simplistic? Cliched? Tame, perhaps? And it doesn't help that I've practically lived that song. All in all, I just wanted to mutate it. Mess it around.

So if you examine every line of "Lice in a Hurricane," you'll see that it's the "opposite" of Seger's song. "Seems like yesterday/but it was long ago..." is the opposite of "A hundred years ago, at least/No wait, 'twas only yesterday..." In my mind, anyway. And so, lice being swept along in the winds of a hurricane is an opposite image of the Seger character futilely "...runnin' against the wind..." The effect of it all is rather dylanesque in a Highway 61 sort of way.

I'm ridiculously proud of the music to this one, roaring along so breathlessly (or maybe that's just my singing.) Why it's positively anthemic. It's a bitch to play, though, with all those barred chords held for so long. Especially on a bass. Luckily this guitar, the mutated Dan Electro, only has one bass string, and the action was always mercifully low.

lyrics

"Lice in a Hurricane"
[vonHummer]

One hundred years ago at least, no, wait: twas only yesterday, I played the Monarch of Daylight blasting an 8-track quadrophonic, Blabbed it all to each and any, but never said word one to Jenny, frozen to the spot, like glaciers, travelling hardly supersonic

What I told her I forget exactly, something like, “shut up, get out,” quite likely, Kept her at arms length, wish I had a tenth today of my teenage brain: Lice in a hurricane.

Lice in a hurricane...Lice in a hurricane…We were rich kids riding high, too small to see, maybe much less to contain: lice in a hurricane...

Thronged en masse by bosom buds, time finally found second gear, they’d have laid their lives for me, ah, but I just didn't trust ‘em, firmly ensconced in my lair, here, there, and everywhere Easy Street could be paved in the manner to which I'd become accustomed,

Slammed the brakes at yellow lights instinctively, hungering for safety and legality, at start I sought mere closure, and overexposure, dancing and a’ singing in the rain…Lice in a hurricane...

Lice in a hurricane...Lice in a hurricane…We were rich kids riding high, too small to see, maybe much less to contain: lice in a hurricane...

What a state of devastation I'm in, cardinal punishment for capitol sin, my cattle overdue in St.Louis, and it could only do us good to derail this thoughtful train...Lice in a hurricane...

Lice in a hurricane...Lice in a hurricane…We were rich kids riding high, too small to see, maybe much less to contain: lice in a hurricane...

credits

from Hotel Oregon, released April 16, 2005
vonHummer: drums, vocals, guitar

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vonHummer Portland, Oregon

vonHummer is a Portland music/cable access legend whose career spanned from Fall of 2001 to Fall of 2011, during which he recorded a hundred or so songs for use in his absurdist show (and feature film) and played only a handful of concerts. Currently retired, his work shines on for the ages. Or will he someday return...? ... more

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