Like at the Movies

“Like at the Movies” is a selection from my opera, “Flounder” performed with “My Hero”. My old friend Brigitte used to say “I wish people were more like they are in books.” But the folks in this song were more focused on the cinema. In one cinematic moment the girl compares the boy to Bach and Beethoven and the Beatles. It is my (not-so-secret) hope that listeners will conflate those comparisons on to me.

Like at the Movies – Lyrics
A woman who strokes her hair
or leafs quickly through her loves
and can’t remember
She’d like to be a redhead for a while
or slightly dead
or play a minor part in some other film

Now she disintegrates into fabrics and cutouts,
A woman’s leg taken by itself
She doesn’t want to be—
but to be made—
happy.
She wants to know what he’s thinking now
And she wants to cut the other woman
if there is one
right out of the film;
“snippity-snip”.

The action proceeds:
body damage, rain,
suspicion in the trunk.
Weekends leave imprints of men’s shorts.
Hairy-hairless,
Limbs limbs limbs.
A slap on the face
promises something
that later sounds real.

“You bastard”
“do you want to see the most beautiful thing I’ve ever felt?”
“it’s amazing”
“to be happy then is to suffer”
“you had me at hello”
“Just put your lips together and–blow”
“I want to kiss you”
“My Hero”
“I’m up there with Bach and Mozart?”
“Mmmmhmmm. And The Beatles”

Now she wants to get dressed again,
but first to be born out of foam
and stop smelling outlandish.
Skinny from eating too much yogurt,
Ilsebill weeps in the shower.

Credits
from Broken Glass Promenade, track released 15 June 2012

Track Credits
Produced by The StiKman
Composed by The StiKman with lyrics by Günter Grass
Arranged by The StiKman with Wally Scharold
Engineered and Mixed by The StiKman
Production consultant: Nicholas Dobson

The StiKman: Vocals, sound design,
Wally Scharold: Guitar and Vocals
Rob Reich: Keyboards and Vocals
James Whiton: Double Bass
John Brooks: Bass Guitar
Robin Reynolds: Cello and Vocals
Craig Dukes: Trap Drums

Basic tracks performed with My Hero :
The StiKman, Wally Scharold, Rob Reich, John Brooks, Robin Reynolds, Craig Dukes

James Whiton assumes the position!

Bink & her amazing cello

Rob Reich