Laurie Anderson: Language Is A Virus
One of my favorite performance artists is genius Laurie Anderson. I discovered and appreciated her blend of music and showmanship while attending an ultra-liberal arts university; not sure why, but the Germans absolutely love her style. It's best to listen to her stuff in the wee hours when you're just lucid enough to understand the words but about to enter dream-land.
- Laurie Anderson: Language Is A Virus
(performance of a William S. Burroughs poem of the same title)
Paradise
Is exactly like
Where you are right now
Only much much
Better.
I saw this guy on the train
And he seemed to gave gotten stuck
In one of those abstract trances.
And he was going: "Ugh...Ugh...Ugh..."
And Fred said:
"I think he's in some kind of pain.
I think it's a pain cry."
And I said: "Pain cry?
Then language is a virus."
Language! It's a virus!
Language! It's a virus!
Well I was talking to a friend
And I was saying:
I wanted you.
And I was looking for you.
But I couldn't find you. I couldn't find you.
And he said: Hey!
Are you talking to me?
Or are you just practicing
For one of those performances of yours?
Huh?
Language! It's a virus!
Language! It's a virus!
He said: I had to write that letter to your mother.
And I had to tell the judge that it was you.
And I had to sell the car and go to Florida.
Because that's just my way of saying (It's a charm.)
That I love you. And I (It's a job.)
Had to call you at the crack of dawn (Why?)
And list the times that I've been wrong.
Cause that's just my way of saying
That I'm sorry. (It's a job.)
Language! It's a virus!
Language! It's a virus!
Paradise
Is exactly like
Where you are right now
Only much much (It's a shipwreck,)
Better. (It's a job.)
You know? I don't believe there's such
a thing as TV. I mean -
They just keep showing you
The same pictures over and over.
And when they talk they just make sounds
That more or less synch up
With their lips.
That's what I think!
Language! It's a virus!
Language! It's a virus!
Language! It's a virus!
Well I dreamed there was an island
That rose up from the sea.
And everybody on the island
Was somebody from TV.
And there was a beautiful view
But nobody could see.
Cause everybody on the island
Was saying: Look at me! Look at me!
Look at me! Look at me!
Because they all lived on an island
That rose up from the sea.
And everybody on the island
Was somebody from TV.
And there was a beautiful view
But nobody could see.
Cause everybody on the island
Was saying: Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!
Look at me! Look at me! Why?
Paradise is exactly like
Where you are right now
Only much much better.
# # #
previous 10 posts:
- We are Children of the Eighties
- Links and Bookmarks
- My Guestbook
- Someone Said It First
- Eyes on the World
- Not All Words Are Created Equal
- Perfect Dinner Guests ...
- Starting ...
