Holiday

How's he gonna reconcile if she's born on this holiday while bombs burst in air to celebrate baby's fall to Earth? Maybe colors in the sky at night will be enough to amplify the joy in a mixed emotion baby birth.

Her Papa picked a good one – he was born on Mama's Day while San Francisco marched for Huey's freedom at the nation's door. Baby coulda dropped on Juneteenth for her Daddy, but six-one-nine is sometimes as false to him as seven-four.

Is it a holiday if Alice don't celebrate, if Alice don't even need one? Is this a holy day or a trample the lowly day - a mockery of true freedom?

As if to please her Daddy, she does not arrive on the holiday while bombs burst in air on this Fourth of July. Daddy puts an ear to Mama's belly and baby answers all of his questions. She's singing: "This is a new day! So look to the sky. Just as these colors fall to Earth and four fades into five, Daddy, days can change in meaning over time."

'So much for the blah blah blahs'

Truly, there are no accidents.

I had this riff on a minidisc for a year. The only words I could come up with were:

Blah blah blah blah blah.... on this holiday.

Couldn't develop it at all beyond that.

At all!

The 'holiday' words came out so easily, I wondered if I was copping it from somewhere.

But I couldn't develop anything beyond that. Couldn't even fill in the blah blah blahs.

So it sat there. For a year.

Arrogance and hubris

Fast forward to July 2, 2003.

I'm thinking of minidiscing the tunes to record at Larry's. At this point, I'm not sure if I'm doing it solo or with the band. It's starting to come together thematically.

And it's a distraction from the obvious:

The kid is due today.

July 2, 2003.

We're waiting for something dramatic. Water breaking. What have you.

So we sit. And wait. And wait. And wait.

I need a distraction.

So why not quick record some of these songs to minidisc? Before the kid drops. While I still have some time to think straight? While I still have some time?

Got to find a blank minidisc.

Here's one. Unlabeled. Maybe -

Blah blah blah blah blah.... on this holiday.

There are no accidents.

Cuz we're coming right on a holiday. The Fourth of July. Independence Day.

And I've about had it with the fair-weather patriotism.

The blind patriotism.

The arrogance. The hubris.

American flag t-shirts made by children in Thailand.

Plastic flags on cars cutting me off, drivers angrilly honking at me when I've got the right of way.

A nation of angry, impatient 'me me me' children.

Where's the 'united we stand' in that?

And right now I've got this feeling the kid is going to be a Fourth of July baby.

Don't get me wrong. I love America. Can't picture myself living anywhere else.

But right then, I was angry at her.

Mad at her for ignoring the wishes of the entire world.

For dropping bombs again.

For abusing freedoms in the name of freedom.

For not learning anything from the mistakes of the past.

For freedom fries.

Like a spoiled child.

Hell, I'm still angry at her.

How's he gonna reconcile if she's born on this holiday?

So much for the blah blah blahs.

It comes so quickly. So easily.

Then a reference to Joni's Night Ride Home.

It's easy.

Her papa picked a good one

It's even easier once it hits me that I, myself, was born on a holiday.

Mother's Day. 1969.

Anything significant happen on this day in history?

A quick search reveals the text of a speech by Bobby Seale in front of the federal building in San Francisco, addressing a rally to free Huey Newton.

etext.org/Politics/MIM/bpp/bpp110569_11.htm

pbs.org/hueypnewton/actions/actions_freehuey.html

There are no accidents.

It's getting too dark. So how to end it?

With the joy and optimism and innocence of the child.

Speaking to her Daddy from the womb.

Days can change in meaning over time.

Like great Caesar

Zoe took her time: we had to go in and get her on July 17. 15 days late.

From [her] mother's womb/Untimely ripp'd.

Go ask Alice

So who's Alice?

A friend's mom who doesn't have time to waste for hypocritical celebrations.

You may know her.


	BABYLON \| about \| see \| read \| hear \| get \| bryanthomas.com
	READ \| around1 \| breathe \| nerve \| babylon \| so \| holiday \| around2 \|
	Holiday How's he gonna reconcile if she's born on this holiday while bombs burst in air to celebrate baby's fall to Earth? Maybe colors in the sky at night will be enough to amplify the joy in a mixed emotion baby birth. Her Papa picked a good one – he was born on Mama's Day while San Francisco marched for Huey's freedom at the nation's door. Baby coulda dropped on Juneteenth for her Daddy, but six-one-nine is sometimes as false to him as seven-four. Is it a holiday if Alice don't celebrate, if Alice don't even need one? Is this a holy day or a trample the lowly day - a mockery of true freedom? As if to please her Daddy, she does not arrive on the holiday while bombs burst in air on this Fourth of July. Daddy puts an ear to Mama's belly and baby answers all of his questions. She's singing: "This is a new day! So look to the sky. Just as these colors fall to Earth and four fades into five, Daddy, days can change in meaning over time."	'So much for the blah blah blahs' Truly, there are no accidents. I had this riff on a minidisc for a year. The only words I could come up with were: Blah blah blah blah blah.... on this holiday. Couldn't develop it at all beyond that. At all! The 'holiday' words came out so easily, I wondered if I was copping it from somewhere. But I couldn't develop anything beyond that. Couldn't even fill in the blah blah blahs. So it sat there. For a year. Arrogance and hubris Fast forward to July 2, 2003. I'm thinking of minidiscing the tunes to record at Larry's. At this point, I'm not sure if I'm doing it solo or with the band. It's starting to come together thematically. And it's a distraction from the obvious: The kid is due today. July 2, 2003. We're waiting for something dramatic. Water breaking. What have you. So we sit. And wait. And wait. And wait. I need a distraction. So why not quick record some of these songs to minidisc? Before the kid drops. While I still have some time to think straight? While I still have some time? Got to find a blank minidisc. Here's one. Unlabeled. Maybe - Blah blah blah blah blah.... on this holiday. There are no accidents. Cuz we're coming right on a holiday. The Fourth of July. Independence Day. And I've about had it with the fair-weather patriotism. The blind patriotism. The arrogance. The hubris. American flag t-shirts made by children in Thailand. Plastic flags on cars cutting me off, drivers angrilly honking at me when I've got the right of way. A nation of angry, impatient 'me me me' children. Where's the 'united we stand' in that? And right now I've got this feeling the kid is going to be a Fourth of July baby. Don't get me wrong. I love America. Can't picture myself living anywhere else. But right then, I was angry at her. Mad at her for ignoring the wishes of the entire world. For dropping bombs again. For abusing freedoms in the name of freedom. For not learning anything from the mistakes of the past. For freedom fries. Like a spoiled child. Hell, I'm still angry at her. How's he gonna reconcile if she's born on this holiday? So much for the blah blah blahs. It comes so quickly. So easily. Then a reference to Joni's Night Ride Home. It's easy. Her papa picked a good one It's even easier once it hits me that I, myself, was born on a holiday. Mother's Day. 1969. Anything significant happen on this day in history? A quick search reveals the text of a speech by Bobby Seale in front of the federal building in San Francisco, addressing a rally to free Huey Newton. etext.org/Politics/MIM/bpp/bpp110569_11.htm pbs.org/hueypnewton/actions/actions_freehuey.html There are no accidents. It's getting too dark. So how to end it? With the joy and optimism and innocence of the child. Speaking to her Daddy from the womb. Days can change in meaning over time. Like great Caesar Zoe took her time: we had to go in and get her on July 17. 15 days late. From [her] mother's womb/Untimely ripp'd. Go ask Alice So who's Alice? A friend's mom who doesn't have time to waste for hypocritical celebrations. You may know her.