11/06/09

When I was a kid I loved reading books by Shel Silverstein. My mom supported my obsession by making sure I was the first kid on the block to have not only a first edition copy of anything he published, but a signed copy at that. As I grew older I never outgrew Shel. I actually have a copy of The Giving Tree taking its rightful place alongside Death & Taxes, Nylon, and Ghettoblaster next to my toilet in the case that someone may need to do a little light reading while in the bathroom. Now in my mid-twenties I have come to believe that my interest in his work should have been an obvious foreshadowing of my inclination towards experimentation with various mind-altering substances that began in my early twenties. Shel penned songs for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show as well as Johnny Cash. The characters in these songs participate in everything from smoking a joint to being involved in an incestuous orgy that includes a little necrophilia for good measure. I had know idea where all my wonderful habits had originated. I guess when Shel opened my mind during childhood, he set the tone for opening my mind in the future. I'm not really going anywhere with this, but I'll include the lyrics to one of his songs for your enjoyment.

-molina

"Freakin' at the Freakers Ball"
Shel Silverstein
performed by: Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show

Well there's gonna be a freaker's ball (ha ha)
Tonight at the Freaker's Hall
And you know you're invited one and all
Uh oh

Come on baby's grease your lips
Grab your hats and swing your hips
And don't forget to bring your whips
We're going to the freaker's ball (yes)

Blow your whistle, and bang your gong
Roll up something to take along
It feels so good, it must be wrong
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball

Well all the fags and the dykes they're boogie-in' together
The leather freaks are dressed in all kinds of leather
The greatest of the sadists and the masochists too
Screaming please hit me and I'll hit you

The FBI is dancin' with the junkies
All the straights, swingin' with the funkies
Across the floor and up the wall
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball, y'all
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball

Everybody's kissing each other
Brother with sister, son with mother
Smear my body up with butter
And take me to the freaker's ball

Pass that roach please, and pour the wine
I'll kiss yours if you'll kiss mine
I'm gonna boogie 'til I'm cold blind
Freakin' at the freaker's ball

White ones, black ones, yellow ones, red ones
Necrophiliacs looking for dead ones
The greatest of the sadists and the masochists too
Screaming please hit me and I'll hit you

Everybody ballin' in batches
Pyromaniacs strikin' matches
I'm gonna itch me where it scratches
Freakin' at the freaker's ball, y'all
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball

We're at a ball
We're freakin' at the freaker's ball