Maybe I am a dinosaur.
Lyrics to songs
weren’t always available
instantly
from Google
or Soundhound.
Many of my CDs and cassette tapes – yeah, yeah, dinosaur –
came without printed lyrics.
But I heard enough to know
I identified with them,
so I had to know what the exact words were.
I would play a song over
and over
listening intently
to every.
single.
word.
Even then, they weren’t always clear,
so I would put headphones on
play the song
write a few words down
rewind
write a few more
rewind
edit
then listen to it all together
to make sure what I wrote
made sense.
I remember sitting in the dark
lying on my bed
or on the roof outside my window
staring at the ceiling
or the stars
and listening
until I essentially had the song memorized.
I felt like I was back in the land of Fred and Dino* last night.
At least the songs were digital;
I didn’t have to stop the tape
and rewind.
But the lyrics still weren’t on the internet.
This is 2012.
Seriously?
Okay, okay,
I guess it was a little fun
sitting in the dark
with only the computer screen to light the room
listening to songs I enjoy
that have something to say
letting them soak in
while I tried to make sure
I could accurately write down
every word,
so I wouldn’t get anything wrong.
Maybe it’s superfluous
wasteful.
But I was engaged
interested
provoked to something
as I listened
and paid attention to the exact words
that were inundating me.
And now I actually know those words that have been
subconsciously
entering my brain,
which (I think)
is essential.
*The Flinstones ©1960-1966