Titanic Days

I just know

Though I can't see

But I can feel his hands all over me

His hot breath on me

I can't resist

His rope, My wrists

I never knew there might be days like this

Dream on he says

Dream on he says

Will I be saved

From these Titanic days?

A violent frenzy

In a none too cheap hotel

He says it's hazy

But I remember it so well

His arms, his face

The way my words got twisted out of place

Dream on he says

Dream on he always says

It's sink or swim

In these Titanic days

Note:  Has there ever been anything like Titanic Days?  Or its creator Kirsty MacColl?  Reading Julien Torma's disturbing but funny writing over the past several days made me think of her and this song, although truth be told, she's rarely out of listening range at our house.  Caroline and I were lucky enough to see Kirsty perform live once, a year or two before she died, at Tramps on East 21st Street in New York.  The place was packed and the crowd exuded lively, palpable anticipation.  The band (featuring stalwart guitarist Pete Glenister) emerged and began playing Titanic Days. Kirsty, following close behind and clearly suffering from her famous stage fright, turned the performance into a rushed mess, ruining the rhythmic edifice of the song.  Conscious of this and clearly embarrassed, she immediately rose to the occasion by making a funny, self-deprecating remark, and with Pete and the band's help, completed a gorgeous, tough performance of the gorgeous, tough highlights in her music catalogue.  It only let down slightly at the very end when she performed The Ramones' I Wanna Be Sedated as her encore number.  No one can really cover Ramones songs, but the witty song choice alone made up for any deficiencies.  There is a link for the Titanic Days studio recording in the final line of lyrics above.  HERE is a link for an excerpt from a BBC television program featuring interviews with Johnny Marr of The Smiths and Billy Bragg discussing various aspects of Kirsty's art and life and their friendship and working relationship with her.

Beautiful.  Must have been fun!