Uno dei miei artisti preferiti in assoluto è JJ Cale. Lo è per una marea di ragioni, dalla immobile bellezza delle sue canzoni al sofisticatissimo sound dei suoi brani, chiamato in suo onore The Tulsa Sound – un mix davvero intricato di microparti a incastro: JJ cura personalmente registrazioni e missaggi dei suoi dischi. Mi piace da pazzi anche la sua voce, e spesso mi attirano i suoi testi, come questo che è un inno totale – anche alla “maturità”. Si chiama Days go by, è tratto dall’album Guitar Man del ’96. Per ascoltarlo cliccate qui: è un video di Youtube, con immagini che non c’entrano nulla col testo, che invece dice:
When you light that funny cigarette, would you pass it back to me?
I’m feeling a little down and out, it’ll keep me company
I’m just a long lost sinner living life here on the line
I’ll give it right back to you, I know it’s not really mine
Now don’t put it out, not right yet, it’s burning pretty good
Maybe I’ll have one more toke, you think I should?
OO-oo, days go by
I just sit around and get real high
OO-oo, what a glow
I just hang out, they come and go
Hey, the walls are starting to move, the floor is way down there
What a buzz it is, there’s electricity in the air
Boy, I’m feeling really gone, I’m feeling really cool
I think I’ll have another one, I’m just another fool
You know they say it’s illegal, what isn’t these days
No matter what you do there’ll be somebody on your case
OO-oo, days go by
It just seems like I sit around and get high
OO-oo, shame on me
They’re going to put me in a penitentiary
I must not be together, look at the shape I’m in
I just know people are saying “He’s looking awful thin”
I guess I can count my blessings though I’ve always been this way
I guess I’ll quit tomorrow, maybe another day
OO-oo, days go by
I guess I’ll sit around and get real high
You know time has no absolute, it’s a just seems like it’s spent
Everything has a tendency to be so warped and bent
While looking here and there I’m surprised to see
Everybody’s gone here, everybody’s gone but me
OO-oo, days go by
I just sit around and get real high
OO-oo, what a glow
I just hang out, they come and go
Dopo averlo ascoltato, se siete d’accordo con me che è un grande, potete vedere questo fantastico pezzetto di video in cui JJ mostra “the piece of machinery I earn my living with” (visibile anche nella foto): semplicemente meraviglioso.