Free the drummer
Let him out
I can't even talk about
How long he's been locked away
I wonder if he's still able to play
I woke up in the morning and I said to my wife, “Well, I’ve done everything and some things twice.” And as I took another sip of my morning brew, she said, ‘I can think of one thing you never do.” She said, “ you never play drums like you used to do. “ I thought about it for a minute, I said, “you know, that’s true. Let’s get in the car and go.”
We took a ride down to the music store, I said, “hello sir, I know I look poor, but I saved a little cash so I can buy a set of drums, I used to play a lot and I know it sounds dumb, but I’d like to start up again.” He said, “right this way.”
“I sat down behind a shiny new kit, the bass drum said “LUDWIG” and I said, “shit, you don’t even need to hand me a stick.” I said, “this is the one I’m gonna pick. “ So I handed the man some cash. “Throw it in the truck, Daddy-o.”
The minute I got home I set em up in my room, the snare drum went CRACK the bass drum went BOOM, the cymbals vibrated my neck and spine, I opened up a bottle of Burgundy wine, I said, “this sounds alright to me.” And I started to feel free.
I was playing 6/8, I was playing 4/4, until I heard a bunch of knocks on my front door, when I opened it up, I saw it was the cops, they said, “you’re playing too loud and you gotta stop.” I said, “you don’t understand, officer. I ain’t hurting no one.”
I shut the door and I went on my way, but they just knocked again when they heard me play, and this time they were mad.
I said, “what in the world did I do this time? As far as I know playing drums ain’t a crime.” They said, “your crime is disturbing the peace.” I said, “no my crime is disturbing police.”
They put me in cuffs.
They took me away.
I guess it wasn’t my day.
Beautiful reflections on family, grief, and indigenous identity from CHamoru-American indie rock/post-punk artist Rosa Bordallo. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 24, 2019