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Tales of the Weird and Fantastic

from How It Is Nowadays by Mailbox

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about

I made an effort with this album to write as many new songs as possible. Half of "What's In The Box?" was anywhere from 5 to 9 years old. That said, "Tales of the Weird and Fantastic" was written in 1990. The verses and choruses are just as they were back then but I added the new orchestral introduction in 1999 when it was in the running for inclusion on "WITB?". The middle section ("When I was young") was added about a year ago when I first presented it to the band. I knew it needed more and I remembered another piece (I think it was called "Revolution de l'Orange) which was an instrumental thing I wrote in 1989. I added the lyrics recently to fit the music.

A demo version of "Tales" (pre-middle section) appeared on Pickle Radio a while ago with my old man voice through the whole thing. I love that take but it just wasn't right for this album.

lyrics

I'll never have to leave the house again
I'll watch through a periscope in my den
The pigeons and crows think it's Pearl Harbor

And now the girls don't change their maiden name
and all the boys' in-laws and folks are the same
I swear, the kids these days with their "fast" and their "Microwave"

It's not my fault I refuse to take the blame
It wouldn't matter if it all went half insane

Mr. Stout has married a mannequin
Mr. Cutler is chasing the cat again
Then their kids gun down Moadel's boy with red spray paint

Old maid Morten still sunbathes nude
The village idiot sneak a view
The pigeons and crows think it's Pearl Harbor

I don't see the light, I don't read walls
I try not to use my eyes at all
It's not my fault I refuse to take the blame
It doesn't matter when it's all just a game

I could tell you tales of the weird and fantastic
But unless you live in a hole
It'll be nothing drastic

My memory ain't what it used to be
At least not what I remember it to be
So now although I'm old everything is news to me.

I don't see the light, I don't read walls
I try not to use my eyes at all
It's not my fault I refuse to take the blame
It doesn't matter when it's all just a game

When I was young
and life was good
We never spied upon the those in our neighborhood

Now times have changed
It's not just me
I can see a stranger life where nicer times have stood

The future ain't what it used to be
And all good things must come to an end
So remember the way we humor our friends.

I could tell you tales of the weird and fantastic
But unless you live in a hole
It'll be nothing drastic
The end of time is always drawing near
So could someone point me the way out of here?

credits

from How It Is Nowadays, released October 31, 2003
music: Adam Rabin
lyrics: Adam Rabin

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Adam Rabin Burlington

Where Prog Rock meets Geek Rock. Adam Rabin is a Vermont songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who has also played with Elephants of Scotland, Mailbox, and musical improv troupe She Thicc. You can also hear Adam’s music on the podcasts: Improvised Weapons, Improv Overdrive, What The Hell Are You Watching, and Vermont Favorites. ... more

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