FRIDAY RANDOM TEN

It’s Friday. Not just any Friday, but the last Friday of 2008...which makes this the last Friday Random Ten post of the year. Whoop-de-do.

It’s quiet at Chez Elisson. Almost too quiet. After having our nephew William and niece Madison here for the greater part of a week, the house seems empty and desolate after their departure an hour ago.

Perhaps some Randomly Selected Tunage will help fill the void. Let’s see what the iPod d’Elisson is pooping out this week:

1. Three Is A Green Crown - The Incredible String Band
   
   It’s hard to explain The Incredible String Band to anyone who wasn’t around in the late 1960’s...and even to those who were.
   
   Not with the lips of skin
   Nor yet with the lips of dark snow
   But let the white dove sing
   Of the body of life
   Of the lover whose love is complete
   Hold hands out to greet, ah
   Let not the swan be brought low
   
   For all that is moving is moved by her hands
   She is mirrored forever in the life of the lands
   In the building of thoughts in the shifting sands
   
   Life life remembering
   
   Well here you are now, O now you are here
   Well how has it been so far
   The hair and the fur
   Lemons, frankincense, and myrrh
   
   For all that is moving is moved by her hands
   She is mirrored for ever in the life of the lands
   In the building of thoughts in the shifting sands
   
   Let the cracked crystal raindrop be merged in the sea
   Silent shining thoughtless free
   But close your eyes to find the golden flower
   And open them to see the sunshine shower
   Where the flowers are free and the fishes ask
   Ah what can water be
   
   She beareth thought, she beareth visions
   Speaking truth in contradictions
   Dreams of pain, dreams of laughter
   And every action follows after
   
   O second self, O gate of the soft mystery
   I’ll love you if you’ll love me; O guide me
   With the gold of Gabriel’s wing. Grant me the tongue
   That all the earth does sing
   Vibrating light forever one the sun
   The book of life is open to us
   There’ll be no secrets left between us
   
   
2. Uf Dem Anger - Chramer, Gip Die Varwe Mir - Christian Thielemann, Orff: Carmina Burana
   
   
3. Buy, Buy American Pie - The Capitol Steps
   
   
4. Levine Mit Zayn Flying Machine - Charles Cohan
   
   The story of the other guy that crossed the Atlantic.
   
   
5. Bukharester Bulgar - The Klezmer Conservatory Band
   
   
6. Holy Ground - The Klezmatics
   
   
7. Chop ’Em Down - Matisyahu
   
   Matisyahu: a most appropriate artist for the season.
   
   
8. Us and Them - Frankie Paul
   
   From “Dub Side of the Moon,” a reggae tribute to the similarly-named Pink Floyd album.
   
   
9. There Is Life Outside Your Apartment - Avenue Q, Original Broadway Cast
   
   
10. Fugue #7 in E flat major (from The Well-Tempered Clavier) - Wendy Carlos
    
    

It’s Friday. What are you listening to?