One Track Mind #5: Moon Shadow

"This song is really weird, dad? What's it about?"

Al Green - What's It All About?

This is the kind of question that fills me with joy, because if Sam cares what a song is about, he's clearly engaging with it. In the case of Moon Shadow though... I really don't have an answer. I have an idea... but it's not one that Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam or Steven Demetre Georgiou appears to agree with. Neither is it an interpretation I see echoed by online "experts". Does this mean I'm wrong?

Putney Bridge - What's It All About?

Any number of poets, writers and lyricists will tell you that when they let their words out into the wild, it's not up to them to enforce an interpretation on the audience. Some writers actively refuse to discuss the "message" behind their stories, preferring to allow the individual reader or listener to infer their own meanings. Sylvia Plath wrote...

"Once a poem is made available to the public, the right of interpretation belongs to the reader..."

Run DMC - What's It All About?

Nick Cave agrees, saying that when he writes songs, he wants his listeners to come to their own conclusions. He refuses to "take away their power by attaching my own meaning to them". 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - We Call Upon the Author

This is the power of art - we add our own connotations, beliefs, prejudices, life experiences and emotions when we consume it. As I often tell my students: in English, there are no right answers. You just need to be able to explain your own interpretation so that it makes sense to someone else. They might not agree with you, they just need to be able to see how you've arrived at your conclusions. 

The Sundays - What Do You Think?

Moon Shadow, then, is not - for me, at least - "softly tailored folderol from Cat Stevens [which] shows his whimsical side". Nor does it persuade me to "See life as it is, right now, and [not] compare it to others' lives, or other times in your life." Neither am I convinced of any religious message behind the lyrics, despite Stevens' later conversion from Christianity to Islam. Although interestingly, when that conversion took place, Yusuf Islam stopped singing any of his old Cat Stevens songs... except this one, which he later claimed was his favourite. 

In 2009, Cat Stevens tried to explain Moon Shadow to Chris Isaak...

"I was on a holiday in Spain. I was a kid from the West End – bright lights, et cetera. I never got to see the moon on its own in the dark, there were always streetlamps. So there I was on the edge of the water on a beautiful night with the moon glowing, and suddenly I looked down and saw my shadow. I thought that was so cool, I'd never seen it before."

Chris Isaak - Dark Moon

Which all sounds very positive, doesn't it? Over on the tube of you, people agree. Some call it "the ultimate optimist song". "There's something about the imagery of total freedom and dancing under the moon," says an old 'hippie kid', "which appeals to my wild self." Another youtuber, who says the song got them through a very dark period, explains, "this song is like, 'No matter how dark it gets, it can always be worse... but there's always light". 

Labelle - Moon Shadow

If you want to consider alternative interpretations to songs, youtube is definitely the place to look. In the past week, quite a few American commenters have suggested Moon Shadow as "the official song of the 2024 solar eclipse". While someone else can be found reminiscing over the time it was used in an episode of Airwolf with Jan Michael Vincent. This was my favourite though...

"Now I know why Moonlight Shadow sounded better in my childhood. It was actually Moon Shadow!"

Mike Oldfield & Maggie Reilly - Moonlight Shadow

And let's not forget this quirky little reimagining: an animated fairy tale devised by Cat Stevens and narrated by Spike Milligan in which a boy and his cat attempt to rescue the moon when it falls out of the sky...

Faced with this overwhelming barrage of evidence that Moon Shadow is a sweet, life-affirming tune... am I the only one who finds it creepy? And by that, I mean creepy in a good way. Creepy in an excellent way!

Yes, I'm bein' followed by a moon shadow

Moon shadow, moon shadow

Leapin' and hoppin' on a moon shadow

Moon shadow, moon shadow

Have you ever seen the movie It Follows? To me, the Moon Shadow is like the monster from that film. Some kind of weird supernatural entity that's following Cat around, menacing him, threatening to rob him of his hands, his eyes, his legs and his mouth...

And if I ever lose my hands

Lose my plow, lose my land

Oh, if I ever lose my hands

Oh if, I won't have to work no more

And if I ever lose my eyes

If my colors all run dry

Yes, if I ever lose my eyes

Oh if, I won't have to cry no more

The interweb suggests all this graphic body horror is linked to the time Cat Stevens almost died from tuberculosis back in 1969. His recuperation led him to reconsider his spiritual side, and may well have spurred the fears voiced in this song.

And if I ever lose my legs

I won't moan, and I won't beg

Oh, if I ever lose my legs

Oh if, I won't have to walk no more

(Meanwhile, back on youtube, there's always some Debbie Downer ready to spoil the party...

"All I can think of is the videos I have watched from Palestinians. The boy with no arms, a missing leg (and a missing foot and ankle on the other side). Listening to this, the day after the opening of the trial in The Hague. That tragic genocide has ruined this song for me.")

And if I ever lose my mouth

All my teeth, north and south

Yes, if I ever lose my mouth

Oh if, I won't have to talk

It's great that Cat can remain so upbeat - defiant, even - while being pursued by this vicious phantom... but maybe that's because his motive isn't escape. Let's not forget, this Cat is armed and dangerous...

Cat Stevens - I'm Gonna Get Me A Gun

Oh yes. And here comes the Edgar Allen Poe twist... the Cat wants to get caught!

Did it take long to find me?

I asked the faithful light

Oh, did it take long to find me?

And are you gonna stay the night? 

Hooohahahahahahahaaa. Imagine those lines delivered in Vincent Price tones and maybe you'll get where I'm coming from. It's worth noting that Cat amps up his own delivery here, adopting a much more in-your-face singing style than the alluringly amiable tone he uses for the rest of the song. For me, that's the bit that confirms all my theories. Suddenly the tables are turned and the hunter becomes the prey. 

Cat Stevens - A Bad Night

"This song is really weird, dad? What's it about?"

It's about monsters, son. Monsters that want to eat - your hands, your eyes, your legs, your mouth. And it's about how to catch them... and make them pay.

Snapshots #326: A Top 15 Songs Celebrating Different Musical Genres

Sunday morning - time to visit the Temple! Your choice - the Shirley Temple... or the Temple of Snapshots!

Here are yesterday's answers - songs that mention different musical genres...

15. Lost your job? These guys can help you out financially.

The Dole - New Wave Love

14. $6,000,000 Steve goes to Skywalker Ranch.

Steve Austin was the $6,000,000 Man. George Lucas owns the Skywalker Ranch.

Austin Lucas - Easy Listening

13. A good thing, used by one of the gentlemen mentioned above.

Luke Skywalker used The Force.

Positive Force - We Got The Funk

12. Good at advising you how to put one foot in front of the other.

They taught us how to Walk This Way.

Run DMC - Roots, Rap, Reggae

11. What's on the other side?

Alternative TV - Punk Life

10. Carolyne hurt by a muddle.

"Carolyne hurt" is an anagram...

Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music

9. A friend of Allan Clarke.

Allan Clarke was in the Hollies. This was his buddy.

Buddy Holly - Rave On

8. Open All Hours.

Cornershop - Born Disco, Died Heavy Metal

7. Ghosts, demons, black magic...

The Supernaturals - Country Music

6. Could be Green, Poison or Broken.

The Arrows - I Love Rock n Roll

5. Tyne Henchmen Abound.

Anagram!

Echo & The Bunnymen - All That Jazz

4. Winnie's glue gun.

Pooh... sticks.

The Pooh Sticks - Indie Pop Ain't Noise Pollution 

3. The capital of Manchester.

M is the capital letter of Manchester. This is Robin Scott, aka...

M - Pop Muzik

2. Just the job for me!

In case you didn't know it, I am an English Teacher.

English Teacher - R&B

1. A soggy mass.

Pulp - Disco 2000

There will be another eclectic mix of genres next Saturday...

Celebrity Jukebox #3: Peter Lorre

"Wondering who else is going to pop up in this series now," said Alyson in last week's comments. "I know of one song where Peter Lorre is mentioned but surely there can't be many more. Maybe time to prove me wrong."

Well, I do like a challenge. And Casablanca was on TV this weekend... though Lorre has a better role in The Maltese Falcon, in my humble opinion. He and Bogie were mates, apparently. 

Let's see if I can find the song Alyson was referring to...

Could it be this?

Lou Reed & Metallica - Brandenburg Gate

I would cut my legs and tits off

When I think of Boris Karloff and Kinski

In the dark of the moon

It made me dream of Nosferatu

Trapped on the isle of Doctor Moreau

Oh wouldn't it be lovely

Hang on, Lou. It's Peter Lorre we're looking for, not those guys...

I was thinking Peter Lorre

When things got pretty gory as I

Crossed to the Brandenburg Gate

I was feeling snappy perhaps I'd been napping

As I just ate

A following heart can tear you apart

On a midnight to eight shift

A graveyard romance can only give one chance

As the tombstones weave and breathe

That'll do.

Do you know what? I've never heard that before. But I like it far more than I expected to.

This one, on the other hand, has actually featured on this blog before...

Kurtis Blow & Run DMC - 8 Million Stories

You wake up in the morning and you're feelin' blue

Because Vicki is gone and your money is too

She's more sinister than Peter Lorre

And this is just two of 8 million stories

Probably not the one Alyson was referring to though. Are there any songs actually named after Mr. Lorre? Turn out: yes... this one even has 80 views on youtube!

The World/Inferno Friendship Society - Peter Lorre

This one, however, actually comes from my own record collection...

Peter Lorre, Peter Lorre 

He's a brick, he's a brick

You can count on him in trouble 

Even if it's really thick

Any crisis, he'll be there 

Like a little squidgy bear

Peter Lorre, Peter Lorre 

He's a brick

Peter Lorre, Peter Lorre 

Runs a nightclub way downtown

Peter Lorre, Peter Lorre 

Always wears a evil frown

Don't spit on his shoes 

Or mess up his hair

Or he will shoot you dead 

And go back upstairs

A real gentleman

Never bad and never rude

Never mad and never crude

Just like Sydney Greenstreet

Just like Sydney... Green...street

In any crisis he'll be there

Like a little squidgy bear

That's Peter Lorre, not Sydney Greenstreet

You know I'm going to declare that today's winner, don't you? Even though it's not the song Alyson was referring to. Let's call that a worthy runner-up...

On a morning from a Bogart movie

In a country where they turn back time

You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre

Contemplating a crime

Sorry, Alyson!

My Top Ten Vote Trump Out Songs

Flashback 4 years to early November 2016, and here's the post I offered in response to Donald Trump being elected President of the USA.

It seems impossible, after everything that has happened in the past 4 years, that Trump will be re-elected next Tuesday. But it seemed impossible that he'd be elected in the first place. And it seems impossible that he hasn't been impeached and thrown in jail a long time ago. It seems impossible than anyone would still vote for him.

But we live in impossible times.

Here are ten songs I hope will make a difference.

We do what we can...

10. Franz Ferdinand - Demagogue

He's a demagogue
Check out his rise
He's a demagogue
He's fatally famous
He's a demagogue
He plays with my fears
A demagogue
My shadow side dreaming
The demagogue
It feels so good to be dumb

From the wall straight to la cuenta
Those pussy grabbing fingers
Won't let go of me now
Demagogue
The demagogue

9. Todd Rundgren & Donald Fagen - Tin Foil Hat

He's coming down the escalator
With a girl from east of here
He wants to make the country greater
We've got nothing left to fear

Because the man in the tin foil hat
Is sitting on the throne tonight
It kinda feels like a coup d'etat
But it's gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that

'Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is tweeting like a teenage girl
He puts the Pluto in plutocrat
But it's gonna be a huge huge huge new world
He hasn't got the time for losers
Unless they do as he commands
He's writing checks to his accusers
With those tiny little hands

'Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is gonna drain the swamp tonight
And fill it up with alternative facts
And it's gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that

8.  Run DMC - Remove 45

What we need to do... we need to arrest the president!

7. Billy Bragg - The Times They Are A' Changin' Back

Come Mexicans, Muslims, LGBT and Jews

Keep your eyes wide for what’s on the news

For President Trump is express his views

And I that the mob he’s inside in

We’ll soon break your windows

Burn down your schools

For the times they are a changin' back

6. Bruce Springsteen & Joe Grushecky

Don't tell me a lie

And sell it as a fact

I've been down that road before

And I ain't goin' back

And don't you brag to me

That you never read a book

I never put my faith

In a con man and his crooks

5. John Grant - Smug Cunt

Now you're just a smug cunt

Who doesn't even do his own stunts

They just let you in 'cos you won't shut up

Protein's flying off the shelves

Panties ain't gonna wet themselves

They just let you play 'cos you won't shut up

Here's to acting like a little boy

Masturbating with expensive toys

They just let you play 'cos you won't shut up

4. Will Hoge - Gilded Walls

Oh and I don't believe in the devil
But you might make me go and change my mind
You can see this whole damn world get leveled and not even lose track of time
Inside your gilded walls that shine

Well another group of kids in high schools dead
But you're still at your golf course teeing off at nine
People marching in the streets trying to find a little peace
You sit around spouting awful shit online

Well you've always been the same
You ain't ever gonna change
But I know it's gonna all catch up with you in time
And there's a pot of gold from all the dreams you stole
Inside your gilded walls that shine

3. Public Enemy - State Of The Union

Whatever it takes, rid this dictator

POTUS my tail, Ass debater

Prime-time Preemo, rhyme-time crime

Like no other in this lifetime

White house killer, dead in lifelines

Vote this joke out, or die tryin'

Unprecedented, demented, many president'd

Nazi Gestapo dictator defended

It's not what you think, it's what you follow

Run for them jewels, drink from that bottle

Another four years gonna gut y'all hollow

Gutted out, dried up, broke and can't borrow

Mister, I am the law and you are not

In fact, I'm god, I got a lot

Mister these united breaks takeover come over

Orange hair, fear the comb-over

Here's another scare, keep them hands in the air

Better not breathe, you dare not dare

Don't say nothing, don't think nothing

Make America great again the middle just love it

When he wanna talk, walk y'all straight to them ovens

Human beings of color, yeah we be sufferin'

2. Karine Polwart - I Burn but I Am Not Consumed

On May 11th 1930, Mary Anne Macleod, from Tong on The Isle of Lewis, boarded the RMS Transylvania from Glasgow to New York City, in search of a better life. There, she fell in love with Frederick, whose father had come to America from Germany as a 16 year old barber. 

The couple raised five children. 

Mary Anne’s middle son would return years later to Scotland, home of his MacLeod ancestors, whose clan motto is: I burn but I am not consumed.  And here - in the name of progress and profit - and executive golf - he would pit himself against time and tide. In his wake, the shifting sands at Balmedie in Aberdeenshire would never be the same. 

That son of Mary Anne MacLeod is powerful. 

So too is The North Sea. 

The marbled, metamorphic rock of Lewis is two-thirds the age of Earth - amongst the very oldest found on our planet. It knows about power. It’s seen a lot. And so I wondered: what might that rock of Lewis have to say about the Inauguration - tomorrow in Washington DC - of the 45th President of the United States of America - Mary Anne’s middle son? This is what the rock told me. 

Oh son of Lewis, lonely boy, 

hewn from granite, salt and sky 

upon a foreign shore: 

the ocean is a mirror gleam 

in which you see yourself, 

and nothing more. 

  

Three billion years of gravity, 

of strata forged in fire and earth, 

the stone crib of your mother’s birth, 

in which your forebears lie. 

I am alive. I am a tomb. 

I burn, but I am not consumed. 

I burn, but I am not consumed. 

  

Fish may swim at your command 

across The Atlantic to the land 

of dreams and self belief and boundless chance. 

An exile tale. An immigrant dance. 

You’re captain of a frigate now, 

So set your compass, raise the mast, 

Blow up the sails, 

Erase the past, and future, if you must. 

Together we can stand 

and watch the peat-land turn to dust. 

  

This is your apprenticeship: 

The Gulf Stream doesn’t know your name, 

nor does the splendid, blazing sun 

that alters how the currents run. 

The North wind never heard you roar: 

You’re fired! You’re fired! 

My back might burn, the blaze run wild, 

but I am not consumed, my child. 

  

The Minch whips up a spindrift storm. 

The machair shifts. The machair moans. 

At Uig Bay and Luskentyre, 

the gale blows fast, the tide flows higher. 

The shore erodes and disappears. 

And, meantime, you are stoking fears 

and stacking hope into a pyre. 

You strike a match. 

  

Oh ma bairn, mo leanaibh         

Oh ma bairn, mo leanaibh 

  

Your mother was a wee girl once, 

who played upon my rocky shore. 

And you, you are broken boy, 

and you want more and more and more. 

You build a tower. You build a wall, 

You live in fear that they might fall. 

You who see nothing but your face 

in the sheen of The Hudson River. 

  

Oh ma bairn, mo leanaibh 

Oh ma bairn, mo leanaibh 

  

A balancing is yet to come, 

although by then you may be gone 

and leave a desert to your sons and daughters. 

Still, these waters, they will rise, 

the North Sea haar will cover your eyes, 

despite your appetite for lies. 

your disregard  for truth. 

  

Three billion years of gravity, 

of strata forged in fire and earth, 

the stone crib of your mother’s birth, 

in which your forebears lie. 

I am alive. I am a tomb. 

I burn, but I am not consumed. 

I burn, but I am not consumed. 

1. Chuck Prophet - Get Off The Stage

Me, I’m just one man

Up on the stage I make my stand

Yes, it’s true, I have a band

Up here behind me

While you, you’ve got your crew

And the Secret Service too

And your wife from the EU

But you’re no good at rhyming

So hey, get down off that stage

We’ve heard everything you’ve got to say

You’ve been calling all the shots

You’ve got us all tied up in knots

C’mon man, get off the stage

Now me, I spend half of my life

In an Econoline van

With my band and my wife

And when she steps up to the mic

I’ve seen grown men burst out crying

While you, you’ve got an ugly mouth

You got no heart at all,

Except for your Russian pal

You’re an obstruction in democracy’s bowel

And the patient is dying

So come down off that stage

Please get off the stage

Come on down and take a seat

We’ll put some John Prine on repeat

All we’re asking is get off the stage

If you were an automobile

You’d be out of gas

With four flat tires and a smog check

That’s never gonna pass

If you were a pair of socks

You’d be full of holes

You’re one bad hombre

So why don’t you just turn around

And go home

And maybe do something with that hair

Take a walk in the park

Visit a renaissance fair

You’re headed for prison, you know

But don’t be scared

The first time is the hardest

Just get down off that stage

We’ve heard everything you’ve got to say

Take a book down off the shelf

Try to love somebody else

Whatever you do, just get off the stage

My Top Ten Hard Times Songs

Without realising he'd done it, Charity Chic threw down the gauntlet yesterday when he chose three fine songs about Hard Times.

Here's another ten... and I still had to leave out the Human League! Sorry, Brian. (I also had to leave out Kiss, but I imagine you'll be less upset by that.)


10. Run DMC - Hard Times

Gotta start with this one as it has the perfect opening lines...

Hard times spreading just like the flu

Watch out homeboy, don't let it catch you

9. Paul Simon - Love & Hard Times

One of those lyrics that only Paul Simon could get away with.

God and His only Son

Paid a courtesy call on Earth

One Sunday morning

Orange blossoms opened their fragrant lips

Songbirds sang from the tips of Cottonwoods

Old folks wept for His love in these hard times

"Well, we got to get going, " said the restless Lord to the Son

There are galaxies yet to be born

Creation is never done

Anyway, these people are slobs here

If we stay it's bound to be a mob scene

But, disappear, and it's love and hard times

8. Public Image Limited - Hard Times

The slogan will take you like lemmings to the cliff

You'll feel better than ever, and into the abyss

Every crack every crevice will be sanitised

There'll be no more war, there'll be no more choice

7. Jimmy Buffet - There's Nothing Soft About Hard Times

We never knew anything groovy.

A dime meant bread, and not a movie.

The muscles that control my smile were rarely ever used.

'Cause there's nothing soft about hard times.

6. The Shirelles - Hard Times

Last time I had a brand new hat

The people thought the world was flat

5. The Imagined Village (featuring Billy Bragg) - Hard Times Of Old England

Time was I could sell all I grew at the shop

When Tesco's turned up all of that had to stop

Now I can't make a living out of my crop

Singing oh the hard times of old England

4. Loudon Wainwright III - Times Is Hard

You're watchin' the news. It all looks bad.

The worst half-hour you ever had.

What in God's name is goin' on?

All I can do is play this song.

3. Eels - Rock Hard Times

Hollywood lies piled up to the sky

Floating your way soon

Hope you like the rotten stench of doom

And everybody knows these are rock hard times

I gotta make it through

These are rock hard times

2. Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters - Hard Times

Written by Curtis Mayfield, but I prefer the Baby Huey version.

Eatin' Spam and Oreos and drinkin' Thunderbird baby

1. John Mellencamp - Hard Times For An Honest Man

From the times when John Mellencamp could do no wrong.

And he hates the cold-bloodedness

That runs inside

Seasonal Snapshots II - The Answers

When you first took my hand on a cold Christmas Eve, you promised me the answers to Saturday Snapshots... well, here they are.

Congratulations to Reading's Rigid Digit who took the star on the top of the tree this year. Sterling effort from Chris, the runner up, from Denmark. Thanks also to Brian from the U.S. and Deano from Australia for coming along and solving the ones nobody else could - truly an international effort! Cheers and happy Christmas to all the other regulars. Thanks for playing.

To help you enjoy the festivities, here's 25 tunes to play on Christmas morning and get you in the mood... handily compiled into a playlist should you wish to listen to them all while you're basting your turkeys...


25. Richard Tea? Dai Jestive? Gary Baldy? Don't be so trite!

Rich Tea. Di-Gestive. GariBaldy. All half men, half biscuits.

Half Man Half Biscuit - It's Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas

24. Follow this to Bethlehem to find the answer.

Big Star - Jesus Christ

23. Sweet rejoicing in mature meadow.

A mature meadow would be an old field.

Sweet rejoicing in Latin would be...

Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo

22. Holding up knickers with A Greater Doxology.

Knickers are held up by elastic. Elastic with A makes...

The Greater Doxology is another name for Gloria in excelsis Deo...

Elastica - Gloria

21. Spousal present dilemma solved by wet bloke and old king.

Wet bloke = Waterman

Old King Cole

George Cole & Dennis Waterman (aka "Arfur" Daley & Terry McCann) - What're We Gonna Get For Christmas For 'Er Indoors?

20. Making a festive killing.

Because Slayed = killed, and because Noddy Holder makes a million quid from this song every year, apparently.

Slade - Merry Christmas Everyone

19. Shrunken Santa on the sands.

The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick

18. Long before Mariah: I still need to give you that dollar.

Mariah sang "All I Want For Christmas Is You".

You owe me a buck.

Buck Owens - All I Want For Christmas Dear Is You

17. Jesus's crown found amid the decorations.

Jesus had a crown of thorns.

Tracy Thorn - Tinsel & Lights

16. Wan waterfalls wish you a blessed Noel.

Pale Fountains - Benoit's Christmas

("Benoit" is an archaic French word for blessed.)

15. W.S. & Arthur did not dream like Frank. O!

Gilbert O'Sullivan - I'm Not Dreaming Of A White Christmas

14. Eddie's Italian restaurant date gets spruced up in Cooper's jeans.

In Billy Joel's Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Brenda and Eddie were going steady.

Lee Cooper.

Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

13. Former house-painter enjoys festive peanuts.

Mark Kozelek's old band were the Red House Painters.

This song is a cover version of the famous song from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.

Mark Kozelek - Christmas Time Is Here

12. Colorado native begs for festive tem-pa-rance.

Denver, Colorado.

John Denver - Please, Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas

11. Will his sleigh contain snowflakes or diamonds this year?

The Crystals - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

10. Ta for an ecstatic yule.

XTC - Thanks For Christmas

9. Pine delivery for Homerski.

Red Simpson - Truckin' Trees For Christmas

8. Bald, golden harpies invite you back for an egg nog at their place.

The Eagles - Please Come Home For Christmas

7. Lazy ocean brags about bellowing at baubles.

Lazy = idle. Billy Ocean / Bragg.

Billy Idol - Yelling At The Christmas Tree

6. Queens start computer programmes like a Jack-Hammer.

Computers start with Run.

Jack Dee.

MC Hammer.

Hollis is in Queens.

Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis

5. No little stars twinkling tonight... just a neverending clanging.

The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)

4. Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, he walks into mine... but he's a few days early.

Quote from Casablanca, obviously.

Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today (oh, now it is!)

3. Refusing #8's offer, with eyes closed 26 x 7.

The Eagles sang "Please Come Home For Christmas" at #8.

This is Blink 182's reply...

Blink 182 - I Won't Be Home For Christmas

2. That's a long way to go for a phoney (even a great one).

The Pretenders weren't phoneys, but they were Great Pretenders.

The Pretenders - 2000 Miles

1. Huey's future hit stolen by Sinatra movie.

Huey Lewis's hit from Back To The Future was The Power of Love.

I'll protect you from the Hooded Claw...

Happy Christmas. Thanks for being there this year. It's appreciated.

Saturday Snapshots #5: The Answers

As usual, a sterling effort by everyone...

I would leave it a bit longer to reveal the title of number #6, but I was up at 5 this morning and need my beauty sleep...


10. When your ears get blocked in Detroit or Philly, don't say we didn't warn you!

Detroit & Philly = Soul

Blocked Ears = Wax

Don't say we didn't warn you = Much Against Everyone's Advice

Martin's first point of the evening.

Soulwax - Much Against Everyone's Advice

9. I know you'll solve this puzzle with the fourth Thunderbird.

Thunderbirds were F-A-B.

The fourth one would be FAB Four.

Lynchie overthought this one a bit: I didn't even know Thunderbird 4 was yellow. Martin came to his rescue...

I know you'll solve this puzzle = We Can Work It Out

The Beatles - We Can Work It Out

8. First in court today: a very small motorbike.

George was first out of bed this morning, and had no trouble with this.

10cc - Good Morning Judge

Great video.

7. Directory enquiries? Do you know the number for table tennis?

The clue was pretty obvious if you knew the track. Which not many people do.

Another point for Martin.

Number is, of course, another word for song. As in "Here's a little number I call..."

Operator Please - A Song About Ping Pong

Don't know know beef jerky has an aftertaste?

6. Adrian thaws in a hurry: don't make cake.

Hurry: don't make cake = Run DMC.

Well done, Chris.

Adrian thaws... or should that be Adrian Thaws?

Who is Adrian Thaws?

Run DMC - It's Tricky

5. Walt avoids sinking through humility.

Walt = Disney, otherwise known after his most famous creation... The Mouse.

Humility = Modest

Avoid sinking? Float on...

Modest Mouse - Float On

Well done again, Martin.

4. Man, waiting three days for a bit of affection really sucks.

Man = Mann... Aimee Mann

If you wait 3 days (from today), you'll be waiting 'Til Tuesday (Aimee's original band).

Affection that really sucks... Love In A Vacuum.

Extra points to Chris for getting 'Til Tuesday. That was a tough one. And to George for getting the song.

'Til Tuesday - Love In A Vacuum

3. Tarzan's fictional favourite gets aid from a drink you don't want.

Don't drink the Kool Aid.

Tarzan was Lord of the Jungle.

Fictional? From the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction.

Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie

Martin's making this look too easy.

2. Little ones shipwrecked while thumbing a ride to the frontline.

Who was shipwrecked? Robinson Crusoe.

Thumbing a ride? Tom Thumb.

Frontline + little ones = War Baby.

Only the very young and the very beautiful (George and CC) can be so aloof...

Tom Robinson - War Baby

Great sax on that.

1. Quarreling in an old airport is like watching polygons.

 An old airport = Idlewild (the former name of JFK International Airport in New York).

Quarreling is like watching polygons? I still have no idea what this song about... but I always loved it.

Well done Lynchie & George. (George, you were on fire today. As was Martin.)



If you liked this and you can't wait till next Saturday, go do Martin's crossword if you haven't already...