Camilla (1996)
Another one of those unexpected CDs came my way in late winter of 1996; Camilla. An eerie, yearning meditation on the ache of loving a stranger — or wanting to. Foolishness in the extreme? Wisdom deeper than knowing? Hard to tell.
Until the astonishing final stanza, when the lover’s burning hope warps time itself. Is it possible, he wonders, that if we try hard we can see/the view from where we’ll someday be?
And indeed, tonight, I look back on 24 years of that someday-life saturated with the phantasms that were conjured by that hopeful, extraordinary poet one dark winter night so long ago.
……..
I asked him if this was something left over from the Whack days. No, he said, just something I’ve been working on. And there is another snippet from that same CD that I’ll post soon. But now, the evening of Nov 2, 2020, stomach churning, mind disquiet, I’m logging off for a while. My only thought is if our Republic can hold together in the days and months ahead.
Know Hope
- D-Mod
Camilla - Walter Becker ©1996/2019 Zeon Music LLC
Camilla we just met
You don't even know me yet
Camilla distant star
I see you for who you are
True child of the night
Restless Seeker for the light
Burning all alone
Girl I'd love to take you home
Camilla do you see
Camilla this is me
Camilla
Camilla night is dark
It's cold out there in Pelham Park
Camilla where you are
Buses barely run that far
So tell me if they do
Who would I be talking to
Someone who knows how
To party for the Here and Now
Camilla tell me true
Camilla is this you
Camilla
Lost in darkness drowned in light
Laid out cold in black and white
Truly now the way we feel
Is a temporary kind of deal
We all go crazy now and then
And here the bastard comes again
Camilla close your eyes
Maybe we can visualize
If we try hard can we see
The view from where we'll someday be
To look back on this night
Blinding flash of solar light
Signal some great plan
We may never understand
Burnout none the less
You and me did our best
To soar high to be free
In these dark days of History
Camilla
I sort of hear a slight wiff of Scritti Politti in the sequence - sort of half-assed reggae with the synth and noise stabs..
Another great piece! Thanks for posting. Incidentally, most days I log into WBM and it's on the days I don't log in some new song is posted !
Think there's a lesson here, I either need to log in daily without fail or keep away more often :-)
Thank you! Perfect timing.
I was just wondering to myself the other night how you were doing @Moderator: D-Mod. Thank you for sharing! The intro of this one caught me off guard, the sound of the drum machine and synthesizers was not something I really heard before in one of Walter's songs, but then once the vocals kicked in, the lyrics and melody are unmistakably Walter. I really liked the way the bridge adds a lift to the song but then brings it right back down, kind of like desperation mixed with resignation.
Thank you D.for this.
Much needed today of all days.
OK well that is indeed eerie, spooky, haunting. Fascinating lyrics. Many more listens to come. First thought is: was he writing about you, @Moderator: D-Mod ? Not necessarily in the literal sense, but maybe as a starting point before he skipped dimensions on it. Thanks for sharing as always!