Another one from the illustriously fecund Whack era, buffed up in ’96 and arriving on one of those DAT cassettes w/ a Maui postmark.
It’s a fun one; it lopes along, lulling you all LouReedlike, trance-y, but then … O — that chorus!
He never fails to surprise; ever a master of the delightful juxtaposition.
That’s my thesis.
Happy birthday, dear Walter.
movie: Matt Kerns
One in the a.m.
Walter Becker, © 1996/2019
One in the a.m. on the coldest night of the year Trucking down Lexington blinking back frozen tears Thinking on the way it was the night you finally disappeared There are heartaches that don't quit, girl in my life you are it
You come up fast gliding past a night where not much mattered at all Dead end kids on the skids burning up and off the wall
Psychedelic rhythm drops the DJ's pulling out the stops Eyes locked up across the floor I followed you on out the door
On the sidewalk standing there snowflakes nestling in your hair I seen the cruel wind stole your light lucky I come out tonight
Maybe you'd like to go somewhere you don't know you don't care
Girl you're going to need a ride don't you know it's cold outside
Little pieces little pieces Mighty stabs and quick releases
All that's left is little pieces
Little pieces tiny pieces
That's what I say that's my thesis
Picking up on little pieces
There are things I don't know still and other things I never will Like for instance where you are did you get a good price for my guitar
Was that a snarl or was that a smile when I surprised you doggy style For the money for the fun you can't tell me stony one
Your sparkling eyes the night we met the way you smoked that cigarette
Your doomed angelic semi-smile Mona Lisa in the sundries aisle Candles and the Warhol prints your indestructible innocence
Golden days and then the rest the worst as slammin’ as the best
Zero Zero Fahrenheit baby it's a bitter night
Little pieces little pieces Every night the count increases
What we got here is little pieces
Little pieces tiny pieces
Taking off on random breezes
All that's left is little pieces
Crack of dawn wallet gone head feels like it weighs a ton Guess you could have slipped away most anytime in the last two days
Records strewn across the floor you didn't even shut the door You're still a diamond in my eyes counterfeit or otherwise
A birthday treat from the incomparable Mr.
Thanks as always for sharing, and happy birthday Walter. I'm so early to the party, the download version isn't even available yet. I've gotta work on my fashionably late entrances one of the days. Anyhow, onto something that really matters, like how ridiculously cool this song is. And considering all the references to cold in the lyrics, I suppose that's only appropriate. I particularly dig the song structure managing to surprise you with the chorus, not once, but twice! Bonus points for the final line of the song, how cool of a finish is that? (Ugh, I did it again, must be the weather freezing my brain and now I'm stuck on that word...)