"AMERICAN LANGUAGE," PART 2:
TV OR NOT TV
© Alan Reade, 1992 and 2020
Photo by John Hubbard, 1992
View the Show Notes
Confession
I wasn't always as cool as I am now.
In fact,
TV is directly responsible for making me who I am today.
In fact,
When I was little I defined who I was
On TV women and men;
They were my idols, they were my heroes:
I aspired to be them.
My first words were from Sesame Street;
Cartoons taught science and invention;
I modeled my life after Charlie's Angels:
The first tool I knew was a gun.
And if words were guns, I'd be blown away
By all the things that are aimed at me;
I'm a sitting duck, alone in the room,
Newsreal
I Don't Feel Anything
I used to watch a lot of TV.
I used to think the people were me.
And every time somebody died,
A little tear would form in my eye.
Aha ha haha ha haha ha hah.
Aha ha haha ha haha ha hah.
But now I don't feel anything:
That's the way I like it to be.
So beautiful behind the screen,
But now I don't feel anything.
I used to get really upset
Over things I just could not change;
Now the only thing I change is my mind;
I keep everything else in chains.
Aha ha haha ha haha ha hah.
Aha ha haha ha haha ha hah.
Because I don't feel anything.
Everything's the past to me.
Don't tell me how to live again!
I don't feel anything.
No, I don't feel anything.
And I don't hear your voice in my head;
'Cause when you cut me from you, sweet thing,
You left a little part of me dead.
Your love was weaponry
Stockpiled in my double bed;
Your voice was a blade in a silver case,
Your kiss was your bayonet.
Your kiss kiss kiss....
I don't feel anything:
That's the way I like it to be.
I lived with you behind the screen,
But now I don't feel anything.
Aha ha haha ha haha ha hah--
I don't feel anything.
Aha ha haha ha haha ha hah--
I don't feel anything!
I don't feel anything.
I don't feel anything!
I don't--I don't--I don't feel anything!
I don't feel anything....