Elusive Dreams

They don't write songs like they used to.

As an antidote to the relentless Mahler, I've been listening to Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood. These were the original "beauty and beast" pairing who set the blueprint for the likes of Waits/Gayle, Cave/Minogue and Lanegan/Campbell to name, precisiely, three (pairings).

One song "Elusive Dreams" is quite remarkable. So remarkable in fact that I'm writing about it here now on this blog.

This duet concerns a couple who travel from town to town in search of happiness. They search in vain from Texas to Utah and onto Birmingham (which features a pleasing rhyme with Alabam'). 

We, the listener, must assume that happiness is the elusive dream that will not found no matter where the devil they go.  We, the listener, should not make rash assumptions until fully equipped with the facts.

Next to Memphis where they have a child. Lee then drags them to Nashville (presumably to pursue a career in country music) and Nancy, biddable as ever, tags along.

So far so predictable. On via Nebraska they end up in Alaska in search of gold. Now the bombshell,

L: And now we've left Alaska

L: Because there was no gold mine

N: But this time, only two of us moved on

(Ah, finally she's left him)

N: Now all we have is each other

(Unless...)

N: And a little memory to cling to

(Shit, the baby's dead)

L: And still you won't let me go on alone

(You bastard! Get Frank to have him "taken out", Nancy)

So much said in a mere four lines. Like I said they don't write 'em like they used to.

This left me with a manly lump in my throat. I think, in fact, it's called an adams apple.