My main problem with Mercury Rev, which I didn't expand on adequately last night, is the voice. It's a personal thing; I'll forgive a lot if I like someone's voice. I like Leonard Cohen's voice. But his music has some pretty nasty associations for me. The last "rip my heart out while it's still beating" experience I had was with a woman who just idolized him. However, his world view is not mine. No matter how hard I tried to identify with his lyrics, I found myself saying no, this just isn't meant for me.
I smile when I'm angryNo, this just isn't me at all. If I'm angry, people know it. I don't have a secret life. I don't buy much these days, especially not if I'm told. It's not crowded and cold inside my head; actually, the flames in my heart burn a little brighter each day. My head is fairly sparsely populated with only the best of friends invited inside. I can tell that the heartbreaker in question will love this song. She was a big one for secret lives. I don't believe in secrets. What you see is what I am; well, part of it anyway. Truth certainly has caused me to die many times; but it was in real life, not fantasy-land.
I cheat and I lie
I do what I have to do to get by.
But I know what is wrong and I know what is right
And I die for the truth in my secret life
In my secret life . . .
I bite my lip and I buy what I'm told
From the latest hit to the wisdom of old
But I'm always alone and my heart is like ice
And its it crowded and cold in my secret life
In my secret life . . .
