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Rating: A piano, an organ, and a tape recorder are the only tools to express the first "songs of suffering". Absurd, entertaining, melancholic, sad melodies that seem to come from an old, half-broken, dusty radio locked away in a forgotten basement. Few might be interested in such an object; not many care if this contraption still works or have the fortune to experience what is, the music of Daniel Johnston.
The genius of Sacramento's "low fidelity" translates his love disappointment (for a certain Laurie), his loneliness, his anxieties into a series of memorable works, starting with this cassette recorded in 1981.
The 20 songs of the album are nothing but timid and small twinkling stars in a silent night, distinguished by Johnston's passion for melody, the most direct and sincere form to express feelings. An album to listen to in the dark, simple and timeless music, as it is far removed from other genres of the '80s, avant-garde in its essentiality and simplicity. Daniel's sincere and almost childlike voice could provide the soundtrack to an old black and white film or some animated cartoon where the drawings and writings of his covers come to life.
Comics of Captain America and the Beatles were his great passions, and his art seems to mix these cultures, such graphic animation and '60s melody, a blend that absurdly and artistically recreates itself in the listener's mind. An atmosphere, contrasted with the experiences and references of his life, that never falls into being pathetic.
Several tracks like "Grievances" and "Never Relaxed" could be radio pop masterpieces if produced differently, but they are nothing more than gems of the ultimate Lo-Fi songwriter, "A Little Story" is a depiction of his religious anxiety, while "Joy Without Pleasure" of his love disappointment. "Songs of Pain" represents the mindset and attitude of a true artist, a reference point and symbol of a certain way of making music in the years following the recording of this tape.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Never Relaxed (03:26)
There was this kid named Syd and he was born
Maybe the doctor hit him a little too hard
He just seemed to have gotten off to a bad start
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Big brothers and big sisters 'came lots of attention
But Syd was a hyperactive kid
He just never seemed able to sit still
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Never rela-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-axed
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Unlike the other kids on his block
Syd never learned how to walk
He just ran around acting nervous
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
He sat in school in detention
Drawing funny pictures on the wall
Not a moment of peace did Syd ever find
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Never rela-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-axed
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Now when Syd discovered masturbation
He just couldn't keep a good thing down
But it didn't help much his condition
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Syd signed up for the army
'Cause he got tired of working in the pottery
And they sent him over to a foreign country
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Syd met this girl in East Germany
And she invited him up to her room for some tea
Then she pulled out a gun and took his money
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
She shot Syd through the head
And Syd died and went to hell
And he burned and he burned and he yelled
I never been relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
Now the Devil said this ain't fair
'Cause people who come here have had their share of comfort
So he sat Syd in a reclining chair
But it was an electric chair
Never rela-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-axed
Never relaxed, never relaxed, never relaxed
05 Brainwash (02:38)
Me and a friend went out one night
Walkin' in the street.
We talked of God and the end of the world.
I stuck my head in a fire hydrant.
The night was cool. It was around the time that the bad ladies come out
While river rats broke windows and performed un-natural acts.
We walked halfway across the town and sang in an amphitheatre,
Then we walked a little further and admired some graffiti.
Dodging cars as we crossed the highway
We sure must have looked ugly.
My shirt was soaked, the grass was wet,
I stuck head in a fire hydrant.
We talked of things in the Good Book
While there was a naked lady on TV.
She had no care, she had no shame.
she had little propellers on.
My friend he said "I cant help
But look at this naked lady's body"
I said "dear friend you got a dirty mind
Stick yr head in a fire hydrant."
Earlier that evening
I went to a banquet,
Hoping she might be there.
But she wasn't so I went to this other girl's house
Who was freaked out on drugs
So later after that
-After the first part of this song-
On my way home I drove past this other girl's house
Who would not accept my calls.
I noticed she had her light on
As I drove slowly by.
I wondered if she noticed me,
I stuck my head in a fire hydrant
15 Urge (02:34)
Get attached to a rolling stone
And yr libel to get crushed.
Yr better off to sit at home
And watch the toilet flush.
I like to sit and look at her.
I like to do that so much.
To stand and act mysterious
And to watch her blush.
I know I'm such a weird guy.
She could never take me serious.
There's always that green monkey
In around or near us.
I think sometimes of holdin' her,
But the picture gets all blurred.
I see shadows dancin' on my wall.
Thoughts scatter like birds.
I wish to God i could touch her hand,
Somehow make her understand,
The man I somehow wanna be,
The man I want her to make me.
But she stands so distant and rolls her eyes.
She leaves me and I don't know why.
Nothing seems to make much sense.
I cant appreciate the sky.
And so I go home lonely,
Like a wolf without a pack
I got nothin to put my love in,
Like groceries without a sack.
Maybe someday when she gets fat,
She'll think about what she's missed.
She'll know shell never get me back.
She'll feel just like the pits.
She'll sit lonely in her apartment,
Thinkin' about what might have been.
She'll know her man had come and went.
Maybe she'll take me seriously then.
Get attached to a rolling stone
And yr libel to get crushed.
Yr better off to sit at home
And watch the toilet flush.
17 Tuna Ketchup (02:05)
I saw her in the street
She was with her family
She didn't say anything
She just stopped and stared
And I like her
In the summer I worked with her
In an oil refinery
She wore a yellow suit in the rain
And I like her
I drew her some pictures
I made her posters
I let her walk all over me
And insult me too
Cause I like her
She has red hair
And blue eyes
I was looking for love
But all I got was a bite
And I like her
And I like her
And I like her
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