August 26, 2009

so many strange places i’d like to be / but none of them permanently

joseph-gordon-levitt-1-0609-lg

Earlier this month, one of my favorite thoughtful, eclectic music blogs returned. Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands is now tumbling on tumblr, and Chad recently posted a bittersweet bluegrass version of one of my favorite childhood classics.

For some reason, as Ernie dangled his puppet feet off the edge of the crescent moon, my 6-year-old self felt, and now my 30-year-old self still feels, a pang in the part of us that is always searching for a home. This humble version by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (you totally know him) is marvelous.

Even if you have zero interest in any sort of “kid’s music,” I highly recommend you take a second to listen to this one:

I Don’t Want To Live On The Moon – Joseph Gordon-Levitt



Yesterday in a special session at the college where I work, I got a rare chance to sit around and discuss poetry (hence the Star block post), and my comment “in class” was about how we can use simple or childish conceits to get at deeper truths and longings that our adult selves shy away from expressing. This song falls under that header, and truly is one of my unvarnished favorites.

I Don’t Want To Live On The Moon – Ernie & Aaron Neville

“…but an oyster and clam aren’t real family, so I don’t want to live in the sea…”

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4 Comments

  • I like Shawn Colvin’s version too! Check it out, it’s cute.

    Djimi Paij — August 26, 2009 @ 9:59 am

  • I stumbled across this recently, I’ts part 5 of the muppets tribute to jim henson.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-bQ1TegDNM

    The part where they find out about Jim’s death is very moving, they read letters from fans that show just how important Sesame St was to people.

    Steve — August 26, 2009 @ 1:10 pm

  • This is as lovely as it is a little heartbreaking. Thanks so much for being one who seeks, finds and shares.

    Dainon — August 27, 2009 @ 5:45 am

  • Has Joseph Gordon Levitt done any other recordings? He sounds wonderful.

    Sarah — September 9, 2009 @ 11:36 am

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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