you taught me the fire, i taught you the hunger

This song reminded me a bit of the elegy found in a Leonard Cohen song, the hymn-like structure, the ancient weariness in the words. Listen in a darkened room with caution.

We started out, we were much younger
you taught me the fire, and i taught you the hunger
i remember love ,but love don’t remember me

…i’ll wait at the bar rooms, and you’ll wait at the station
and we’ll dream of each other, in our old situation…

The Casanova (I Remember Love) – Andy Clockwise (video)

I love that second line; after all, don’t we all want something to sparkle brilliantly as it combusts against the night sky? A supernova of fire and hunger.

Andy Clockwise is an Australian living in LA, and I first ripped a version of this song many months ago after falling in love with it during a live performance on NPR’s All Things Considered. It’s out now in proper form on the Australian version of his EP Are You Well?, with the marvelous addition of a harmonica bridge that’ll simply break your heart.

For two weeks only, you can download the EP for free on his website, including a fuzzy Beck-reminiscent tune called “Love and War,” his cover of Bjork’s “Hyperballad,” and a duet with Lissie, that gal I fell in love with recently.

This is a musician that has been vigorously championed to me for many months by my friend Garrett who lives out there in the California sunshine, and swears by the Clockwise live show experience. Lucky for me, Andy’s playing SXSW on Friday, March 19th at midnight at The Parish, and I’ll be pleased to be there.