“BOTTLES (I loved you)” by little image

 

     The Dallas-based band re-imaged an emotion-packed song from its debut 2017 album “Musings.” The single, “BOTTLES (I loved you),” showcases the vocal range of Jackson Simmons more than other releases. little image comprises Simmons (vocals/guitar) and Brandon Walters (bass/synth). 
 
     The song questions the lack of return of affection, often stating, then asking: “I loved you, I loved you // Did you love me? Did you ever love me?” The lyrics are included at the bottom of this post. While thinking about “BOTTLES (I loved you)” and its more than 9-year history, the band said:
  “There’s something about BOTTLES that always takes us back. It’s tied to a really special time in our lives, and hearing it brings back a lot of memories that we’re grateful to have. Some songs just become part of your story, and this one definitely has for us.”
 
     Although the band been successful over the years, their upward trajectory noticeably steepened with last year’s release of the song “KILL THE GHOST,” which is the title track of the 2026 album, as well as the name of the band’s tour. The album dropped via Hollywood Records.
 
     Known for their hands-on approach to every aspect of their creative world, from stage design to visual storytelling, little image continue to build momentum both on stage and beyond. The band has toured with Panic! At The Disco, Bad Suns, almost monday, Cold War Kids, Young the Giant, Joywave, and Colony House, and has performed at festivals including Shakey Knees and Float Fest. With “KILL THE GHOST” now out and a growing global audience behind them, little image continue to establish themselves as one of alternative music’s most exciting and creative new voices.
 
     “BOTTLES (I loved you)” by little image

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleimage
Website: https://littleimagemusic.com/

Lyrics of “BOTTLES (I loved you)” by little image
A man of suffering
I've been here before
 
Familiar with pain
But I'm too afraid to tell anyone
 
Anything, anymore
You bottle your love so tightly
 
When I look to the
The grass and the trees
 
I just sit and think
Of how you never loved me
Or anything, anymore
Bottle your love so tightly
Anything, anymore
Bottle your love so tightly
Anything, anymore
Bottle your love so tightly
Anything, anymore
You bottle your love so tightly
 
I loved you, I loved you
Did you love me? Did you ever love me?
I loved you, I loved you
Did you love me? Did you ever love me?
I loved you, I loved you
Did you love me? Did you ever love me?
I loved you, I loved you
Did you love me? Did you ever love me?
I loved you, I loved you
Did you love me? Did you ever love me?
 
Anything, anymore
You bottle your love so tightly
Anything, anymore
You bottle your love so tightly

“Dance” by Grandmas House

     The single from Grandmas House immediately found space on three IO playlists – “Post-Punk,” “Raspy Vocals,” and “Best Indie of 2026 (So Far).” There was even a temptation to place “Dance” on the “Saxophone” playlist. It’s a song that aggressively bears a sword, but still bares its heart.
 
     “Dance” portrays loneliness and angst, while using dance as a coping mechanism even though dancing connects to the relationship that triggered the loneliness (“You used to watch me dance”). The relationship even created mental instability (“My brain, so rotten”).
 
     The track is an invigorating single from the quartet’s debut album, “Baby You’re A Winner,” which was released under Brace Yourself Records. The band is based in Bristol, UK. The members are Yasmin Berndt (lead vocals, guitar), Poppy Dodgson (backing vocals, drums), Zoe Zinsmeister (bass, backing vocals), and Polly Jessett (guitar). While not a member of the band, Morgan Wallace contributed the saxophone in “Dance.”
 
     “Dance” by Grandmas House 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandmashouseband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandmashouseband/
Bandcamp: https://grandmashouseband.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Dance” by Grandmas House
My bed, so cold
My brain, so rotten
In the dark, I keep on falling
Can you feel it?
 
My bed, so cold
My brain, so rotten
In the dark, I keep on falling
Can you feel it?
 
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance
 
And the darkest hole is always lighter than we see
Pouring from another cup, but I heard that wasn′t me
The hundred trees that I planted in the dirt last year
Never left this place, or so I heard
 
Ever blue, I'm always blue
Heard a song reminding me of you
My head moves up and down, my eyes are glazed
My body starts to shake
 
You used to watch me dance
You used to watch me dance
You used to watch me dance
 
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance
 
In the morning, you used to watch me dance
In the darkness, you used to watch me dance
You watch, I dance
You watch me dance
You watch, I dance
You watch me dance
You watch me dance
 
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance
 
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance
(In the darkness, you used to watch me dance)

"Voice Inside" by The Tumblers – A Song Feature

 

     “Voice Inside” is the third release from The Tumbler’s upcoming debut album “Tangerine.” The 14-track album is scheduled to drop on March 25, 2025. This third release is compositionally masterful, lyrically intelligent, and vocally compelling.
 
    The initial two verses of “Voice Inside” feature inward-looking lyrics paired with a steady guitar pattern that persists throughout, creating a reflective atmosphere. Between the two verses, two high-frequency guitar notes offer a sense of optimism. The high frequency interjections reappear during the second verse. The first two verses are:

I keep my worries to myself

I’m not the type to ask for help

Cause my Mama said be strong

And I try to go along

 

I stand up straighter when I can

Cause they say courage makes a man

And at times when I'm afraid

And the sky fills up with gray

And I… pretend that everything is right

 
     After a shortened version of the chorus, the third verse is delivered with a fundamentally different approach. For the first line of the verse, the lead vocals are followed by “distant” backing vocals that echo most of the first line. Then, with each successive line in the verse, the lead vocals increasingly overlap with the echoing, until the lead and backing vocals are in synch for the final line - “Pretend everything is right.” The approach is engaging.
 
       The song from The Tumblers then amps up the energy, until the first verse is repeated, but with the revealing final line, “And I’m always on my own in life.” The lead vocalist is Jack Crawford-Brown, who said of “Voice Inside:”
  “This one means a lot to me, and I hope it resonates with you too— Being strong doesn’t mean doing it all alone. It’s okay to lean on people, to ask for help, and to let love and community carry us when we’re struggling. Let’s keep reminding each other to reach out and not go through the hard stuff by ourselves.”
 
      The members of The Tumblers are Jack Crawford-Brown (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin), Emerson Sieverts (bass, vocals), Ian Anderson (lead guitar, banjo), and Will Frazier (drums). For numerous songs by The Tumblers, Camellia Hartman is the violinist. The band is based in New York.
 
     Interestingly, while talking about the recording process, Jack said:
  "One of the toughest and most beautiful things about recording in a barn is there are real sounds to deal with. Leaves from trees brushing up against the roof when the wind picked up. Birds singing all day. When it rained we would have to stop. There was one time when we were recording ‘Voice Inside’ and it started to drizzle. We took a little break and Ian picked up the banjo and Emerson and I were playing guitar. We all just started noodling together on the middle guitar breakdown in the song. It’s such a sweet, sincere part—full of hope. Evan, our engineer, started recording without us knowing and picked up about 5 minutes of it. You can hear the drops and wind coming down and we all just sort of sit there together, steeped in music. The week was filled with little moments like that."
 
     "Voice Inside" by The Tumblers

Website: https://thetumblersmusic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetumblersmusic/

“Drive You Home” by Billy Raffoul – A Song Feature

 

     The vocals of Billy Raffoul possess a captivating ability to both project and attract presence. On one side of that statement, the soulfulness and passion in Raffoul’s voice demonstrate his emotional investment in the lyrical subject matter of a song. Simultaneously, his vocal qualities impact listeners, inspiring them to explore their own experiences, thus making the subject matter more personally relatable. “Drive You Home” triggers thoughts of friends and family who struggle with addiction.
 
      The lyrics of “Drive You Home” are included at the bottom of this post. They describe the pain of caring about and for a person with a substance abuse issue. The lyrics explain, “I miss you, but not who you are now.” Later, the most impactful revelation occurs:

Oh, I won’t say goodbye till I know you’re alright

Oh, I won’t say goodbye but I won’t watch you die

 
     Instrumentally, “Drive You Home” features skillful guitar fingerpicking. At times, the energy of the percussion and the richness of the song contrast with the vulnerability of the message.
 
     Billy Raffoul is a native of Ontario, Canada, but has spent time in Nashville and Los Angeles. As the son of solo artist Jody Raffoul, Billy spent his childhood immersed in the finer points of rock history, watching his father perform and learning to play guitar himself. By his late teens, he began performing around his hometown of Leamington, Ontario and nearby, writing songs and honing his stagecraft. He spent the latter part of the 2010s delivering a succession of increasingly popular EPs and singles like "Acoustic" and "Dark Four Door," which were streamed in the millions.
 
     “Drive You Home” comes after Raffoul’s March 2023 EP “I Wish You Were Here” and his Spring 2023 North American tour with American Authors. The EP features the captivating, up-tempo “We Could Get High,” the lush, soothing love song “Better,” the cinematic and soft title track “I Wish You Here,” and the pop-tinged “Bliss.” These songs were created alongside long-time collaborators Justin Zuccato and Mike Crossey and introduced a new chapter highlighting his vocals and his knack for telling stories straight from the heart. “Drive You Home” is a glimpse of the future as we can continue to watch Raffoul’s journey as an artist.
 
     “Drive You Home” by Billy Raffoul

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyRaffoul
Website: https://billyraffoul.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyraffoul/

Lyrics of “Drive You Home” by Billy Raffoul
You don’t remember and so I paint the scene
Poor illustrator so I take liberties
Like half in the tank, half in the bag, what a drag
 
I miss you but not who you are now
The real you, I haven’t see ‘em round
Just have a ball and laugh it off
Sometimes
 
Sometimes I wanna kill you if that bottle doesn’t
I wish I didn’t love you but it’s not an option
I can never be the one to say “It’s time to go”
But I’ll always be the one to drive you home
I’ll always be the one to drive you home
I’ll always be the one to drive you home
 
November comes blowing through the trees
Like a reminder that everybody leaves
And you’re on your own to fend them off
But not tonight
 
Sometimes I wanna kill you if that bottle doesn’t
I wish I didn’t love you but it’s not an option
I can never be the one to say “It’s time to go”
But I’ll always be the one to drive you home
I’ll always be the one to drive you home
I’ll always be the one to drive you home
 
Oh, I won’t say goodbye till I know you’re alright
Oh, I won’t say goodbye but I won’t watch you die
 
Sometimes I wanna kill you if that bottle doesn’t
I wish I didn’t love you but it’s not an option
I can never be the one to say “It’s time to go”
But I’ll always be the one to drive
 
Sometimes I wanna kill you if that bottle doesn’t
I wish I didn’t love you but it’s not an option
I can never be the one to say “It’s time to go”
But I’ll always be the one to drive you home
I’ll always be the one to drive you home
I’ll always be the one to drive you home
 

“The Pace” by 5th PROJEKT – A Song Feature

 

      It’s appropriate for a song with the title “The Pace” to establish a momentum within the first seconds. The bass and drums drive the intro of the single from 5th PROJEKT, while the guitars provide texture. The voice of Tara Rice enters after 37 seconds, and the song is fully launched. The pace does vary. There is a temporary deceleration around the two-minute mark. And there is a powerful guitars-built crescendo during the final minute.
 
     5th PROJEKT is based in Toronto, Canada. Its core members are Tara Rice (vocals) and multi-instrumentalist Sködt McNalty. For “The Pace,” McNalty plays electric guitar, e-bow, fuzz bass, and synth. The drums are by David Pake, but in concert Rice and McNalty are joined by Peter Broadley (bass) and Jeremy Oram (drums).
 
     The latest EP of 5th PROJEKT is “The Wolf,” which features an almost nine-minute version of “The Pace” as one of four songs. The band identifies” The Wolf” as the first of three EPs:
   “This trilogy of EPs was inspired by 40 days of walking together under the Milky Way along ley lines of the Camino Santiago de Compostela, (also known as The Way of The Goddess, or simply, The Way) and the Camino Finisterre (which literally means, the end of the world). One of the many lessons learned along The Way was ‘know thyself’ which includes limitations. This lesson is why the musical dynamic duo asked their friend and previous live drummer, David Pake, to join them in the studio to record 'The Pace.'”
 
     “The Pace” by 5th PROJEKT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5thPROJEKT/
Website: https://5thprojekt.com/
Bandcamp: https://5thprojekt.bandcamp.com/
 
Lyrics of “The Pace” by 5th PROJEKT
All the dreams lead here to being
All thoughts bear weight
And here we go now on our way to somewhere
Lost inside old words
 
When the foot once moved
We moved by
And the mind was here
And the path was now
 
One look before you, now off you go
Into the sunset and its wake
Walk on forever, walk on forever
Walk on forever
 
Wrap yourself in darkness, begin at dawn
Leave all your worries
This is the beginning, what worlds will you fare
This is your story
 
Look beyond the glass
Feel the time pass
Pass the trees by
Wonder how time flies so fast
 
We are on our way
Night becomes the day
Light becomes our way
And orchestrates the pace
 
The pace [Repeating]

“Wish I Could Forget” by Day/Four – A Song Feature

     Day/Four begins their song with a sense of urgency, as though a clock is counting its way to an explosion. A kickdrum and a guitar hook soon join, with the drum adding to the tension, while the guitar provides a calmer contrast with its more musically appealing and note-sustaining approach.

 

     Lyrically, the countdown to an explosion is fitting. “Wish I Could Forget” is a song about the thoughts of enduring a failed relationship. There was hope that the relationship could be revived, but now even the hope seems to have perished:

It's been months since you walked away

With all my dreams in your hands

You said maybe we'd find a way

Back into each other’s plans

But I won't wait another day

No, I won't wait another day

 

     The vocals during that verse are particularly anguished. The sound of strings (synth-generated?) is powerful as it amplifies the pain. Still, our favorite aspect of the vocals occurs in the final portion of “Wish I Could Forget,” when lyrical layering is used twice (the first occurs at 3:11). The lyrics are included at the bottom of this post, and the two vocal overlaps are shown by italics.

    

     Day/Four is a Nu-Metal/Rap-Metal band based in San Francisco. The core members are Mason Taylor (vocals) and Andres Rivas (instruments). They are scheduled to release an album, “Recycled Heart,” on March 17, 2023. “Wish I Could Forget” is a single from that album.

 
     “Wish I Could Forget” by Day/Four

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dayfourband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayfourband/

Lyrics of “Wish I Could Forget” by Day/Four
We were walking side by side
Underneath the cherry trees
You took me by the hand
And said you'd never, ever, ever, ever leave
 
I really thought we'd never fall apart
But I guess you were in my blind spot
You promised that you’d never break my heart
Well, I guess that you forgot
 
Now I wish I could forget you
But you're always in my head
I wish that I could stop remembering the things you said
I spent so many nights trying to drink your voice away
But I can't drown the feeling that I couldn't make you stay
 
We were walking hand in hand
Underneath the falling leaves
Ooo, you took me by surprise
Yeah, I could barely, barely, barely, barely breathe
 
I really thought we'd never fall apart
But I guess you were in my blind spot
You promised that you’d never break my heart
Well, I guess that you forgot
 
Now I wish I could forget you
But you're always in my head
I wish that I could stop remembering the things you said
I spent so many nights trying to drink your voice away
But I can't drown the feeling that I couldn't make you stay
 
It's been months since you walked away
With all my dreams in your hands
You said maybe we'd find a way
Back into each other’s plans
But I won't wait another day
No, I won't wait another day
 
Now I wish I could forget you
But you're always in my head
I wish that I could stop remembering the things you said
I spent so many nights trying to drink your voice away
But I can't drown the feeling that I couldn't make you stay
 
Said I wish I could forget you
[I wish I could forget you]
But you're always in my head
I wish that I could stop remembering the things you said
I spent so many nights trying to drink your voice away
[Spent so many nights]
But I can't drown the feeling that I couldn't make you stay
 

“Shiver” by The Jürgen Clubs – A Song Feature

 

     The 30-second intro of “Shiver” masterfully serves as a proclamation that the song has a force. Certainly, the intro itself has a magnetic force that draws the listener in as the instrumentation builds. The Jürgen Clubs begin with a brief segment of atmospheric wandering. We assume it’s a synth but could be guitar. Then, the rhythm section of bass and percussion injects the energy that will characterize the body of the song. Soon, a guitar riff enters, and a guitar hook playfully sits atop the melody.
 
     It’s only 30 seconds into the single from The Jürgen Clubs and the listener is already fully engaged. The vocals arrive to add to the magnetic strength of “Shiver.” The voice belongs to Magnus Grilstad, who explained the song:
  “‘Shiver’ roams around a relationship I was in, but it’s something I think a lot of people have experienced at some point. It’s where one partner has given up and has smashed the exit button, leaving the relationship and the second partner surprised that the other partner doesn’t feel like giving it ‘the old college try.’ I bailed on this relationship after a few months and my partner was sure we were gonna fight for the relationship a bit longer, but I just couldn’t see it going well.”
 
     “Shiver” ends creatively, as the high-energy melody slowly transitions to a more Psychedelic Rock sound. 
 
     In addition to Magnus Grilstad, the members of The Jürgen Clubs are Sebastian Toft and brothers Victor and Julius Schack. They are a Danish Indie Rock band based in Denmark. They identify their genre as “Jacuzzi Rock,” a term they coined. They explain:
  “For us, 'Jacuzzi' equals relaxation, sun, warmth, palm trees, inflatable swimming animals, and, not least, a holiday. You don't take yourself so seriously when you're on holiday. You slow down the parades, meet new people and drink an extra cocktail that brings out all your emotions along with the embarrassing and awkward stories. And exactly this is in many ways the epitome of The Jürgen Clubs - hence 'Jacuzzi.'” 
 
     Although “Shiver” is only the second single from The Jürgen Clubs, the future looks bright for the Danish Indie Rockers. “Shiver” is already receiving airplay from national Danish radio channel P6-Beat, while Gaffa (the biggest Danish music magazine) has The Jürgen Clubs as one of ten acts on their "These are going to make it big in 2023" list.

 
     “Shiver” by The Jürgen Clubs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejurgenclubs/

The Guitar Is Alive and Well

      It isn’t difficult to find an article about the reduced importance of the guitar to today’s music. Indie Obsessive’s position is that the instrument is doing well. A high percentage of Indie Rock and Pop bands include at least one guitar. One shift from the earlier decades of Rock is that there is more focus on other contributions. It is common for a guitar to support the synth contribution, rather than the reverse. Another shift is away from featuring guitar solos. Guitar virtuosity is not as important to today’s musicians. It still exists, but guitar virtuosity is less common.

 

       Still, the guitar lives on and will always be the favorite instrument of many music lovers, including us. Here are three strong Indie singles with a guitar emphasis and expertise.

     Holy Coves identifies itself as an Indie Psych Rock band from North Wales. “Away We Go” is a single from the album “Druids and Bards,” which is scheduled for release on October 14 via Yr Wyddfa Records. The credits for “Away We Go” identify:
  Scott Marsden - Vocals, & Guitar
  John Lawrence - Guitar (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci)
  Owain Ginsberg - Guitar & Synths (WE//ARE//ANIMAL / Hippies Vs Ghosts)
  Jason Hughes - Bass (The Painkillers)
  Spike T Smith - Drums (Morrissey / The Damned)

     “Away We Go” combines power percussion with the guitar that qualified the song for this post.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holycoves
Bandcamp: https://holycovesmusic.bandcamp.com/

     “In Spite Of It All” was released by Unquiet Nights several months ago, but it hasn’t garnered the attention it deserves. The band is driven by Luke Mathers (guitar and vocals) and Rodger Firmin (drums). They were joined by Francesco Piciucchi (bass, keyboards) and Matteo Bussotti (drums) for live performances. Unquiet Nights is based in Belfast, Ireland.

      “In Spite Of It All” by Unquiet Nights

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unquietnights
Website: https://www.unquietnights.com/
Bandcamp: https://unquietnights.bandcamp.com/track/in-spite-of-it-all
 

Lyrics of “In Spite Of It All” by Unquiet Nights

You ever feel like a sinking stone?

I needed something I could call my own

I saw Rachel by the side of the road

She didn't turn around, but she still seemed to know

She said your tomorrows they ain't guaranteed

You can't count on them, but you can count on me

Well maybe my advice will come a little too late

I only ever mix, I never drink the thing straight

 

You don't have to jump just 'cause they tell you to jump

You don't have to dance just 'cause they call you up

You don't learn to walk before you learn to crawl

But you keep moving forward still in spite of it all

 

Her belt buckle had a silvery glint

Her driver's ID had one major misprint

She said there were times that she would never forget

She said take it from me, I ain't seen anything yet

 

You don't have to jump just 'cause they tell you to jump

You don't have to dance just 'cause they call you up

You don't learn to walk before you learn to crawl

But you keep moving forward still in spite of it all

 

You don't have to jump just 'cause they tell you to jump

You don't have to dance just 'cause they call you up

You don't learn to walk before you learn to crawl

But you keep moving forward still in spite of it all

     “Sinking Like The Sun” is the first single from the EP “Algoriths” by Sins. The song takes an old-school approach to a “protest song,” but with new-school concerns. The band’s Soundcloud site states that it’s “a modern-day lament to the direction the world is going in: pollution, impossible beauty standards, the loss of jobs to AI, addiction to social media - you name it the song explores it.”

     Sins is based in Portsmouth, UK, and is comprised of Connor Reid, Aaron Evans, Sam Bennett, and Jack Rudland. 

 

     “Sinking Like The Sun” by Sins

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SINSmusicuk

Lyrics of “Sinking Like The Sun” by Sins

There's some fins being sliced for a decadent soup

And kelp disappearing from the middle of the ocean

Leaders been elected in a frenzied commotion

Ain't it funny that their policies act in slow motion

 

Girls slapping mud on their beautiful faces

And lifting and injecting and dissecting and correcting every single imperfection 'til they look like something I can't relate to

Tell me ain't it ingraining to you

 

As we live a life that's so pixelated

Look at the sunrise through Instagram pages

And we walk on by a population so jaded

We look up to the sky but it don't stop raining, it's fading

And tell me ain't it ingraining to you

 

Our minds been sinking like the sun

Our minds been sinking like the sun

 

Plans for some flats on the dark of the moon

Trees leaving their roots at a time too soon

Teens living life in a meta cartoon

Consume you big baboons or be consumed

 

A boss staring at his new replacement

Glares at the lens which calculates his debasement

Cries his eyes out to the stonecold pavement

Then hold his hand out to the final payment, it's fading

And tell me ain't it ingraining to you

 

Our minds been sinking like the sun

Our minds been sinking like the sun

Our minds been sinking like the sun

Our minds been sinking like the sun

“Birds” by Bambara – A Song Feature

 

     Sometimes it’s the size of a song’s personality that almost by itself defines the power of the song. “Birds” is a melodic lava flow. We cannot turn our ears away from the single, but touching its gloominess is unhealthy. “Birds” tends to live in the lower frequencies but includes contributions that provide some frequency contrast and balance. A particularly strong feature is the guitar hook that carries the feel of Johnny Marr’s days with The Smiths.

 

     After going a stretch without featuring a song by a band that includes siblings, March and April have included many. Bambara comprises twin brothers and their childhood friend. They are Reid and Blaze Bateh, along with bassist William Brookshire. The band is based in Brooklyn, New York.

 

     In talking about “Birds,” Reid said:

   "'Birds'  compresses the events of many months into three and a half minutes, spanning time when the couple we follow throughout the record are growing closer. On the train, they fall in and out of sleep, reliving shared moments. Then a childhood memory bubbles up to the surface of the protagonist’s mind, revealing his complex relationship to the idea of love."

 

     The lyrics are included in this post. The childhood memory is in brackets for the final verse. "Birds" is on Bambara’s 2022 “Love On My Mind” EP via Wharf Cat.

     “Birds” by Bambara

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BAMBARA.band/

Website: https://www.bambaranyc.com/
Bandcamp: https://bambara.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Birds” by Bambara
Spring,
The time of year when tourists shiver on the beach
And baby birds begin to fall out of the sidewalk trees.
Sometimes when it rained
We’d grab a fifth and find a place to watch the planes.
One night, we saw a Boeing trailing flames
And you said, “They make it or they don’t.”
 
You bought a point-and-shoot
To try to document your visions of the truth.
Cut your teeth on gritty portraits for the local zines.
Snapping everywhere we’d go.
We rode to Coney and you shot a couple rolls.
And the boney kid who broke my nose was glad to
Pose biting on a bodega rose.
 
Then we crashed on the train.
I woke up and saw the sun rising
With your head on my knees
And I closed my eyes.
 
I saw a flicker of your face
Above the candle with a sticker of a saint.
Lit a cig and then you pulled me into the smoke.
Then I was driving in the snow.
You and Nick were scared, yelling where to go.
But the Firebird was skidding all over the road.
I said, “Damn thing’s dancing on its own.
We make it or we don’t.”
 
Passed out on the train.
I woke up to find the sun blinding.
You were still sound asleep,
So I closed my eyes.
 
[Then I was walking in a hazy field near where I’m from.]
Passed out on the train.
[I’d just clipped my first dove with my father’s shotgun.]
I was bleeding in the sunlight
[I found her among the sunflowers, still flapping her wings.]
With your head on my knees
[I scooped her gently into my hands, and I set her free.]
And love on my mind.