Il Boss e i Guns

Post pubblicato il 19/01/2009

Tra le cose che ho avuto modo di sentire di recente ce ne sono due che mi hanno colpito parecchio. La prima è dell'ultimo album dei Guns n' Roses - Chinese Democracy - e l'altra fa parte dell'ultimo album di Bruce Springsteen (Working on a Dream).  Due pezzi splendidi - secondo me assolutamente in linea con ciò che mi piaceva ascoltare di questi due mostri sacri del rock - con belle sonorità e bei testi.
Sto parlando di There Was a Time dei Guns e di Outlaw Pete del Boss.

There Was a Time
(T.W.A.T.)

Oooooooohhhhh
Broken glass and cigarettes,
writing on the wall,
it was a bargain for the summer,
and I thought I had it all.
I was the one who gave you everything,
the one who took the fall,
you were the one who would do anything,
the one who can't recall.

Where she was while she was sleeping,
in another woman's bed,
or the doctors or the lawyers,
or a stranger that she met.
If there's nothing I can gain from this,
or anything at all,
it'd be the knowledge that ya gave me,
when I thought I'd heard it all.

It was a long time for you,
it was a long time for me,
it'd be a long time for anyone,
but looks like it's meant to be.

Social class and registers,
cocaine in the hall,
all the way from California,
on the way to your next call
to those non-negotiations,
to simulate a call,
all the bad of learning evils and
your ways around the laws
that keep you UP AND sitting pretty,
on a pedestal of MEN
and now you're sleeping like an angel,
NEAR THE MAN WHO REAPED IT IN

If there's something I can make of this,
or anything at all,
it'd be the devil hates a loser and
you thought you had it all.

It was a wrong time for you,
it was a wrong time for me,
it was the wrong time for everyone
but looks like I’ve got to see for myself

If I could go back in time to the place
in my soul, there all alone,
lonely tear drops,
ooh, are calling you.
but I don't wanna know it now,
'cause knowing you it won't it change a damn thing.
but there was a time.

(Solo)

yeah, there was a time,
didn't wanna know it all,
didn't wanna know it all and
I don't wanna know it now,

yeah, there was a time,
didn't wanna know it all,
didn't wanna know it all and
I don't wanna know it now,

(Solo)

Oh, I would do anything for you,
there was a time,
I would do anything for you,
oh, I would do anything for you,
there was a time.

(Solo)

There was a time,
I would do anything for you,
yeah there was a time,
didn't wanna know it all,
didn't wanna know it all,
I don't wanna know it now,
didn't wanna know it all,
didn't wanna know it all,
I don't wanna know it now

Outlaw Pete

He was born a little baby on the Appalachian Trail
At six months old he'd done three months in jail
He robbed a bank in his diapers and his little bare baby feet
All he said was "Folks, my name is Outlaw Pete."

I'm Outlaw Pete!
I'm Outlaw Pete!
Can you hear me?

At twenty-five a mustang pony he did steal
And they rode around and 'round on heaven's wheel
Father Jesus, I'm an outlaw killer and a thief
And I slowed down only to sow my grief

I'm Outlaw Pete!
I'm Outlaw Pete!
Can you hear me? 

He cut his trail of tears across the countryside
And where he went, women wept and men died
One night he woke from a vision of his own death
Saddled his pony and rode her deep into the West
Married a Navajo girl and settled down on the res
And as the smooth fell he held that beautiful daughter to his chest

I'm Outlaw Pete!
I'm Outlaw Pete!
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Out of the East on an Irish stallion came Bounty Hunter Dan
His heart quickened and burned by the need to get his man
He found Pete peacefully fishing by the river, pulled his gun and got the drop
said, "Pete, you think you've changed, but you have not."

He cocked his pistol, pulled the trigger and shot him "let it stop!"
He drew a knife from his boot and pierced him through the heart
Dan smiled as he laid in his own blood dying in the sun
And whispered in Pete's ear, "We cannot undo these things we've done."

You're Outlaw Pete!
You're Outlaw Pete!
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

For forty days and nights Pete rode and did not stop
Till he sat high upon an icy mountain top
He watched the hawk on a desert up draft slip and slide
Moved to the edge and dug his spurs deep into his pony side

Some say Pete and his pony vanished over the edge
Some say they remain frozen high upon that icy ledge
The young Navajo girl washes in the river, skin so fair
And braids a piece of Pete's buckskin chaps into her hair

Outlaw Pete!
Outlaw Pete!
Can you hear me? [X10]

Dei due, il testo più bello è (imho) quello di Springsteen - e quel "He said, "Pete, you think you've changed, but you have not."" chiosa in modo egregio un pezzo da brividi.