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Sharkey's Day Lyrics

Sun's coming up. Like a big bald head. Poking up over the grocery store. It's Sharkey's day. It's Sharkey's day today. Sharkey wakes up and Sharkey says: There was this man... And there was this road...And if only I could remember these dreams... I know they're trying to tell me...something. Ooooeee. Strange dreams.(Strange dreams). Oh yeah. And Sharkey says: I turn around, it's fear. I turn around aagain And it's love. Oh yeah. Strange dreams. And the little girls sing:Oooee Sharkey. And the manager says: Mr. Sharkey? He's not at his desk right now. Could I take a message? And the little girls sing:Oooeee Sharkey. He's Mister Heartbreak. They sing: Oooeee Sharkey. Yeah. He's Mister Heartbreak. And Sharkey says: All of nature talks to me. If I could just figure out what it was trying to tell me. Listen! Trees are swinging in the breeze. They're talking to me. Insects are rubbing their legs together. They're all talking. They're talking to me. And short animals- They're bucking up on their hind legs. Talking.
Talking to me. Hey! Look out! Bugs are crawling up my legs! You know? I'd rather see this on TV. Tones it down. And Sharkey says: I turn around, it's fear. I turn around again, and it's love. Nobody knows me. Nobody knows my name. And Sharkey says: All night long I think of those little planes up there. Flying around. UYou can't even see them. They're specks! And they're full of tiny people. Going places. And Sharkey says: You know? I bet they could all land on the head of a pin. And the little girls sing: Ooooeee. Sharkey! He's Mister Heartbreak. They sing: Oooeee. That Sharkey! He's a slow dance on the edge of the lake. He's a whole landscape gone to seed. He's gone wild! He's screeching tires on an oil slick at midnight on the road to Boston a long time ago. And Sharkey says: Lights! Camera! Action! TIMBER! At the beginning of the movie, they know they have to find each other. But they ride off in opposite directions. Sharkey says: I turn around, it's fear. I turn around again, and it's love. Nobody knows
me. Nobody knows my name. You know? They're growing mechanical trees. They grow to their full height. And then they chop themselves down. Sharkey says: All of life comes from some strange lagoon. It rises up, it bucks up to it's full height from a boggy swamp on a foggy night. It creeps into your house. It's life! It's life! I turn around, it's fear. I turn around again, and it's love. Nobody knows me. Nobody knows my name. Deep in the heart of darkest America. Home of the brave. Ha! Ha! Ha! You've already paid for this. Listen to my heart beat. And the little girls sing: Oooeee Sharkey. He's a slow dance on the edge of the lake. They sing:Ooooeeee. Sharkey. HEe's Mister Heartbreak. Paging Mr. Sharkey. White courtesy telephone please. And Sharkey says: I turn around, it's fear. I turn around again, and it's love. And the little girls sing:Ooooeee Sharkey. Yeah. On top of Old Smokey all covered with snow. That's where I wanna, that's where I'm gonna That's where I'm gonna go.
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Cover art for Sharkey's Day lyrics by Laurie Anderson

This is such a complex, beautiful and mysterious song that it's sometimes hard to pin down what the lyrics are about, aside from the fact it focuses on a character named Sharkey. But it's never clearly explained who he is and what the circumstances are. There are many images and references that infer that he may be God (All of nature talks to me...nobody knows my name...I turn around it's love...) Or he could just be the derelict, mentally declining owner of a grocery store with a massive ego and delusions of grandeur. The song has many references to nature, life, evolution, as well technology, capitalism and the state of America. If Sharkey is God he has certainly lost control of his creation and is helplessly/cluelessly watching it lurch towards the abyss. If he's a grocery store owner, he's late for work, passed out on his sofa watching nature films, as his earthly responsiblities drift away from his awareness and control. It's also possible that this song may be about Ronald Reagan who was president when the song was released--but that's just my personal theory.

Whatever the interpretation the song is a masterpiece and deserves much more recognition.

@Irishmonk interresting explanation...a masterpiece for sure..to me ..i think this song is all about finding enlightenment..

Cover art for Sharkey's Day lyrics by Laurie Anderson

Sharky\'s Day is one part of the play Home Of The Brave. It\'s part of the whole concept and can only really be read in relation to the form. I like to see it as the tale of a narcissist with delusional aspects. It could even relate to Allen Ginsberg (who is heard on Sharky\'s Night). It\'s a very interesting song nonetheless

 
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