These lyrics are from "Home of the Brave." and they are somewhat different from "Sharkey's Night" on the album "Mister Heartbreak."
Just a thought about these lyrics, as I came here TO FIND OUT! Sharkey is a character of Laurie Anderson's. One thing I think is that he embodies what it's like to be a human being trying to figure out what's going on within him and around him, which is not something that people usually try to describe.
Also, he personifies as certain kind of American who thinks in cliches. In this version, he seems to supports conservative political leadership that recommends overly simplified points of view, such as war as a solution to international problems, lowered taxes without consideration for the consequences, pro-business legislation etc. Politics at the time were not as gruesome as they are now, (1984, and this is from my POV as a Progressive Democrat) but she could feel the temperature of the wind. The political reference comes from "I went down to the Big DC. Also, the angels have "big boots" thumping around above (not thunder, he says) and this could be a reference to all the dead soldiers from the Viet Nam war. Sharkey is friendly, loud, talks in cliches. Makes contact without really feeling the other person. There's "Sharkey's Day," too, at the beginning of Mister Heartbreak. That is much longer and more rambling. Sharkey's voice (loud, mocking, garrulous) on Mister Heartbreak is William S. Burroughs, "co-founder of the beat generation."
@Wendalore Good description of this fascinating song. Thanks. I love the spoken word part from William S. Burroughs from the album version. Laurie changes it up in her live renditions, which are equally enigmatic and musically enjoyable.
@Wendalore Good description of this fascinating song. Thanks. I love the spoken word part from William S. Burroughs from the album version. Laurie changes it up in her live renditions, which are equally enigmatic and musically enjoyable.
These lyrics are from "Home of the Brave." and they are somewhat different from "Sharkey's Night" on the album "Mister Heartbreak." Just a thought about these lyrics, as I came here TO FIND OUT! Sharkey is a character of Laurie Anderson's. One thing I think is that he embodies what it's like to be a human being trying to figure out what's going on within him and around him, which is not something that people usually try to describe. Also, he personifies as certain kind of American who thinks in cliches. In this version, he seems to supports conservative political leadership that recommends overly simplified points of view, such as war as a solution to international problems, lowered taxes without consideration for the consequences, pro-business legislation etc. Politics at the time were not as gruesome as they are now, (1984, and this is from my POV as a Progressive Democrat) but she could feel the temperature of the wind. The political reference comes from "I went down to the Big DC. Also, the angels have "big boots" thumping around above (not thunder, he says) and this could be a reference to all the dead soldiers from the Viet Nam war. Sharkey is friendly, loud, talks in cliches. Makes contact without really feeling the other person. There's "Sharkey's Day," too, at the beginning of Mister Heartbreak. That is much longer and more rambling. Sharkey's voice (loud, mocking, garrulous) on Mister Heartbreak is William S. Burroughs, "co-founder of the beat generation."
@Wendalore Good description of this fascinating song. Thanks. I love the spoken word part from William S. Burroughs from the album version. Laurie changes it up in her live renditions, which are equally enigmatic and musically enjoyable.
@Wendalore Good description of this fascinating song. Thanks. I love the spoken word part from William S. Burroughs from the album version. Laurie changes it up in her live renditions, which are equally enigmatic and musically enjoyable.