Well, this is what nine hours at the drawing table will get you sometimes ( I should emphasize that the business is easier the second time around; I did a failed version of this exactly one year ago)…..and, yes, it’s of me…..two of me, in fact. Two of me by (in both senses of the word) me, to be precise about the matter. (You’ll have to wearily scroll down for all the comments and link….)
To me, at least, the painting (It’s actually a pastel and architectural pencil drawing….there’s nothing “wet” about it) is incomprehensible without one’s listening to the following recording (that’s just the way my tiny, little brain works, folks). This recording is by Maureen O’Connel, Nanci Griffith, and the very fine Scottish musician, James Grant (anyone who’s familiar with my romantic track-record can instantly identify my “type”; I’ve met it twice in my adult life). I first heard the song when I was in my late twenties and teaching in Philadelphia every Summer….Tom Kimmel (who wrote it) sang it that night. I was fairly overwhelmed; it’s still one of my 5 or so favorite songs.
Go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORMUqhofLGw”The Blue Train”
Watching the long faces
Riding this run down track
And the lost places
From a dream that never brings them back
And the sad truth is
Nothing but a cold hard fact
I’m riding the blue train
Over the miles yet to cover
A ghost in a hurry to fade
I’m taking it one way to nowhere
Afraid you might be there
To find me inside this blue trainCounting the burned bridges
Trailing this rusted wreck
As our back pages
Scatter in the dust we left
Like a pearl necklace
Falling from around my neckI’m riding the blue train
Over the miles yet to cover
A ghost in a hurry to fade
I’m taking it one way to nowhere
Afraid you might be there
To find me inside this blue trainAway down the low road
A ticket to an empty room
A rendezvous unknownI’m riding the blue train
Over the miles yet to cover
A ghost in a hurry to fade
I’m taking it one way to nowhere
Afraid you might be there
To find me inside this blue train