[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Gary Jules — Umbilical Town
Album: Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 203









Released: 2001
Length: 3:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I hear you've got a pocket full of words
That you keep in the garage
Together with the feathers and the fireworks
A surftown hero who's got one foot in the garden
Where the neon-lighted cocktail glasses bloom
And they built you a model airplane
Like the one that brought you back to lindbergh field
Now you're counting your change by the streetlights on india

"Hey, it's me again, I'm faded, could I please come over?"

You can do what you want
In umbilical town
In a waterfront bar

Old gap-toothed Annie was a friend of mine
The third time around she was born again

She must have burned at least a half-a-million dollars
In the little rooms next door to wash-and-fold
And there ain't no consolation prize
There is no backdoor to innocence
Just the wild-eyed faces and names that you've forgotten

"Hey, the money's gone, I'm broken, could I please come over?"

You can do what you want
In umbilical town
In that waterfront bar

I've been dreaming we were born together
I've been thinking about it
Been lurking backstreets - kicking down alleyways
I've been thinking about it

How it's always worse than it appears
Raskolnikov's out on the stairs
Howling at the man in the moon

They said he lost control
Between the suburbs and the barrio
Tired from too much too soon

Now the air is thick with compromise
We're always on the way
So I take comfort in the only life I know

Where you can do what you want
In umbilical town
At the waterfront bar
In umbilical town

You can do what you want
You can do what you want
You can do what you want
Comments (36)add comment
 DaJoos wrote:
Where's John Belushi when we need him? This guy needs his guitar taken and smashed - "Uh, sorry".
 


DaJoos wrote:
Where's John Belushi when we need him? This guy needs his guitar taken and smashed - "Uh, sorry".


++
Hey, he's talking about northern TJ!! (San Diego)
{#No}
I live right up the hill from the Waterfront. 2nd and Hawthorn. And this song sounds soo much like San Diego...
2004 was the last comment? woah. and i missed it this morning. but i leave this comment. gary jules has got it all right. and this song is very soothing.
Lazy8 wrote:
Lindbergh Field is the local airport India is one of the main drags etc. The title reference may be to the shape of the city limits, which stretch way north to the golf ghetto of Rancho Bernardo along a corridor surrounding the freeway, but I may be reaching here. The characters sort of make sense as stereotypical San Diegans.
The Waterfront Bar is one of my favorite watering holes. It's just off India. Right by Lindburgh Field.
Just down the way from Amniotica and Placentaville, I think...
Lazy8 wrote:
Hey, thanks! I didn't know that stuff. Well, okay, I guess that much is obvious. But anyway, you know--thanks.
Lazy8 wrote:
It's about San Diego. At least all the geographic references fit. And I second (or twelveth, or whatever) the recommendation for anything he's done. I don't think he's ever recorded a sound not worth listening to.
ah. hm. i guess i don't get it. and i'm pretty sure i don't really like it. hm.
Where's John Belushi when we need him? This guy needs his guitar taken and smashed - "Uh, sorry".
rgj13 wrote:
How so?--those references seem pretty vague or general to me. Just curious. Could be his native L.A., too, but wuddooIknow.
I hear you've got a pocket full of words That you keep in the garage Together with the feather and the fireworks A surftown hero who's got one foot in the garden Where the neon-lighted cocktail glasses bloom And they built you a model airplane Like the one that brought you back to Lindbergh field Now you're counting your change by the streetlights on India "Hey, it's me again, I'm faded...could I please come over?" San Diego has many fine surfing beaches (when they're not polluted with raw sewage drifting up from Tijuana) Lindbergh Field is the local airport India is one of the main drags etc. The title reference may be to the shape of the city limits, which stretch way north to the golf ghetto of Rancho Bernardo along a corridor surrounding the freeway, but I may be reaching here. The characters sort of make sense as stereotypical San Diegans.
beautiful
It reminds me a little of Mother Nature's Son. Then again, it could just be the "guy with guitar" angle, but I think I said that due to the way the guitar line bounces the same way.
Lazy8 wrote:
It's about San Diego. At least all the geographic references fit.
How so?--those references seem pretty vague or general to me. Just curious. Could be his native L.A., too, but wuddooIknow. And I think I've already commented on this tune...but yeah, I fourteenth the recommendation.
rah wrote:
but what does it MEAN...?
It's about San Diego. At least all the geographic references fit. And I second (or twelveth, or whatever) the recommendation for anything he's done. I don't think he's ever recorded a sound not worth listening to.
rascal420 wrote:
38.99? Are you kidding me? I could load up on Brittany, Jessica, and Mandy all to-gether for that much. Or snag the entire Styx collection from the cut-out bin.
For some reason the Amazon searchlink is only grabbing the import version for display here; it's since been released in the States and is now 13 bucks on Amazon (and well worth it, to me).
38.99? Are you kidding me? I could load up on Brittany, Jessica, and Mandy all to-gether for that much. Or snag the entire Styx collection from the cut-out bin.
Do I hear some Dylan here? "Ain't no need to wander why, it ain't me, babe."
OfficeUseOnly wrote:
His work is quite sincere. I'd describe his work as formal; searching; tenebrous; adroit.
Well, I'd descibe his work as Poignant, Bittersweet, Autumnal, Reflective, Earnest, Wistful, Brooding, Melancholy, Intimate... Joking. I stole that from AMG :) I like this man's music.
Time to add this one to my "must have" list!
marcel wrote:
I love this cd... But did no one hear the likeness to Cat Stevens in some songs... And in others to Simon & Garfunkel....
Yes. And yes. Both plusses in my book.
gregorbill wrote:
With all due respect to RP's arrangement with Amazon, you get get this album for about half their price from CD Baby: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/garyjules
Not sure why they're linking to an expensive version, but as the CD's out in the US now, you can just buy it from Amazon and give RP money by clicking here, and it's cheaper than CD Baby has it... rock on Gary Jules
Freebish wrote:
Hey, it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
I love this cd... But did no one hear the likeness to Cat Stevens in some songs... And in others to Simon & Garfunkel....
I like the song overall, but I'm not a huge fan of the refrain- it seems like it should have been reworked at some point into something better.
MsJudi wrote:
Mememememe! Glad I wasn't the only one!
Hey, it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
donnie darko was AWESOME!! and what better way the end the movie in climax with mad world done by gary jules. sent shivers down my spine. i shortly after went out and bought the movie. toasties wrote:
This guy has quality in his bile, yup I said bile. I got to hear him through the mad world song in donnie darko. This incidetally is tipped in some circles to be the UK christmas number 1 single. I hope it succeeds and knocks some cuddley thing off number 1. Rock on RP.
beelzebubba wrote:
Anybody else expect to hear "Dont't Think Twice It's Alright"?
Mememememe! Glad I wasn't the only one!
pdhski wrote:
actually, I hear Jim Croce "I Got A Name"
I think there is a three or four note arrangement in this song that strikes a memory of Croce, but that is where the comparison begins and ends. the "Mad World" song someone mentioned below is actually a masterful remake of a Tears For Fears song off of The Hurting, (1983). This guy's work might be rooted in some 1970's music (maybe Taylor, or Mitchell?), but he is also influenced by the folkish styles that came from 1980's UK post-punk, new wave styles. if this guy 'as got 'ya seriously interested, go and buy his album *Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets* (2001). His work is quite sincere. I'd describe his work as formal; searching; tenebrous; adroit.
beelzebubba wrote:
Anybody else expect to hear "Dont't Think Twice It's Alright"?
actually, I hear Jim Croce "I Got A Name"
With all due respect to RP's arrangement with Amazon, you get get this album for about half their price from CD Baby: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/garyjules
beelzebubba wrote:
Anybody else expect to hear "Dont't Think Twice It's Alright"?
I only wish Dylan had this kind of voice. Would have made a lot of otherwise fine music I've heard over the years a lot easier to take.
Anybody else expect to hear "Dont't Think Twice It's Alright"?
but what does it MEAN...?
This guy has quality in his bile, yup I said bile. I got to hear him through the mad world song in donnie darko. This incidetally is tipped in some circles to be the UK christmas number 1 single. I hope it succeeds and knocks some cuddley thing off number 1. Rock on RP.
This guy is really talented, and I'm pleased to see him getting play here. I think there's a depth, a solemnity, and a thoughtfulness to his songwriting that has only come into fashion lately among reasonably well-promoted female singer-songwriters; I'd listen to this alongside Jim O'Rourke's Eureka.