*Show Biz*
by Charles Bukowski
I can’t have it
and you can’t have it
and we won’t
get it
so don’t bet on it
or even think about
it
just get out of bed
each morning
wash
shave
clothe
yourself
and go out into
it
because
outside of that
all that’s left is
suicide and
madness
so you just
can’t
expect too much
you can’t even
expect
so what you do
is
work from a modest
minimal
base
like when you
walk outside
be glad your car
might possibly
be there
and if it is-
that the tires
aren’t
flat
then you get
in
and if it
starts–you
start.
and
it’s the damndest
movie
you’ve ever
seen
because
you’re
in it–
low budget
and
4 billion
critics
and the longest
run
you ever hope
for
is
one
Day.
And now, a poem by Joseph Arthur… he is a singer/songwriter on tour with his band (Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts), and was feeling discouraged because he’s going to towns to perform, and, in some cases, seats are empty. Since I just played two shows (out of five) where there were very few people, I was grateful to my sister-in-law, Cindy, who sent these poems my way to say, “Hey, you’re not alone…keep doing what you do…”
Depression in the Back Lounge
by Joseph
In alabama
Depression in the back lounge
Dig deep
For here comes the show
Dig deep
Don’t let the head spin you into being the victim
Renunciation
Disillusionment comes to all lucky enough to face it
The music industry is in a drought
The independent artist
Has more freedom
But also more burden
When out here making it on your own
The many twists and turns of the road
Can and will knock you sideways
In alabama
Depression in the back lounge
Every job has its bag of shit
But with music or any art
You put your soul and your passion into it
Its hard to stay detached enough to endure the waves of the road without crashing into every shore
Its a privilege
And its a punishment
Its a contradiction
I’m not sure I will come thru some of these towns again
Not because I don’t love travel, or playing for the folks
But because the folks, in certain towns ain’t been coming out
Or at least not in numbers justifying our return
I’m trying to stay above this circumstance
To battle thru
To have fun
To live in the moment
But
In the back lounge
In alabama
Depression has its way of folding over me like a blanket
And whispering
Nasty things in my ear
I gotta dig deep
Its show time
And you can never punish the people who came
For the people who didn’t