I can scream like a cicada, gin the seed right out the boll

[sovay]

This thing where I missed out on most of the Western canon in school turns up in the weirdest places. After knowing the song for at least fifteen years, I just learned this morning that the Squirrel Nut Zippers' "Wash Jones" was inspired by—or at least shares a name with—a character in William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom! (1936), which I have never read. I always just thought of it as a great American trickster song. I was talking to an oak tree when a cypress butted in. Out of car parts, a raven made a nest inside my skin. To understand me better, you all ought to follow me home. I make a wish, I clean the fish, Lord, that's why they call me Wash Jones. It was the first song I heard by the group, even before their legendary "Hell," and it guaranteed I would look for the rest of their music, which did seem to come from some time-slipped, hot-jazz, hallucinogenic South; I like it even in its earlier version. I suppose I should read more Faulkner one of these days.

I hate apartment-hunting, but it is once again my plan for the rest of the day. Autolycus is sacked out on my desk and Hestia has claimed the cool dark space under the bed; they blink at me sleepily as I move around the room. I tell them they have no idea what I do for their sakes. They are good cats, even if you can't trust Autolycus with a yogurt drink.

Comments

We do!

[sovay]

What a great song.

I really think it remains my favorite of theirs. It's one of the songs that feels like there's so much more in it than the lyrics.

I haven't read Faulkner either, and I too feel like I should correct that one day.

I've read some of his short fiction, but I honestly think I have never read any of his novels. I know my brother did in school and so did most of my friends, but I read other things.

You want a yogurt drink, you guard your yogurt drink. It's the law of the jungle out there.

Milky in tooth and claw . . .