For the Sake of the Song

When Blue Light Special debuted our cover of  Tom Waits' “2:19” at the Roadhouse one night during our last set, our charismatic LV sang that line from the 3rd verse as “A storm in my pants, I’m a lusting machine—My baby’s leaving town on the 2:19.”

At our next rehearsal, I said, “Um, Jimmy—it’s—it’s ‘The Sturm & the Drang, the luster & the sheen,/ My baby’s leaving in town on the 2:19.’”

“Macalicious,” Jimmy said, “Nobody gives a crap about lyrics.”

I swallowed.  I gave Jimmy my fiercest stink eye.  “It’s the only thing I care about,” I told him.  Which wasn’t entirely true.  But you know, it was an argument.  He shrugged & nodded—then next show, Jimmy sang it the same way.  The wrong way.  & after he did, he turned around & laughed all over my bass line.