Life Shrinks

[Jackson Monk]

Just came on the ipod and took me by surprise. A great B side and I had forgotten how much I liked it.

[johnfoyle]

It was written for a Irish film,The War Of The Buttons, but not used. I remember sitting through a showing of it in the Stella cinema, Rathmines, just in case it was used. It , of course , wasn't . Back in those pre-'net etc. days , 1994, it was the only way to find out! I must give it a listen again.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111666/

[pophead2k]

Great song! Thanks for the reminder!

[Jackson Monk]

Shall I wear a buttonhole to jog your memory
So you'll recall the promise
That I swore you made to me when we were younger?
You look sorry for yourself, but what about?
I've some idea you're not without a doubt
So you can put away that tongue
I don't know who I'm trying to kid
I'll find another name for you
I'll try to put the blame on you
For everything we did

Life shrinks and before you know it
You have forgotten all the cuts and bruises
Just be thankful we were only fighting for buttons
And you know by now who loses

You're only half awake because you never go to bed
And when he hears about it
Then the both of you's is dead, and that's a promise
You'll be sorry 'cos I won't tell you again
You'll stick like that one day
And if you don't believe me, go and ask St. Thomas
I don't know where it's going to stop
Spend your whole time trying to stay
From breaking down or running away
Or trying to keep up

Life shrinks and before you know it
You have forgotten all the cuts and bruises
Just be thankful we were only fighting for buttons
And you know by now who loses

[Jack of All Parades]

Thank you for jogging my memory of this song-always liked the evocation of quickening time, how it piles up and moves on, perhaps like the pileups engaged by the protaganists in the song. It, time, does pass no matter how we try to slow it as EC says in the final verse. Have frequently thought EC should try more falsetto, though I have never been enamoured of the martial drum and fife in the arrangement.