Spintunes 12 - Round 1 - The Ethical Ballad of Mayor Goldie Wilson

Something about the Back to the Future series has always bothered me.  Everybody knows that Biff Tannen in the alternate 1985 pretty much destroyed Hill Valley.  But no one really talks about the present 1985 Hill Valley and what a disgusting rundown place it actually is as well.  But how did that happen, if the 1955 Hill Valley was such a quaint, peaceful and clean place to live? (Well, with a few exceptions)

I've got three words for you... Mayor...Goldie...Wilson.  "Goldie" became Mayor in 1977 because he decided to go to night school and make a difference.  In 1985, we know he's running for re-election and is trying to replace/destroy the historic clock tower on the Hill Valley Courthouse.  We also see that 1985 Hill Valley is filled with dirty litter-filled streets, gun violence, homeless, graffiti, xxx theatres, you name it...Some may say it's a sign of the times, but not every neighborhood in America turned out that way.  So all signs point to one man: the man who claimed he was going to clean up the streets, but seemed to have the opposite effect.  Our own gold-toothed mayor, Goldie Wilson.  But what was running through his mind that fateful day in 1977 when he was elected Mayor of Hill Valley.........

THE ETHICAL BALLAD OF MAYOR GOLDIE WILSON

LYRICS

The Valley lies there dormant waiting for one man to lead
And in I ride upon my mighty proverbial steed
That gleam upon my teeth means satisfaction guaranteed
It's my rally
It's easy to be Mayor - give the people what they want
Health inspections waived for all your local restaurants
Yes, you can ask for anything, I'm this town's confidant

In Hill Valley
I pride myself in keeping these streets clean
Mayor Goldie
The Sheriff Bart of this municipality
Of Hill Valley
Integrity, Honesty, Decency
Mayor Goldie
All hail Mayor Goldie Wilson

My brothas have been kept down all throughout the 70's
So now I take the power from the Hill Valley Police
The homeless and graffiti could be a conversation piece
In a dark alley
Lou exclaimed "A colored Mayor! That'll be the day!"
Well, the results are coming in, it's Goldie all the way
How hard could it be to keep this town from disarray

In Hill Valley
I grew up here, I'm keeping my streets clean
Mayor Goldie
The Sheriff Bart of this municipality
Of Hill Valley
Integrity, Honesty, Decency
Mayor Goldie
All hail Mayor Goldie Wilson

My dear mom worked 40 years and got nowhere
The time has come to show the world that I'm somebody
And to think I'd still be a server
If it wasn't for that kid in the life preserver
Don't need your prayers
Cos I'm your mayor

Of Hill Valley
It won't be long 'fore we're out of money
Mayor Goldie
That clock tower is ancient history
In Hill Valley
Let's build a mall right by that ol' pine tree
Mayor Goldie
Today's a day that will live in infamy
Mayor Goldie
The very first day of my legacy
Mayor Goldie
All hail Mayor Goldie Wilson!

SpinTunes Round 2 : Another Apology

This challenge, I decided to go a different route.  Though I normally play acoustic folk / folk punk, etc., I thought the topic at hand called for a genre I haven't worked with since the early 2000s... ... pop punk.. ...

The song is based on a relationship I had in 2002 when I was in college in Boston.  My ex-girlfriend, Ali, caused me all kinds of semi-psychological problems long after she was gone from my life, and it was great to finally be able to write a song about the real issue at hand.  You see, Ali, was super sweet, supportive, caring, and kind on the surface...but it wasn't until about 3 months into our relationship, that it became extremely brutal.  She was a typical Boston punk:  Irish, extremely outspoken, and LOVED her alcohol.  

When she would drink, things would take a very dark turn.  She would go from saying "I love you" over and over again on the phone, to screaming at me about every little thing that was wrong with me.  Not only was it completely unprovoked, but she would do this within the same dialogue before I even got a chance to speak.   And she would always turn it on me, as if I was the one who provoked her. My best friend at the time (Jen) would always try to tell me what kind of a person Ali was, but I wouldn't listen to her.  I was too enamored..I was too in love.  The good (in my mind) certainly outweighed the bad tenfold...But things continued to get worse.

She would make plans with me and just not show up.  I'd call her phone, I'd call her sister's phone... Nothing...  At 2-3AM, I would finally get a hold of her drunk out of her mind in someone's dorm room....Usually a guy..  she would tell me that she was just drinking and not doing anything...and she would ALWAYS convince me she was telling the truth.  In the back of my mind, I knew she was lying..but I just wouldn't listen to myself.  I was absolutely in love with this girl.  

Now, while I could regale you with all the horror stories from that relationship (and believe me, there are plenty), I'll save it for my memoirs.  That relationship left me uncaring and untrusting for many many years after.  And while it's finally behind me, Ali will always be the proverbial thorn in my side.

This song recounts that relationship and how her alcoholism related to the way she treated me.  The protagonist in the song (me) repeats "Why do I jump to conclusions?" as she has convinced him that he is falsely accusing her...finally, out of exasperation, he believes her.  He is in love...and there is no way for him to see what kind of a lying, cheating mess she is. He'll just live with the bad, so he can revel in the good when it finally comes along.

Lyrics

Another hurricane, another slammed door

Another flask of whisky washed up on the shore

My eyes can’t rest until the phone rings and I hear your sweet goodnight

But at 2 AM, I write a requiem to us

For which I can’t recite

I worry that it may be closing time

I will not accept your last

Call me before my heart self-destructs

From finding out the truth again

Go on, the bar is calling you

Our plans keep falling through

You slept over a friend’s last night

Which friend? No information

Offer no explanation

No accusation, but it don’t seem right

I know you’d never lie to me

You were with your family

Why do I jump to conclusions?

Another apology

Another dial tone, another stomach flu

Another string of words that could not come from you

You tell me you’ll love me forever and how I make you feel inside

I hear the tab open, and it begins again

Good evening, Mrs. Hyde

“Your band sucks”, “Your music’s too mainstream,”

“You won’t amount to anything,”

“You loser,” “I never loved you”

Then ten minutes later you love me again

Go on, the party’s calling you

Our plans keep “falling through”

What happened to our date last night?

You left me waiting at the train station

Offer no explanation

No invitation to your nonstop flight

 I know you’d never lie to me

You thought that I would be at the party

Why do I jump to conclusions?

Another apology

The struggle’s terrifying, but it’s worth it

If I come home to you everyday

It’s just a phase, you’ll probably get over it

It never used to be this way…

Why do I jump to conclusions?

I just apologize and tune out all your lies….