Monday, June 22, 2015

"The Boatman"

The usual Plastic Mikey  modus operandi on this one: Kevin Dempsey gave me a tape of the instrumental background, and I added lyrics. We have truly become a culture of information overload, even more so in the 20 years since I wrote these words. I just started reading How Google Works, which is all about one of the companies at the technological forefront these days. At the time “The Boatman” was written, “googol” was just a big number (10100).

The Boatman

© 1994 Brian Hutzell

If it's out there, I take it in
Information--I soak it up
Like a sponge, through my skin
Mental inflation till I erupt

Take a minute to watch The Boatman
The sea is tumbling, but he keeps on floating
He knows his business, doesn't waste a moment
Fishing and hunting for game that'll kill The Boatman

I'm a blank page; write on me
An empty billboard on the road
"This space for rent--going cheap!"
Input overload

Take a minute to watch The Boatman
The sea is tumbling, but he keeps on floating
He knows his business, doesn't waste a moment
Fishing and hunting for game that'll kill The Boatman

Gotta learn to say, "No!"
Step out of the flow
Gotta la learn to let go
Sit back and watch The Boatman

Don't want to exclude the multitude
But it takes too much thought for food
So I'd rather sit back and watch The Boatman

Take a minute to watch The Boatman
The sea is tumbling, but he keeps on floating
He knows his business, doesn't waste a moment
Fishing and hunting for game that'll kill The Boatman



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