Curtains

Some History:  Curtains (5.7M mp3) – from the CD Greenthumb recorded by the group 'Greenthumb' in Buenos Aires in 1997 featuring the all star Argentina Crafty line-up of Martin Schwutke, Fernando Kabusacki, Guillermo Olivera, Christian de Santis, Horacio Pozzo, Claudio Lafalce, Martin de Aguirre, Luciano Pietrafesa, Pablo Mandel, and Marcelo O'Reilly.

The song was written in 1990 and first performed by a group called “Curtains” that performed in the Claymont Barn, Washington Square Church in NYC, and in the Old Piano Factory in Boston.  The group “Curtains” featured Tobin Buttram, Steve Jolemore, Nigel Gavin, Karen Thomas, myself, and a Boston percussionist whose name I cannot remember at the moment.

This song still sounds and feels relatively relevant, to my ears.  Occasionally, “C3” will pull this out and play it live.

* * *

long before the curtains close
the Window's eye is filled up with tears
siren songs announce the flooding
river borders bend, disappear
trees give up their fruit for lumber
reindeer sing a sad city song
glowing water flowing under
melting islands drowned in the sun

long before the days were numbered
long before the snow fell on sand
lightning came before the thunder
warning those who might understand
signals in the taste of water
dark spot on the face of the sun
chocolate bubbles in the harbor
simple signs of what was to come

fight the fire, learn to fight the fire we started
lost desire, lost desire doesn't matter
flame inspires, flame ignites motivation
come inside, help requires an invitation

Eskimo needs air conditioning
sheep dog needs cut and a shave
who remembers sweater weather?
why won't the seasons behave?
Macy's has a sale on parkas
white bear wonders why his cheeks are red
palm trees over streets of Bellevue
no more need for long underwear

fight the fire, learn to fight the fire we started
lost desire, lost desire doesn't matter
flame inspires, flame ignites our motivation
come inside, help requires an invitation

* * *

Comments

[Steve Ball]

I forgot to mention what a complete honor it is/was to have the BigTime trio, most of Los Gauchos and the future driver of Zum (brother Luciano!) playing alongside the other mega-talents of Christian, Guille, Pablo, and Marcello.