Thursday, September 2, 2010

SIGNED DC - Arthur Lee and Love / Lyrics


Arthur Lee wrote SIGNED DC watching his drummer fall under the spell of heroin.

Released in 1966 the song caters to the reality of smack versus the Velvet Underground’s romanticism of the narcotic.

Everyone made their own choices no matter what song you heard first.

Love Signed D C lyrics

Sometimes I feel so lonely
My comedown I’m scared to face
I’ve pierced my skin again, Lord
No one cares
For me.

My soul belongs to the dealer
He keeps my mind as well
I play the part of the leecher
No one cares
For me, cares for me

Look out Joe, I’m fallin’
I can’t unfold my arms
I’ve got one foot in the graveyard
No one cares
For me, cares for me.

I am a child of the 60s. A hippie punk. Not a Deadhead. Love was our group. He was the ‘black hippie’. Maybe Love would have been more of a success if he hadn’t clung to the West Coast.

After 3 superb LPs featuring his velvet voice, shimmering guitars, and funky bass, Arthur Lee went solo. He never attained the same stature of his career with Love, but his songs haunted the minds of millions.

In 2002 a friend of mine announced he was putting on a two shows of Arthur Lee at a Polish meeting hall in Brooklyn. I called Andy Pollock and two girls in their teens. “You have to see this show.”

Andy needed little convincing, being a Love fan. Free passes and offers of drinks coerced the teenagers, who were converted after the first song by the psychedelic song writer. His band had been formed by young fans mad for his music. This wasn’t a nostalgia tour. Arthur Lee was resuming his throne as hippie god.

I had forgotten how much I missed him and sang along with every song. I knew all the words and I don’t know all the words to LOUIE LOUIE. Arthur glowed with the pleasure that he had not been forgotten after a prison stint for wild gunplay.

“Do you remember me I’m the one you talk about.”

I found myself next to Ivan Julian from the Voidoids. We exchanged a smile and sang along together.

My friends thanked me profusively for having brought them to what the youngest girl said was the best concert she had ever seen.

The next evening’s show was equally rewarding.

Arthur Lee is gone. The music remains.

I was lucky enough to find a DVD of a 2002 London concert.

Today I’m playing LOVE, DE CAPO, FOREVER CHANGES.

And always SIGNED DC.

To hear SIGNED DC go to this URL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0LCsOrpRw

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