It's a free country

A phrase that is used by Americans. Sadly it is no longer true, but to this day the Government forces people believe it is.

Sincerely Signed,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Conspiracy Theorist

"It's a free country!" Johnny to the Government

"No it's not!" The Government to Johnny

"I'll think what I want" Johnny

"You'll think what I tell you." Government

"Ok." Americans to Government

by Frank Rider August 23, 2009

Big Time

Big Time, from 1988, was Tom Waits' second live album, but it was his tenth release. Waits did a tour called Big Time which was taped and became a little known movie of the same name, and there was an album of the songs released. There are two new songs on the album, but all recordings of old songs are new. Falling Down and Strange Weather are the originals, though the latter was from the stage version of Frank's Wild Years. This is an amazing album, with beautiful versions of already perfect songs.

An excerpt from Big Time's-
Strange Weather

Will you take me across the Channel,
London Bridge is falling down
Strange, a woman tries to save
What a man will try to drown
And he's the rain that they predicted,
Its the forecast every time
The rose has died because you picked it
And I believe that brandy's mine

by Frank Rider August 23, 2009

FaceBurqa

A fictional Iranian version of Facebook. Term invented by Robin Williams. It's only use is comedic.

"I don't really use the internet. I do want to try that Iranian thing, FaceBurqa."

Robin Williams to Conan O'Brien, asked about using Twitter

by Frank Rider August 23, 2009

Big Black Mariah

A term used for a police vehicle, usually a Golden (or Classic) Age Ford or Chevy.

Tom Waits has a song called 'Big Black Mariah' - it's all about being chased by the police. An excerpt;

"Here comes the Big Black Mariah,
I seen the big black Ford"

And Nick Cave mentions that the character in 'The Curse Of Milhaven' is driven;

"Off to the the asylum'
In an Old Black Mariah"

by Frank Rider August 22, 2009

A and B the C.O.D.

Above and Beyond the Call Of Duty

That work you did is really A and B the C.O.D.

by Frank Rider August 22, 2009

Bone Machine

This 1992 album was Tom Waits' darkest release yet. Full of dark "cyber drama" and vicious guitar strings, he had totally dropped his piano onto the city sidewalk. Here we find Goin' Out West, Murder In The Red Barn, and the delicate suicide story, The Ocean Doesn't Want Me. Waits' voice sounds stepped on and burned out, but the songs are more amazing than ever because of it.

An excerpt from Bone Machine's-
Black Wings

Well they've stopped trying to hold him
With mortar, stone and chain
He broke out of every prison
Well the boots mount the staircase
The door is flung back open
He's not there for he has risen
He's not there for he has risen
Well he once killed a man with a guitar string
He's been seen at the table with kings
Well, he once saved a baby from drowning
There are those who say beneath his coat there are wings

by Frank Rider August 23, 2009

Jaheseus

An odd way of saying Jesus, used by Tom Waits in the song Filipino Box Spring Hog. It has few practical conversational uses, but it is an interesting word.

An excerpt from Filipino Box Spring Hog-
From the album Mule Variations-
Tom Waits-

"Jaheseus Christ I can always
Make room, when they're
Cookin' up a filipino box spring hog"

by Frank Rider August 23, 2009