Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 34-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.
Back when I wrote this song, “here” was specific, and the general dissatisfaction expressed was about a relationship. Fast forward 25 years (to now), and although I still live “here”—in the same room, where I pay the same rent—I’m pretty sure I’m done with relationships.
The “here” back then was more about my life than this room. Now that you’re in my life, this is how things are gonna be, etc. Well, now that I’m still here (both in my own life and this same room), it seems to me to be a pity that so many songs have been written about relationship strife—which is actually one of the reasons I want to set up an artist residency program to focus on music and art that intends to create progressive social change.
“Now That You’re Here” from The Eagle And The Poodle (Matador, 1996) (download):
