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Normal History Vol. 478: The Art Of David Lester

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.

The oblique nature of the lyrics here are a kind of fortress against saying too much—or anything, it seems. In the late 1980s, five people were convicted of several high profile actions including damage at a factory in Ontario, Canada, where U.S. cruise missile guidance systems were being manufactured and tested. Interestingly enough, at one time, the Tomahawk missiles fired in Syria in April employed this system. Maybe they still do.

To a certain extent, these events were the backdrop to my politicization. Because one of those arrested was a high-profile musician in the punk scene, there were constant updates and speculation, as well as benefit shows for legal funds, and an introduction to what trial by media looked like as it unfolded. There were also charges of fire bombing a video store that distributed violent porn. Snuff films.

Years later I went out with one of the people (for about six months) convicted (after he’d served time). I’ve never said much about this association, but these lyrics were written during (or shortly after) that relationship, and they reflect my very uncomfortable filtering of expression, leaving a sketch of my personal curiosity about what happens to a person after they’ve been through something like that—a profound loss of freedom—and how that might change a person.

Somebody might tell you
how to say it
“You’re wrong.”

You’re going down
Whatever happened
to your own life?

You’re going down

Better catch it
somebody might tell you
you’re going down

Whatever happened to
what you say?

“Texada Warns Me” from Flood Plain (K, 1993) (download):