http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEOiV5eadQk "Now all those things that seemed so important. Well mister they vanished right into the air. Now I act like I don't remember. Mary acts like she don't care" 1981 hit for Bruce Springsteen from his album of the same name. It marked a change in direction for Springsteen - his songs got a lot darker after The River and it paved the way for Nebraska - an album full of depressing ballads and it was inspired by Hank Williams - Godfather of the depressing song. Basically the narrator comes from a small conservative town and economic times are hard. He enjoys going "down to the river" with his sweetheart Mary and swimming in the river with her and then getting jiggy with it. Unfortunately he impregnates Mary and for his 19th birthday he got a "union card and a wedding coat". So he has to marry her and get a job. There is no celebrating of the wedding and the narrator and Mary have to get on with things although their dreams have been crushed. The river remains a symbol of hope for the narrator The River is a great misery filled depression inducing song, from the opening melancholy harmonica to the last lyric. Nobody can tell a story as well as Springsteen - he is the Master Balladeer. It was inspired by his sister and brother in law as a portrait of their early marriage. Springsteen's sister Ginny recently confirmed this in a biography of Springsteen. The miserable story has a happy ending - the pair are still together.
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!