So Many Me's

Click to hear a sample

VC: lead, harmony & backing vocals, Fender Precision bass, Fender Telecaster, Yamaha CS1 Synth (organ & horn), drum programming; featuring Jimi Furia: Fender Telecaster lead guitar

The phrase "Mr. Oblivious" first popped into my head when thinking about former President Ronald Reagan. This was of course in mid-eighties and years of Reagan ruining America had taken its toll. I wanted to write a political song, but though I have often tried over the years, I'm just not that good at it. I'm much better as a social observer and telling stories through characters. This song is no exception. It presents three very diverse people whose obliviousness adversely affected those around them: my younger brother who was living with me at the time, a young female friend and former "groupie" of my then band the Coffee Achievers, and finally our leader, Mr. Reagan. It is amazing how the final verse so aptly fits our pal George W. I think you look up oblvious in the dicitonary now and his picture is there. Though I was still performing with my rock band, The Coffee Achievers at the time, this as originally written had a definite thread of 80's pop in it. Of course there is the Ray Davies influence as well and when Jimi added his lead guitar I'm sure he was thinking of younger brother Dave making it such a fitting addition and really giving the song a true Kinks feel.

You got rock ‘n’ roll on your radio
There ain’t a song that you don’t know
In your room all day with the music on
But you don’t know what’s going on
You live you life without a care
For anyone, anywhere
You do whatever you want to do
You think the world revolves around you
Do you feel no sorrow do you feel no shame?
Never owning up, or taking the blame
For every time you’ve stolen or lied
I guess your conscience must have died

Open your eyes, maybe then you’d see
Mr. Oblivious
These saddened faces in misery
But you’re oblivious

You take what you want, yeah, whatever you need
It don’t matter who you bleed
You do anything just to get your way
Never listen to what anyone says

You ask me why people think you’re dumb
Stare through blank eyes as you chew your gum
Well, look in the mirror maybe then you’d see
Why people think your head is empty
Bop ‘round the room like you’ve got no care
But deep inside you’re really scared
Upon no man can you depend
But who said you could depend on men
You want help and you come to me
But you’re helpless it’s plain to see
No longer a child, yeah the damage is done
Another disillusioned woman

Open you’re eyes; it’s all you can do
You’re so oblivious
Because your fate’s determined by you
But you’re oblivious

If you could watch yourself on a TV screen
Maybe then you’d know what I mean
You look so dumb and don’t use your mind
Sorry, but I’ve got to be cruel to be kind

The head of the nation, the great white chief
Millions of people give you their belief
And the rich get richer, no they’ve never enough
Y’all think this country’s just a country club

Open your eyes, maybe then you’d see
Mr. Oblivious
There’s so many sad faces in the land of the free
But you’re oblivious

If you could live one day on a city street
Talk to everyone that you meet
Could you understand what poverty means?
Can’t you ever hear the children’s screams?

Open your eyes, maybe then you’d see
Mr. Oblivious
These saddened faces in misery
But you’re oblivious