"Emotional Freedom, Phil Lynott, In Awe Of Savage Purple"
In the Alcoholics Anonymous book of Daily Reflections, right there on page 241, the Reflection for August 20th, it says "Toward Emotional Freedom".
It quotes from Twelve Steps And Twelve Traditions, it says;
"Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes, including our alcoholism, no field of investigation could yield more satisfying and valuable rewards than this one."
Title-card onscreen, klinkin 1927 piano keys;
"TOWARD EMOTIONAL FREEDOM!"
Askew static angles, the docks alive with square-jawed brick-breasted sailors, all cheerin, thrustin fists in the air, one of em hollerin with the hands held either side a the yap, stirring the others towards the shimmerin emancipation over yonder by the steps, yes, TOWARD EMOTIONAL FREEDOM!
Reflections in the puddles, a Naval-hued stampede, a thousand feet tramplin the rain-lashed mornin into gnarled, battered muck.
A fella in front, much less masculine than the rest, whispers on bone where the bulging biceps should be, he stops, turns around, looking all uncertain, all unsure of things alla damn sudden.
The sailors round about, they start pointing Up Ahead, start yelling, wordless, but the title cards tell us all about how what they're saying is "Comrade! Don't Stop Now! Emotional Freedom Right There!"
And the fella kinda shrugs. Starts tuning an acoustic, seems to be muttering something or other, all apologetic.
"Sorry, comrades. I just dunno that I wanna be free just yet. I'm kinda diggin the melancholy."
Stunned eyes burnin slack-jaw skulls.
"Also, this plinky-plonk is all well and good, but what say we grab hold a couple these chords right here and sing bout how My Baby Done Me Bad?"
Fade to red, grey, black, fade to
Sir Fleming hollering, "Get up you lazy bastard, t'is a glorious Saturday, there's sitting around to be done!"
He throws that morning's Independent at me, tabloid pages cascading this way an that. "More", he says, "Plastic bags have been outlawed! Fugitives, we've ended up!"
Yesterday morning I arrived in this hotel carrying two plastic bags filled wi Diet Coke an a couple books - some William Blake, some Lester Bangs.
The hell you yackin bout, is what I get to muttering, grainy Soviet homosexuals headed ever closer to the rocks huggin the depths of the brain-gunk.
"Plastic bags, they've been outlawed. Some sort of environmental decision or other. It's paper or nothing."
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
I was going to quote my favorite line and say you're brilliant, Duke. But then there were so many I couldn't pick one. So I'll just say, that was beautiful man. Really.
2 - Bennett
..............
That's what speechless looks like.
Thanks Duke.
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Mat and Bennett, thank you. it means a bunch to know folks dig this ongoin thing, i say that every time, but its the damn truth of the situation. with this instalment i was convinced no-one would know what the hell was goin on. it appears i was wrong, since you fine fellas worked it out, an thats enough to send a fella to bed with a smile on the yap.
thank you.
4 - Bennett
Yaw. Twas a masterful intro, beyond belief. I'm really in awe at all of it. Signed copies of your first book is what I'm getting at. I'll ebay 'em when I need to retire.
More please.
5 - Mat Brewster
Twas danged fine writing at that. It also brings a twing at the remembrance at the pain you go through, being the single lad you are. I remember too many nights fretting over some pretty lass who might've smiled at me three mornings before.
6 - Aaron Fleming (The infamous Sir)
Blue velvet jacket! The legendary smock of righteousness. I wanna witness that being worn more often now, cafe sits, all major events. I'm sure it'd bring a certain kind of magic to all proceedings.
7 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Sir Fleming! here in the giddy climes of Blogcritics!
no, i can't get behind the wearin of the jacket at anythin other than maybe public executions. or jandek performances.
8 - DJRadiohead
A universal fucking sentiment that might not have ever been expressed better.
9 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
DJ, thank you! ah, we all know the horrors a that kinda situation. sadly. pathetically.
10 - DJRadiohead
And so now I am feeling greedy... will there be more installments?
11 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
DJ, sorry, i been away for a few days. yeah, there is an end to the tale, but i ain't got a chance to pen it yet. but it's comin, hell yeah.
12 - Sinéad
heh - you're my own personal diary, except its what was seen through your eyes, i need to hear the next account coz thats where i slowly but surely began to get wasted!!
13 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
sweet moses! Sinéad! i feel all blush-filled. well, least yeah, proves at least i didn't make you up for the purposes of an excessive ramblin narrative.
an i'm half way through part 6. and you weren't THAT wasted. nothin that wouldn't a been outta place in, say, some Tsarist opium-den back in the day.
14 - Sinéad
actually i am made up - i'm like that stupid fookin' dinosaur - the more you believe, the more power i get - i can now type, weeeeeeeeeeeee!!
hurry up with part six ya lazy cunt - i need to know what happens - or be reminded at least........and myself and annas moment better be told in the most tasteful way
15 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
heh, it'll be all the tasteful in the world. i wasn't gonna mention it, at least not with names, but you've gone an ensured that no, it's GOTTA have names.
an to the editors, "ya lazy cunt" is not a personal attack in this instance.
16 - Sinéad
is too a personal attack!!but you're well used to my foul mouth at this stage - you bring out the choicest of words from my vocab Dukey
COME ON NUMBER 6 ALREADY!
17 - DJRadiohead
COME ON NUMBER 6 ALREADY!
Ditto that. I only wish I were an Irishman so that I, too, could call you a lazy cunt. But I am an American which means I can't use that word. I am jealous.
18 - Sinéad
there are plenty of other things you can call him like a lazy fucker or a big fruit which is one of my personal favourites
or if you dont wanna type the whole word cunt there are ways around it like calling him a CUN fuckin' T
capital C capital U capital N capital fuckin' T
take your pick