Way Down In The Hole

Busy week means fewer posts. Sorry about that guys. But for your weekend listening, I figured I’d do something a bit fun. For those of you familiar with either The Wire (the best TV show of all time, about crime in Baltimore) or Tom Waits (the musician who sounds like cookie monster) you’ll enjoy this. I’ve collected a few different versions of Way Down In The Hole, the theme song from The Wire, originally written and recorded by Mr. Waits.

Enjoy!

Tom Waits – Way Down In The Hole

Steve Earle – Way Down In The Hole

The Blind Boys of Alabama – Way Down In The Hole

M.I.A (feat Blaqstarr) – Way Down In The Hole

Beatspoke – Way Down In The Hole

The walls fall down

Today is the 17th of the Jewish month of Tamuz, a day that marks the beginning of a three-week mourning period. One of the things that is said to have happened on this day is that the walls surrounding the temple in Jerusalem were torn down about 2000 years ago.

To commemorate and remember this event here are a few songs for the day.

Gil Scot-Heron – Or Down You Fall

Steve Earle: Lungs

[Note: This is a Townes Van Zandt song that Earle recorded for his album Townes. The song features Tom Morello on guitar.]

Well, won’t you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that’s passing.
Breath I’ll take and breath I’ll give
Pray the day ain’t poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.

Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you’ve found
You fool, it’s only moonlight.
If you try to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
You better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.

Salvation sat and crossed herself
Called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who’ll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at it’s mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers

Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ain’t got the time for outside
Just keep your injured looks to you
We’ll tell the world we tried