Thursday, August 19, 2010

Stoned me just like Jelly Roll

         
Morrison, in 1985, related the song to a quasi-mystical childhood experience: 
        I suppose I was about twelve years old. We used to go to a place called Ballystockart to fish. We stopped in the village on the way up to this place and I went to this little stone house, and there was an old man there with dark weather-beaten skin, and we asked him if he had any water. He gave us some water which he said he'd got from the stream. We drank some and everything seemed to stop for me. Time stood still. For five minutes everything was really quiet and I was in this 'other dimension'. That's what the song is about.
         During this song Morrison sings: "...Stoned me just like Jelly Roll. And it stoned me." 
         That lyric is thought to be a reference to jazz musicianJelly Roll Morton, whose 
         recordings Morrison listened to with his father as he was growing up.
I know what Van is talking about....


This Tuesday, Harley, my 4 year old, said the inevitable during a particularly intense temper tantrum.


"I don't love you ANY-MORE!"


I knew it was coming, someday, but it still stoned me.   My offending behavior, turning off the television before Word World because we had somewhere to be.


Then yesterday,  as I'm puttering around the kitchen, this conversation takes place:


H--"Mommy, you look old".


Me-- "Really?   How so"?


H-- "Well, it's not your skin, it's more on the inside".


Me--"Oh".


H--"Well, mommy, it's only because you ARE old"!


Me--"Yes, I am... but I'm not THAT old"!


H--"Well, you're not a kid mom".


Me--"That's true... I'm not.  What about grandma, does she look old too"?


H--- giggling-- "No!"


And there you have it.  I may be old, hated and stoned to the bone, but not, as yet, in the way.
Some weeks you take what you can get.

8 comments:

JoJo said...

Ouch. That must've hurt. Kind of like the time I was looking through my Viewmaster of the Snow White story, and I announced to my mom that she looked just like the evil witch in the cartoon....

As much as I want to like Van Morrison, I just don't. That said, I find the Jerry Garcia Band's version of Stoned Me to be inspired.

Rebecca said...

While I was in the dressing room the other day trying on a pair of jeans (which did not fit...grrr) Isabella said "Those jeans don't fit because your legs up here are really fat! You need to move your fat from here down to here." She pointed to my thighs first then my lower legs.

Also, the dressing rooms were totally packed and of course quiet. So the whole world heard. Didn't stone me but I sure wanted to stay in that little room for the rest of my life.

Ms. Moon said...

Great way to put it- being stoned. Kids can throw some pretty heavy rocks.

Petit fleur said...

Jojo,

Yea... Kids! Funny thing is that when I think about it, it kind of hurts, and yet I remember saying the same thing to my dad when I was a kiddo, and I definitely didn't mean it.

Petit fleur said...

Rebecca!

Oh my GOD!!! I feel your pain from here!!

I have no idea what I would have done or said, but covering my head with the clothes and dashing out comes to mind! sigh.

Bless you. And thank you for reminding me, there's more to come!
pf

Petit fleur said...

Miss Moon,
Yea they can.

white rabbit said...

I think Harley is just testing for reaction. Of course he loves you! Always will!

I think Van Morrison is a superb performer at his best but not a nice person - or that's the impression - never met him! Saw him in concert once. He was good. Okay betetr than good.

Petit fleur said...

WR,

I think you are right. Also, he is trying to "win"! Always! Thanks for your thoughts.

Donno much about Van, I just always wondered about that song... I like the idea of it. I like him ok, but I'm not a rabid fan or anything.

On a totally different note, I saw 3 Dog Night in concert a while back. That was one I often still must about. I guess they are the same generation, so it popped up. I've had a lot of caffeine this morn.
Have a groovy weekend.
pf