A dusty old jewel in the South Puget Sound

Photo by Stephen Cysewski

Neko Case - Thrice All American (buy album).

Is there anything wrong with this song?

If there is, I can't find it. I love Neko's voice. I love the arrangement--the wavering a capella start, especially, is powerful. And I love the lyrics and the way Neko loves the hidden charm of Tacoma.

I think I can related to this tune in a special way because I have the same feeling towards Detroit that Neko has for Tacoma (but I'm not at all worried about my town being discovered by Californians). Anyway, it really got to me today, so I figured I better post it here. Get yourself some Neko asap.

I want to tell you about my hometown
It's a dusty old jewel in the South Puget Sound
Well the factories churn and the timbers all cut down
And life goes by slow in Tacoma

People they laugh when they hear you're from my town
They say it's a sour and used up all place
I defended its honor, shrugged off the put downs
You know that you're poor, from Tacoma

Buildings are empty like ghettos or ghost-towns
It gives me a chill to think what was inside
I can't seem to fathom the dark of my history
I invented my own in Tacoma

There was nothing to put me in love with the good life
I'm in league with the the gangs guns, and the crime
There was no hollow promise that life would reward you
There was nowhere to hide in Tacoma

People who built it they loved it like I do
There was hope in the trainyard of something inspired
Once was I on it, but it's been painted shut
I found passion for life in Tacoma

Well I don't make it home much, I sadly neglect you
But that's how you like it away from the world
God bless California, make way for the Wal-Mart
I hope they don't find you Tacoma

Check out these Tacoma pix.

Check out these Detroit pix.