Better Days

Welcome to the blog of Doug "Duke" Lang, songwriter and host of Better Days, a radio show spinning journeys from music and language, heard Thursdays ten-to-midnight Pacific time at www.coopradio.org Listen to songs at www.myspace.com/dukelang

Name:
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Tuesday, January 31, 2006


I know this will not become the new state song
of Idaho, and mean no offense to anyone who
is from there. Songs are mysterious visitors.

Idaho

Through the rain to see Irene in Pocatello
Tilts the rearview down to check his hair
Turns out Irene is with another fellow
He's jealous so he fishtails out of there
His wife of seven years lives down in Boise
Then there's Tina up in Coeur D'Alene
The contradictions, they get awful noisy
Caught inside the shushing of the rain

He's hungry so he stops to see the Colonel
Hits on the girl behind the cash machine
She laughs and says, "Ain't you the puer eternal"
What the hell was that supposed to mean
He's still lookin' for a piece of heaven
Stops for gas and makes a couple calls
Reaches Kim, she's drinking at a tavern
The other side of American Falls

He can't admit the fact he's gettin' older
Dyed hair makes his skin look older still
He nearly skids his Buick off the shoulder
Twists the cap and pops another pill
Kim was married to a long haul trucker
The only thing she misses is the sex
She'll be drunk but she won't let him kiss her
In case she ever gets back with her ex

He's still obsessing on that other fellow
That Irene was with when he checked in
Could be he's seen the last of Pocatello
But he's crazy for the tan lines on her skin
He gets with Kim and then heads back to Boise
This weekend he'll drive up to Coeur D'Alene
The contradictions, they get awful noisy
Caught inside the shushing of the rain

He hopes there ain't a speed trap at the junction
Where 86 folds in to 84
He's had a couple shots but he can function
Pops another pill just to be sure
It's then he notices that it's stopped raining
All-night talk show on the radio
Folks from everywhere call in complaining
They ought to come and live in Idaho
They ought to come and live in Idaho

DL