Watch It Burn

A song about watching the LA Riots from the rooftop of a Hollwyood apartment.

LYRICS:

Saji points out Normandie
She sees some distant smoke
It's the first fire that we've seen tonight
And it's an hour since the news broke
Breathless reporters talk of riots
On whatever channel that you turn
So we climbed up to the rooftops
To watch the city burn
Watch it burn

Rudy lights a cigarette
And holds the ember up high
It joins a hundred fires now
Framed against the LA sky
Julio has a radio
It's pressed up against his ear
He's says they're shooting firemen
And officers in riot gear
Watch it burn Watch it burn

Dot asks for beer money
And she goes to collect it
LA is on fire now
I guess we just expected it
It always seemed about to burn
It always seemed unstable
We should be in a panic now
But we just don't seem able to
Instead we watch it burn

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by Astro Zombie (5 comments total)

Whoops. Hollywood, rather. Cortex, HOPE ME.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:42 AM on December 4, 2008

I really like the melody in this, and the simple presentation. I was at the Greek that night to see Lou Reed, and you could see the orange glow from the fires back behind the stage. I'd been listening to news radio the whole drive down, and I felt just what you describe-- this shit is bad, but what else can I do but ride it out? It was right there, but still so distant.
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:00 PM on December 4, 2008

We zombies have common experiences. Thanks for you comments!
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:50 PM on December 4, 2008

Coincidentally, this really reminds me of Lou Reed for some reason. That storytelling voice...?

Anyway, nicely done.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 3:17 AM on December 5, 2008

Groovy! I can imagine this with some lovely, lilting Jens Lekmanesque production.
posted by ford and the prefects at 9:57 PM on December 17, 2008