The Remix Revolution

Art is born by way of imitation.

Poetry has always been built on poems, poets that have come before. This is how all art develops. There is nothing completely unique out there. All art has paid a debt to the past.

The poet learns the craft through imitation, through the study of the works of others, through influence. There are so many examples - my cherished Faludy, copied and imitated Villion. Ginsberg borrowed a lot from Rexroth, especially his Howl, inspired by Rexroth’s Thou Shalt Not Kill.

I have borrowed, copied, been influenced also in my writing. Here are a couple examples, below. I highly recommend on the modern front, the Rip. A Remix Manifesto. Lots of thoughts there about the remixing culture and its contributions to art.

I speak a little on this topic in my Gagaism Manifesto.

A Horrid Day

Based on, a remix of the Lou Reed classic, Just A Perfect Day. A bit of music died when he passed on. Today, swinging in my hammock, I listened to it and sang my own version. Here it is below. I think it makes sense and does something that the original also intended.

Just a horrid day.
Watch TV, all alone
and then later, on my phone
when it gets dark.

Just a horrid day.
Ice cream melts, in my hand.
Then later, visit the band.
No one home.

Oh, it’s such a horrid day.
I’m glad I spent it alone.
Oh, such a horrid day.
Life, just keeps me breathin’ on.
Life, just keeps me breathin’ on.

Just a horrid day.
Bombs fly, through the sky.
People cheer, babies die.
Death is here.

Just a horrid day.
I can’t figure it out.
I thought I’d conquer doubt,
I was wrong.

Oh it’s such a horrid day.
I’m glad I spent it alone.
Oh, such a horrid day.
Life just keeps me breathin’ on.
Life, just keeps me breathin’ on.

You’re going to die, and never know.
You’re going to die, and never know.
You’re going to die, and never know.
You’re going to die, and never know.

My Lord’s Prayer

I wrote this after noticing that I knew the Lord’s Prayer by heart. I was kind of shocked by that but it figures - I had to say, listen to it every morning, all my public school years. I say “shocked” because I really detest this chant, what it says about the world and our role, our part in it. So I wrote and remixed a version that truly says how I feel.

Our father
who aren’t in heaven
hollow be thy name.

Thy kingdom’s dumb
thy will never done, on earth
nor in any 7 Eleven.

Don’t give us today any bread
nor forgive us our weaknesses
‘cuz we’re not gonna forgive theirs.

Please lead us into temptation
for deliverance is evil
‘cuz thine is no kingdom
of power nor glory
never, ever, ever
amen.