Dan is a writer living in Shanghai, China.
September 10 07
Bishop Allen's "The Chinatown Bus"
And I remember Shanghai
How I wasn't sure just what was safe to eat
The chickens pecked and wandered at the barefoot of the children hawking figurines of workers smiling
What's the Chinese word for cheese?
Watched a sidewalk butcher
His instinctive understanding made the carcass snap and clarify beneath his nimble hand that held the knife so long, so many times, the handles' changed to shapes just like his fingers and his palms
The video above is from a live version of the song. The lyrics are a bit muddled, so I suggest you dig around the internet to find a studio recording (it's not difficult ... and you can always buy from iTunes or even the band's site). More Bishop Allen songs available for a listen at MySpace. And here is an assortment of reviews of their 2007 album The Broken String, on which you will find "The Chinatown Bus."
Bishop Allen are touring with another one of my faves, John Vanderslice, at the moment. But Seattle appears to be the closest they'll get to Shanghai. Their site says an Australia tour is in the works for 2008. Guys, you are welcome to our couch if you happen to swing through Shanghai.
Comments (1)
The lyric "I caught the bus in Chinatown
And slept the whole way up by 95" combined with the name makes me think that it's also partly inspired by a trip from New York to Boston on the Fung Wah bus.
Posted on 01.08.08 at 10:56:11