Dazzling

Shuffle Cento: 27 Songs

The hand of oppression,
it will last, it’s blessed.
You’re in a box

like a thousand railroad trains,
and everything depends on
always pretending that everything’s fine.

Our relationship has grown
twenty nine links of chain around my leg.
Go away, you’re pulling too hard.

Put a peephole in my brain.
There’s red light in the moonlight, baby,
move a muscle, move a muscle, move a muscle.

Why don’t you remember my name?
Transfiguration’s gonna come for me at last,
Just to pay for everything.

And you’ll raise flowerbeds inside.
I’m not sure that I should say it out loud.
Can I hold for a long long time?

Piece of the puzzle, I'm your missing part.
Morning is mocking me.
It’s too much and it’s no good.

I wish I knew nothing at all.
I wish that I could push a button
mingling jets and statuettes;

seven stars, heaven’s eyes,
the time has come for us to part.
I found a reason to live today.


The poem above is a Cento created from single lines stolen from the songs, below. The first line is from song no.1, the second from song no.2, and so forth.

1: Chile your Waters Run Red through Soweto – Billy Bragg
2. Sweet Sweet love – Russell Morris
3. Box – the Mavis’
4. Sam Stone – Laura Cantrell
5. Hand in Glove - the Smiths
6. Dream World – Monkees
7. Conversations – Mike Nesmith
8. Worried Man Blues – The Carter Family
9. Sparkle Spit – Je Suis Animal
10. Andy Warhol – David Bowie
11. Shytown – Gorillaz
12. Stay Hungry – Talking Heads
13. Paranoid Android - Radiohead
14. Heretic Pride - Mountain Goats
15. Perfect Family – Diana ah Naid
16. Celia Inside – Cardigans
17. Comfort of Strangers – Beth Orton
18. She’s an Angel - They Might Be Giants
19. Sentimental Heart - She and Him
20. My Manic and I – Laura Marling
21 Blood Makes Noise - Suzanne Vega
22. Three – Massive Attack
23. Brilliant Mistake - Elvis Costello
24. Rats - Sid Barrett -
25. Half Moon - Janis Joplin
26. Katie Dear - Louvin Brothers
27. The Dwarf Song - Geraldine Fibbers