My Gen X Playlist: Obscurity Knocks – Trashcan Sinatras

Daily writing prompt

Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

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Last year we received a notice from the city that we had to divide our trash yet again. We already separated our recyclable items into a separate trash can. Now they were asking us to separate our food scraps and other organic material, known as green waste. My first reaction? C’mon guys. Give me a break. Upon research, this turns out to be a California law and I began to understand why.

Recycling food and organic waste helps to reduce harmful methane emissions that contribute to global warming. In landfills, food waste produces a lot of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Compost helps enrich and return valuable nutrients to our soil.

– City of Claremont

Begrudgingly, we began separating. It turns out, it’s not as much of a pain in the ass as I imagined. The only slight pain point is moving a third trash can to the curb and that’s really not too bad. I do notice that we are one of the few in the neighborhood who actually are separating this. It’s already ingrained as a new habit so I’ll just continue on. But fair warning, Mr. Governor. Three trash cans are my limit. Don’t you dare make me add a fourth. If you do, I’ll be forced to leave the state like everyone else. Fair warning.

I started going down the road of songs by Garbage, but another band came to mind – The Trashcan Sinatras. Probably their biggest hit was Obscurity Knocks, released in 1990. Honestly, I’m not sure how this band popped into my head. It’s been awhile since I’ve listened to them. I did like this song and the lyric meaning is obscure, just as the title suggests. In an interview with the band, they provide a little perspective.

Interviewer: Yeah, with the lyrics on those early albums, I wasn’t always sure about the meanings behind the songs, but I always enjoyed how the words sounded—the sort of playfulness in them. . .

Frank Reader: I think that pretty much was the extent of the meaning with a lot of those songs. When you’re that age, there’s this desperation to just get down every idea that you’ve got because it might be the best idea anybody’s ever had [laughs]. You don’t really have that self-editor you do when you get older, where you realize, well, maybe people don’t really need all that tongue twisting wordplay all the time. Maybe simpler, succinct language can be just as effective.

– big takeover

What does this song have to do with prompt, outside the group’s name? Nothing. It’s just a good nostalgic song.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Always at the foot of the photograph, that's me there
Snug as a thug in a mugshot pose, a foul-mouthed rogue
Owner of this corner and not much more
Still these days I'm better placed to get my just rewards
I'll pound out a tune and very soon
I'll have too much to say and a dead stupid name

Though I ought to be learning I feel like a veteran
Of "oh I like your poetry but I hate your poems"
Calendars crumble I'm knee deep in numbers
I've turned twenty one, I've twist, I'm bust and wrong again

Rubbing shoulders with the sheets till two
Looking at my watch and I'm half-past caring
In the lap of luxury it comes to mind
Is this headboard hard? Am I a lap behind?
But to face doom in a sock-stenched room all by myself
Is the kind of fate I never contemplate
Lots of people would cry though none spring to mind

Though I ought to be learning I feel like a veteran
Of "oh I like your poetry but I hate your poems"
Calendars crumble I'm knee deep in numbers
I've turned 21, I've twist, I'm bust and wrong again

Know what it's like
To sigh at the sight of the first quarter of life?
Ever stopped to think and found out nothing was there?

They laugh to see such fun
I'm playing blind man's bluff all by myself
And they're chanting a line from a nursery rhyme
"Ba ba bleary eyes - have you any idea?"

Years of learning I must be a veteran
Of "oh I like your poetry but I hate your poems"
And the calendar's cluttered with days that are numbered
I've turned twenty, I've twist, I'm bust and wrong again
Ought to be learning
Twist, I'm bust and wrong again
Feel like a veteran
Twist, I'm bust and wrong again
Calendar's cluttered
With days that are numbered
And I know what it's like
To sigh at the sight
Of the first quarter of life