Tilly & the Wall :: Nights of the Living Dead
Nights of the Living Dead is like the voice of my teenage ghost. The allure of this song is its candid account of the chaos of high school years and the sweet supposition that rebellion is routine. “God put down your gun, can’t you see we’re dead” isn’t a plea for help nor a collective lament about some greater existential plight, its more like ‘duh’. “That’s the way it is that’s the way it’s always been.” Granted, for me, ‘reckless’ was nights of contraband wine coolers and petty vandalism, but let’s suppose sentiment is more important than degree. Propelling yourself into the night on the motivation that you were ‘up to no good’ was vital and defining and really, really fun: bottomless. Nowadays, ‘reckless’ has been compartmentalized into manageable, quantum actions that won’t disrupt those everyday responsibilities: order a shot, order dessert, make out, whatever, there are no more deep waters to test. So while I can really see and hear this song, I have to admit it’s through the foggy glasses of nostalgia and from the comfort of my driver’s seat on my commute to work in the morning. “All the high school kids they’re all fucked up” and frankly, I’m a little worried about them.
Nights of the Living Dead
Tilly & the Wall (homepage)
(note — A different version appears on the album Wild Like Children in 2004.)
jenny said on monday, april 21st, 2008
whitney said on monday, april 21st, 2008
This was the first song on a mix that fell out of your stereo when I helped you move a year ago. I confess. I kept the mix. I wrote "Stolen from Emily’s Stereo" on it with a Sharpie. I now put this song on all of my mixes.
You can come get it from my room, if you want. If I were you, I would. It’s the best.
anika said on wednesday, may 07th, 2008
how about this for a glee club cover! totally teenage!
summer summer summer summer