"[horns honking] [people chattering]" "[cheers and applause]" " Hey, what's up?" "[bass notes]" "I feel like Barack next year." "It's really cool." "[cheers and applause] [grooving bass notes]" "§ § [soulful guitar enters]" "You can do that." "§ §" "§ Now you don't know me §" "§ And I don't know you §" "§ So let's cut to the chase §" "§ The name is Stew §" "§ And I'll be narrating this gig §" "§ So just sit tight §" "§ We might play all night §" "§ §" "§ Been on the road, me, Heidi, and this band §" "§ For 1 0,000 days of one-night stands §" "§ And oh, by the way §" "§ Can we crash on your couch tonight?" "§" "§ I said, is that all right?" "§" "§ Is that all right?" "§" " § Is that all right?" "§" " § Well before we cab it back to your uptown flat §" "§ We're gonna do a little play since you paid for that §" "§ A play where this band tells you where it's at §" "§ So just follow along, just follow along §" " § Just follow along §" " § Well, if this mic feeds back or the drums rock out §" "§ Or an amp explodes or the bass player pouts §" " § Hmm §" " § Or if you're ever not sure what I'm on about §" "§ Just ask the song §" " § Just ask the song §" " § Just ask the song, okay?" "§ [cheers and applause] [bittersweet guitar playing]" "§ §" "§ Now since it's my job I'm a set the scene §" "§ In a big two-story, black middle-class dream §" "§ With all the mod cons, the manicured lawn §" "§ Some savings bonds §" "§ A boy and his mom §" " § A colored paradise where the palm trees sway §" "§ A colored paradise where the palm trees sway § [music fades]" "§ §" " Cue music." "Sunday morning, South Central L.A., 1 976." "Mother stands in doorway." "Youth is sleeping." " Wake up, pillow-huggin' son o' mine." "It's your turn to rise and shine." "Fo' too long now you been on the wrong side of right." "I ain't studying' how late you was up last night." "Lord, have mercy, child." "Look at your head." "Look just like a feather bed." "Now let go of dat pillow." "Leave dat dangerous dream be." "Jump out of that bed and come a-churchin' with me." " She drops the Negro dialect and speaks in her natural voice." " It's such a beautiful Sunday morning." " And so begins her weekly sermon." " Son, it wouldn't kill you to go to church this morning." " Youth's eyes open." " And as for all this new Zen Buddha talk..." " Youth sits up in bed." " Zen Bu-ddhism!" " The Bible clearly states, "Thou shalt place"- oh, wait a minute." "How does that go again?" " Om." " I know you'd be happier in one of them white churches, praising the lord in jeans and a T-shirt." " She finds a jacket." " But what about this one?" " She hurls it at him." " Uh, four words, Mom: brown, poly, ester." "No." " Why are normal everyday things like sheer agony for you?" " 'Cause normal everyday things are phony." "Why do I have to change?" "Om." " Now, look, swami." "The tiny inconvenience of a tie and a nice jacket is a small price to pay fo' eternal life." " Note the return of the Negro dialect..." " Since the day they done dragged us offa that slave ship, the church has been our only real home..." " Rising to its authentic, authoritative crescendo." " Lord only know what black folk woulda done without the church!" "'Cause there ain't nothin' in this ugly, unforgiving world, and I mean nothin', like a good black church!" " Then why don't you ever go?" "[dramatic blues music and singing]" "§ §" " § Those catty church bitches give me the blues §" "§ And Lord, look at these shoes §" " § And you know §" "§ Church people, we're all about the shoes §" " § Mama says you got to go to the Baptist fashion show §" " § Silk ties, shiny purses, fancy hats, and jewels §" " § Mama says you got to go §" "§ Jesus gonna save your soul §" " § And that Christian catwalk was real unforgiving §" " § Mama says you got to go §" "§ But she didn't want to go §" " § To anyone who couldn't fit in for a living §" " § Mama says you got to go to the Baptist fashion show §" " Now, honestly, son, does this hat go with these shoes?" " Colors are colors, Mom." " But if you had to choose?" " Well, if it was up to me" " Oh, you'd still be in bed." "I know." " Why don't you go make some pancakes?" " Then we'd be too late to go." " § Holy war on Sunday morning §" " I won't be breathing easy once this noose gets knotted." " § It was war on Sunday morning §" " You men don't know how easy you got it." " § Now the church on Adams Boulevard §" "§ Is usually a bore §" "§ The ladies wave fans and the old men snore §" "§ The kids cut up on cue in the very back pew §" "§ And the Holy Ghost ain't been here since 1972 § all:" "Look who's here!" "Seems like we never see you anymore!" " § They got real estate, college funds §" "§ Jobs with benefits, homeowners, debutantes §" " This place is as phony as it gets." " § Look, everybody sharp §" "§ Ain't not one head nappy §" "§ But it's been a long time since this church got happy §" "§ With their judgmental eyes §" "§ See, they've all just realized... § all: 14 years old and still ain't been baptized." " Son, bring me a fan and a tithing envelope." " Like they ain't got enough money already." " § Now just as he thought §" "§ "This'll be a nightmare come true," §" "§ His conviction turned to ice in that chilly church pew §" "§ His conviction turned to ice in that chilly church pew §" " Jesus'll make it back here before I do." " § He saw the brownskinded ladies §" "§ In their oversized crowns §" "§ And the jet-black deacons §" "§ With those "Don't you do that" frowns §" "§ And those high yellow girls in skin-tight gowns §" "§ A collection of verbs disguised as nouns §" "§ And every Sunday she pushed him §" "§ But she never wanted to go §" "§ Every Sunday he listened §" "§ But he didn't want to know §" "§ It's too bad they never talked about §" "§ The shared truth that dwelled below §" "§ Who could handle the pressure §" "§ Of this Baptist fashion show?" "§ [music fades]" "§ § [cheers and applause]" " § Listening is waiting §" "§ Listening is waiting §" " [yawns]" " § The whole congregation was listening and waiting §" "§ To be released from its collective frown §" "§ Even the bad kids in the back pew were wondering... § together:" "Is something real gonna go down?" " Ew." " § Now some said, "Lord, please read us, §" "§ Collect us, then lead us to higher ground" §" "§ And then all asked the very same question... § together: § Is somethin' real goin' down?" "§" " § Down, down, down?" "§" " Lord, show up and save him this morning." "Show him you are real." " § And then the chilly church pews got suddenly warm §" "§ And the notes of the music began to swarm §" "§ And then bridges of spirit began to form §" "§ Subjecting and connecting everyone §" "§ To what they needed to feel §" "§ This is how a church made way for the real §" "§ Waiting and vibrating for more than Christ's sake §" "§ As the organ started doing that earthquake shake §" "§ When it sounds like the speakers are starting to break §" "§ And time itself slips into Earth's crack §" "§ And Mrs. Kelso's getting happy §" " § Ahhh!" "§" " § Mrs. Kelso's getting happy §" "§ She keeps hitting you in the back §" "§ And Mr. Franklin plays piano §" "§ Like he was mad at it §" "§ Till it started to hum §" "§ And the church was getting' bad at it §" "§ Like a stained-glass drum §" "§ Like a stained-glass drum §" "§ Like a stained-glass drum §" "§ And then the mystery of life §" "§ Was on its way to getting solved §" "§ Don't look now, church §" "§ I think the real's gettin' involved §" "And then something strange happened, something that's never happened in this church." " I'm having a religious experience." " Thank you, Jesus." " This is real." " Thank you, Lord!" " § It's mighty real §" " Reel him in, Heavenly Father!" " § 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky!" "§" " And then the right Reverend Jones revved up and started banging the pulpit like a conga drum, and his screams cut through the organ's swell like a bolt of sonic lightning." "And then it struck." " Oh, fuck." " § I'm gonna tell y'all a story 'bout Apostle Paul §" " § All right!" "§" " § All right now §" "§ All right, father!" "§" " § Come on now, church §" " Could you repeat that?" " § I said, I'm gonna tell y'all a story 'bout Apostle Paul §" " § All right!" "§" " § Yes!" "§" "§ Y'all don't have to wait §" "§ Come on §" "§ Hallelujah!" "§" " § Cruisin' up and down that fretboard §" "§ Like it was the road to Damascus §" " Where you headed, Pilgrim?" " § If you don't know the way, you better ask us §" " § You better ask somebody §" " § It was a mind... § - § Yeah!" "§" " § Expanding... § - § Yeah!" "§" " § Revelation!" "§ - § Yeah!" "§" " § Revelation!" "§ - § Yeah!" "§" " § Revelation, revelation, revelation §" " § Yeah §" " § Who came here to feel the spirit?" "§" " § I did!" "§" " § Well, are you ready to get inspired?" "§" "§ Come on, now!" "§" "§ We built this house on love §" "§ Can you feel it?" "§" " § Now the boy and the Reverend are trading' licks now §" " § Yes, praise Jesus!" "§" " § Hotter than a party on the River Styx §" " § Come on, now!" "§" "§ Praise God!" "§" " § Leading the church on a holy ghost search §" "§ It's a pilgrimage of a solo §" " § Well, well, well §" " § It's a Fillmore West bank solo §" " § Well, well, well §" " § You're tapping' your foot but you don't hear me though §" "§ And the boy's tagging along §" "§ Behind a message in his song §" "§ He was freed, guaranteed had to let the pilgrim lead §" "§ Come on, Jones!" "§" " § Now is God real?" "§ all: § Yes, he's real §" " § Well, can you deal with the real?" "§ all: § We can deal with the real §" " § Now is God real?" "§ all: § Oh, yes, He's real §" " § Well, can you deal with the real?" "§ all: § We can deal with the real §" " § Now, is God real?" "§ all: § Oh, yes, He's real §" " § Well, can you deal with the real?" "§ all: § We can deal with the real §" " § One, two, three, four §" " § The bubble was expanding §" "§ There was a new understanding § all: § Music is the freight train §" "§ In which God travels §" "§ Bang!" "§" "§ It does its thang and then my soul unravels §" "§ Heals like holy water and it fights all my battles §" "§ Music is the freight train in which God travels §" "§ Music is the freight train in which God travels §" "§ Bang!" "§" "§ It does its thang and then my soul unravels §" "§ Heals like holy water and it fights all my battles §" "§ Music is the freight train in which God travels § [rock guitar and drumming]" "§ §" " Whoo!" " [laughing]" " Whoo!" "§ §" " Mom, Mom, I can feel the spirit, and it's real!" "And check it out!" "Reverend Jones is singing the blues." "And what we're doing is call and response." "We brought it over from the motherland." "Mama, we're just a tribe of bluesy Africans!" "And church ain't nothin' but rock and roll!" "[laughs joyously]" "But it was on PBS." " Are you trying to embarrass me in front of all these people?" " But that was the coolest thing that's ever happened here." " Do you want these people thinking I've raised a heathen?" " I'm not like you." "I don't care what they think." " Don't you know the difference between the sacred and the profane?" " I can't hear the difference." "[melancholy music playing]" " § She slapped him back into himself §" "§ And then he pulled away §" "§ To be nurtured by his destiny §" "§ On that warm L.A. Sunday §" "§ And so it was in church he began his search §" "§ Down a road that would not bend §" "§ In stained-glass light the pilgrim went in search §" "§ Of a song that would not end §" " I got to get out of these clothes." " § And there he goes §" " § After service, Mom and I are church celebrities § all: § Praise Jesus!" "§" " § Flashbulb smiles light us up like paparazzi §" " § Praise God!" "§" " § A Christian Kodak moment is what everybody wants § all: § That's right!" "§ together: § Now we are §" "§ A Madonna and Child tableau vivant § all:" "Smile, God damn it!" "ding!" " Enter Mr. Franklin, the Reverend's piano-banging son." " How are you, Miss Irma?" "Tout va bien?" " Oui." "Franklin, you are so talented." "I just love the way you spice up those old spirituals." "And I don't care what these old fogies think." "Onward, Christian Soldiers as a rumba?" "You go ahead on, boy!" " I'm so glad you liked the arrangement." "It's God's work, you know." "I'm just the vessel." " Preach." "[applause]" " Oh, and can I say you're looking very Marilyn McCoo today." "[laughter]" "You must be tryin' to catch one." " Oh, Franklin, you know I look terrible." "If I had the nerve, one day I'd show up here in an outrageous gown and show everyone." " You go ahead on, girl." " You go head on, girl." " If it's the last thing I do," "I'm gonna get him into your choir." " That is not going to happen." " Choir is a fabulous place to develop one's harmonic sensibilities." " I'm developing my own sensibilities." " Did I hear you say you're joining the youth choir?" " No, I'm not." "See, what none of you understand is that" " So you're joining the youth choir." "Aw." "Lord knows we could use a new member." " § Ever since her transformation §" "§ Into a teenage goddess §" " Hi!" " § Edwina Williams never said more to him than... §" " [sullen] Hey." " § In that halfhearted way §" "§ Teenage goddesses are obliged to do §" "§ Oh, but now her magnetic eyes were fixed on him §" "§ Drawing him into the vortex of her Ebony Magazine smile §" " Hey!" " Ahh!" " § Sunday morning's steamy stained-glass window vision §" " § I am the way §" " § The wriggling bait §" "§ At the end of God's fishing hook §" " § I am the truth §" " § She was the Master's bait §" " § And the light §" " § She was a Prayboy Bunny, Lord... §" " § Airbrushed by the Almighty §" " Whoo!" " You in my choir now!" " Lord, have mercy!" " You want some of this blessing?" " Yes, brown sugar." "I said, do you want some of this blessing?" " Yes, brown sugar!" " Then I need some new clothes." " Yes, brown sugar." " You got to do something about your hair." " Yes, brown sugar." " And get that B.A. in communications from a prestigious black college." " Yes, brown sugar." " And after we marry, and you've got a job in the corporate sector, you'll buy me a sprawling two-story house full of African sculptures from tribes we know nothing about, kente cloth couch covers," "and Malcolm X commemorative plates lining the walls of our airy, peach-colored breakfast nook." " Oh, yes, brown sug- [descending bass tone]" "Breakfast nook?" " And lastly, you'll need to blacken up a bit." " Blacken up?" " Yeah." "Like... [laughter]" "Not so much that you become unhirable or anything, but you know, you kind of act too white." "You're not black enough for me!" "Put a little soul in your stroll." "[soul riff]" " Had he assumed the costume, he could have bathed in her fire." "But he's still got to deal with that dorky youth choir." " Greetings, Christian comrade." "Mr. Franklin has requested your presence..." " At the prayer circle." " What?" " It's a mandatory ritual for new choir members." " Oh, God." " Exactly!" " Welcome to the prayer circle." " He smoked his first joint that Thursday afternoon... [laughter]" "Right before choir rehearsal in a powder blue VW bug parked atop Arlington Hill overlooking South Central L.A." "The man behind the wheel was none other than Franklin Jones." " [coughing] I'm just the vessel." " Church pianist, youth choir director, but more significantly, the Reverend Jones' son." " That's right, Mom." "I'm smoking weed with the reverend's son." "He works in mysterious ways indeed." " Our hero had found his tribe." "Now Sherry and Terry were the bad kids at church." "Terry obsessively drew cartoons of Jesus water skiing." " Check it out." " And Sherry always looked at our hero as if she knew his most carefully guarded secret." "And as for Mr. Franklin, well, he was a completely different person when it wasn't Sunday morning." " § Vissi d'arte §" "Hello." "Maria Callas speaking." "Yes, it's me, darlings, with my funny nose, skinny legs, and all." "And I have nothing to hide." "If I were any more real, child, I'd be fictional." "[laughs]" "Children, if we were in Amsterdam right now, we'd be inhaling this- this sacrament in a comfy café with a wicked cup of espresso." "all:" "In public?" " In flagrante delicto, kinder!" "Nobody's hiding anything over there." "Dig me?" " Wow." " § He took a hit for the first time §" "§ In a bug on Arlington Hill §" "§ Hip to hip shoulder to shoulder §" "§ The radio, it blasts in everyone's ears §" "§ Oh, she sees you there in the rearview §" "§ Choking on smoke and trying to be cool §" "§ When he and Mr. Franklin §" "§ Were parked up there on Arlington Hill §" "§ Just the two of them §" "§ It was like sitting next to a soulfully played cello §" "§ Franklin made him feel like that powder blue VW bug §" "§ Was just hovering over South Central §" "§ And y'all were just escaped slaves in a beautiful balloon §" "§ And yes, there's a place in this world... §" " For whatever..." " § For everyone... §" " Or whoever you are tonight." "I mean, baby, we're all freaks depending on the backdrop, you know?" " [giggles]" "Yeah, we're all freaks..." " Lookin' for a home." "And as for this Philistine fishbowl we're swimmin' around in?" "Shoot!" "If you want to deal with le real," "I'm talking Stockholm, baby, persona, you know?" "I'm talking about Rome and one of them La Dolce Vita parties, you know?" "I'm talking about Godard's Paris, baby, I mean, 'cause we a Band of Outsiders too, you know." "I mean, I'm talking about brother Al Camus," "The Stranger." "Brother said, "Algeria?" ""See ya!" "Wouldn't want to be ya, okay? "" "I mean talkin' about little Jimmy Baldwin, baby." "You got to go to Another Country if you want to get to Giovanni's Room." "Ha!" "Now that's what I'm talking about." "[chuckles]" " Half the time he didn't know what the fuck Mr. Franklin was talking about." "But that was cool, 'cause Franklin's words would just wash over him" "like a Bach fugue creeping out of a cheap car stereo on the brother side of midnight." "You know how when the music goes right over your head and straight into that part of you which is most beautiful?" "I mean, when your mind can't grasp the music's math," "§ And your heartbeat has no clue §" "§ Your pilgrim soul just follows the melody's path §" "§ Then it looks back §" "§ It looks back and says §" "§ I want to thank you, brother §" "§ Hey, I want to thank you brother §" "§ Hey, I want to thank you for this fugue §" "§ And it just is and is and is so much §" "§ That whether you get it or not it's got §" " La Baker walking a panther down the boulevard." " § Oh, oh, Adams and Crenshaw is beautiful §" "§ And they are laughing in the Sun §" "§ Then they parachute into church §" "§ So they can sing before practice is done §" "§ When they raise one voice §" "§ Stoned angels weep §" "§ Then he feels the Holy Ghost §" "§ And it's creeping up slowly §" " Where should I go in Europe?" " Anywhere." " Where did you go?" " Nowhere." "Holy Father keeps me on a short leash, keeps me in check by signing the checks." "You could say that he's paying me to not be myself." "I could say that I'm chained to the church piano." "But that would an insult to actual slaves." " These were the parameters of the cage." " Because you see, my boy, slaves- oh yeah, that's it." "Slaves got options." "Options, you dig?" "I'm talking escape, revolt, death." "Options." "But cowards ain't got shit." "Cowards only have consequences." "Dig me?" "Hmm?" "Do you dig me?" " Hey, man, don't let him know you're freaked out." "Say something clever." " I don't believe in God." " Does He know?" "[chuckles]" "Does He know?" "I appreciate your feeling compelled to share one of your deep and dirty secrets with me." "That was very sweet of you." "I apologize if I went overboard." "So in this corner, the sensitive, artistic soul." "And in this corner, moi, La Franklin, the wicked Baptist rebel." "Yet, in the end, we're just two brothers passing." "Like your high yellow grandma back in the day, only we're passing for black folks." "Ha." "Good lawn trimming', tax paying', morally upstanding, narrow-minded Christian black folk." " [laughs]" " Now ain't that a bitch?" " Black folks passing for black folks." "That's a trip." "[laughter]" " If it were any more real, baby" " It'd be fiction." " Well." "Holler." " § And suddenly there is meaning §" "§ Arlington Hill helped him see everything §" "§ Yeah, suddenly there is meaning §" "§ And everything's all right §" "§ See, everything's all right §" "§ Oh, but is everything... §" " § Everything... §" " § All right?" "§" " § Is all right §" " § I said, is everything... §" " § Everything §" " § All right?" "§" " § It's all right §" " § Is it all right now?" "§" " § Everything's all right §" " § Is it all right now?" "§" " § Everything's all right §" " § Is it all right, all right, all right, all right?" "§" " § Everything's all right §" "§ Everything's all right §" "§ Everything's all right §" "§ Everything's all right §" " Get up!" " Find a garage with a lot of space." "Get Sherry to buy a little pawnshop bass." "And if Terry can't play, just make him understand." "It ain't no problem." "This is punk rock, man!" "[discordant music]" "§ §" " I suck!" "I suck, I suck!" "Told you I couldn't play drums." " And we should've believed you." " Look, it's not about playing the right notes." "It's about pure energy and relentless self-expression." " My dad says the odds of making it in the music biz are zero." " So go sell air conditioners like him." " Yeah, just forget about our music career." " We have no music career." "We suck!" " Hey, I'd rather suck at this than be great at selling air conditioners." "Do you think your dad is happy?" " Can we play the fucking song?" " Go ask him." "Ladies and jerks, we are..." " The Scaryotypes!" " One, two, three, four!" "One, two, three, four!" "§ I'm at war with Negro mores §" "§ I'm at war with ghetto norms §" "§ My mother stands in doorways beggin' me to conform §" "§ Be a good football-playin' snazzy-dressin' brother §" "§ So the sisters won't be able to tell me from the others §" "§ Yeah I'm the sole brother up in this motherfucker §" "§ Yeah I'm the sole brother up in this motherfucker §" "§ Yeah I'm the sole brother up in this motherfucker §" "§ Yeah I'm the sole brother here §" "So Roots blew your mind?" "You didn't know it was that bad?" "I learned that shit in third grade in Miss Medearis's class." "§ But you're still a bunch of slaves §" "§ And you're driving me insane §" "§ 'Cause the whip across your shoulder §" "§ Is connected to your brain §" " There are some sandwiches in the den for when you kids get hungry." " Mom!" "God." "One, two, three, four!" "One, two, three, four!" "§ I'm the sole brother §" " § And it's not all right §" " § I'm the sole brother §" " § And it's not all right §" " § I'm the sole brother §" " § And it's not all right §" " § I'm the sole brother here § [cheers and applause]" " Oh, yay!" " [screaming]" " Scaryotype!" " Man, that was the best it ever sounded." "We're gonna be huge." " Bravo, children!" "Bravissimo!" "Listen, my father just informed me that he's giving the youth choir a Sunday all to ourselves." "Now, listen, this is gonna take a lot of rehearsal." " We're rehearsing now, man." " Mon frère, is it time for a little lesson in priorities?" " Yeah, I guess it is." " Franklin, man, us and the choir... it ain't workin' for us no more." " What "ain't workin"'?" " The double life shit ain't workin'." " Double life?" " This band is our choir now." "We're writing our own songs." " Songs?" "So that's what you're calling them." " Spicing up the spirituals with your stupid-ass little arrangements ain't got shit to do with dealing with le real." "You see, we're gonna live the way you just talk." "We're not in your little car anymore." " [snickering]" "Hey, Franklin, man." "We're rehearsing." "[cymbal crashes] [mystical music]" "§ §" " § The punk rock freight train turned with the tide §" "§ Into a psychedelic underground railroad ride §" " Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, man." "My brother says this shit is wicked." "§ §" "Hold on to your hats." " Welcome to the new school of slave rebellion." "§ §" " § See, Terry's folks, they went out of town §" "§ So they bought a sheet and they all got down §" " [laughs]" " § Chandelier eyes and electric chairs §" "§ Visit your mind and spend two days there §" "§ Where every song sounds just like an angels' choir §" "§ Your edges get rounded §" "§ You'll have wings of fire §" "§ Soaring through the sky §" "§ They must have been § [distorted laughter]" "§ §" " We got to tour, man." "I can't wait to tour the country." " Fuck this fishbowl." "If we're gonna deal with the real, we got to tour Europe." "Hendrix had to go there to get famous." "America can't handle freaky Negroes." "Knee grows." "[laughter]" " We got to start saving money to get over there." " We're not going anywhere." " What?" " Shut up." " We're tripping now, but when this trip is over, we're still gonna be right here, just north of the 10 freeway between Crenshaw Boulevard and West Boulevard on 4257 Saturn," "Saturn, Saturn, Saturn Drive." "And you want to know why, man?" "Because we're not going anywhere!" "[crashing]" " That's bullshit, man." " Is not!" "It's been two years, and I still can't find my natural sense of rhythm." " Make him stop." " Look at Franklin!" "Look at him!" "He never made it out." "Oh, you really think you're better than him?" "Do you?" " Look, man it's not about who's better than" " We're all gonna wake up one day and be 30 years old, man!" " [screaming]" " Why you got to get all morbid and shit, man?" " Oh, God." "It's happening right now." "Look, I'm aging." "I'm aging." "My skin is wrinkling." " You're just high, man." " That's no excuse!" "[music descends]" "§ §" "I just turned 30." "[crashing]" "I'm 30, and my life is over." "I haven't even been to SeaWorld." "That's okay." "That's okay because I'll just go there with my boring wife who hates music and my ugly kids who hate me." "Help me, somebody." "I'm a resident of Los Angeles." "I know what it's like to be dead." "[laughter] [cheers and applause]" " Well, we'll just have to get another drummer." " We're a band." "How can you say that?" " We can't make it unless we make the band our lives." "And he's scared." " So what if I get scared?" "You gonna kick me out too?" " § And everything mattered §" "§ It's so different now §" "§ The ashes were scattered §" "§ They moved on somehow §" "§ Never asking why §" "§ They must have been high §" " Terry?" "Terry, we have to go." " § They must have been high §" "§ Sitting on the balcony watching the rail rust §" "§ Time slips through your fingers § [psychedelic music]" "§ §" " § Slips through your fingers just like angel dust §" "§ Slips through your fingers just like angel dust §" "§ Slips through your fingers just like angel dust §" "§ Slips through your fingers just like angel dust § [music slowing]" "§ §" " § It's breaking your heart §" "§ His questioning of everything §" "§ Unannounced, he's flown §" "§ Out from under your wing §" " § I'm hardly afraid §" "§ Of your new world's strange design §" "§ Why don't you make room for me §" "§ As I made room for you in mine?" "§" "§ See, I've been running from this world §" "§ For far longer than you §" "§ But I didn't know where else to go §" "§ And so I hid from it in you §" "§ And then for a time this world was yours and mine §" "§ And that was only yesterday, you see §" "§ But now you've got your own thing §" "§ And it does not include me §" " § It's breaking her heart §" "§ She says you seem so distant these days §" " § Unannounced you've grown §" "§ Into a living thing §" " § Into a living thing §" " § Into a living thing §" " § Into a living thing § all:" "There he is!" " How nice of Mr. Musician to grace us with his presence." " Seems like we never see you anymore." " You still messin' around with that guitar?" " Terry and Sherry gave up that mess a long time ago." "all:" "Mm-mm-mm." "Instead of trying to find yourself, why don't you try to find a job?" " "I'm just tryin' ta' live mah life."" "You better leave that kind of crap to whitey!" " § Got to get away from these Philistines, Philistines § all: § This is your life §" "§ And it's the only one you've got §" "§ This is your life §" "§ And there ain't no way out §" " § Oh, oh, whoa §" "§ Make room for me §" "§ As I made room for you §" " Ain't no way out, huh?" "Is that what you think?" "Well, guess what." "You know what I'm saving money for?" "I'm going to Europe and not just to visit." "I'm moving there for good." "[bright music]" "§ §" " § At this point in the play we were planning a show tune §" "§ An upbeat "got to leave this town" §" "§ Kind of show tune §" "§ But we don't know how to write those kind of tunes § [applause]" "However, we do know how to make fun of European avant-garde cinema." "So without further ado... [dramatic music]" "§ §" "[laughter]" " I have my ticket." " Such a selfish person I never dreamed I'd raise." "And how callously you serve me my fate, to die alone in this shell of a house." " This brings me no joy." " Joy is for children." " Then I remain a child." "[discordant piano riff] [laughter]" " What is wrong with a comfortable home, a loving family, and sunshine all year round?" " All of the above." " People died so that you might enjoy these comforts." " And those comforts are killing me." " How can you be so unappreciative?" " It's easy." "My dream is to live as an artist." " Love is more real than a dream." " What would you know about dreams?" " That they can haunt you to your grave, that they can be... torture." " You torture me with love when what I need is understanding." " You formed inside my body." "I understand everything about you." " You understand nothing!" "Clearly you've never had a dream." "[bright piano chord]" " Is that what you think?" " Not a dream like mine, not a dream like this." " I am at least owed an explanation for why you are destroying my life." " § Well, it's something like this §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § Uh-huh §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § Yeah §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § Whoo-whee!" "§" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § Naked girls at breakfast tables §" "§ Talking Hegel and Camus §" " § Adieu, Disneyland!" "§" " § While men dressed up in Gauloises smoke §" "§ Quote Marx right back at you §" " § Auf Wiedersehen, LAPD!" "§" " § All this might seem obscure §" "§ That would depend on who you are §" " § Ciao, ciao, Mr. Reagan. §" " § Fellini, Truffaut, Pasolini §" "§ And don't forget Monsieur Godard §" "§ Can you dig it?" "§" " § Welcome aboard Air Amsterdam Flight Zero §" " § A panorama of sculpture §" "§ Of music painting and culture §" " § Nonstop to the real §" " § An intellectual arcade §" "§ Did I say he needed to get laid?" "§" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" " Hey." "Hi." " § It's culture!" "§" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § It's culture §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la §" " § Let's get some culture, baby §" " § Whoo!" "§ [laughs]" "Oh, baby." "[building rock music]" "§ §" "[cheers and applause] [sweet music]" "§ §" " § Amsterdam, spring sunshine §" "§ Amsterdam, spring sunshine §" "§ Ahh, ahh, ahh §" " § So now let's jet the scene of the crime §" "§ Touch down in once upon a time §" "§ As Plasticland gives way to a new world born today §" "§ Amsterdam, spring sunshine §" "§ And the vibe is alive and the girls look fine §" "§ He sits in a café like Baldwin in the day §" "§ Day-Glo walls incense air §" "§ Lounging 'round in velvet chairs §" "§ So glad he took the trip §" "§ Out the slaveholder's grip §" "He knew his destiny was looming, and an epiphany was blooming." "And the lost was gonna get profound." "And the real was about to go down." "And he saw that his whole journey through the bowels of the middle-class coon show had led him to this single moment of utter crystalline clarity, for the real was to be revealed right here within this very venue." " There's hashish on the menu and prostitutes in windows, all vices in full view." " Everything was in its proper place, including the smile on his face." "[grooving rock music]" " § Like another coffee while you make up your mind?" "§" " § Thank you, yes, excuse me §" "§ I'm still startled by the sign §" " § This one's free, man, it's on me §" "§ You don't have to pay §" "§ How's about a sample of the special of the day §" "§ This your first time?" "§" " § Does it show?" "§" "§ I'm like an ice cube gone to melt §" " § I hope you find yourself at home §" " § I like the cards that I've been dealt §" " § And how's your mind?" "§" " § Oh, it's blown §" "§ It's a vibe I've never felt §" " § Welcome to Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" "§ I'm your flight attendant, Miss Renata Hcholiday §" "§ Welcome to Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" "§ And I welcome you most happily §" "§ To our little café §" " No way." " I'm Renata." "I make abstract drawings because representational art is just an ego stroke, you know?" " I'm Christoph." "I'm a philosophy professor and part-time sex worker." "You could say, I hook, therefore I..." " § Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" " My name is Joop, and I believe everyone should be naked all the time." "Clothes are chains from which we must break free." "I'm naked, therefore I..." " § Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" " I'm Marianna, and I'm into tantric meditation, organic psychedelics, and white magic." " White magic." "Wow." " And anything that's beyond my understanding." " White magic." "Wow." " Ja." "It might sound strange, but that's just who I..." " § Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" " § The enlightened aren't frightened §" "§ We let untamed spirits roam §" " § Welcome to Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" " § But we're the freedom experts, man §" "§ So don't try this at home §" " § Only in Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" " § While there ain't no witch or a yellow brick road... §" " § It's an emerald city after two bong loads §" " § Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" " § You can trip all day till your mind just melts §" " § Makes Berkeley look like the Bible Belt §" " § Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" "§ Whoo!" "§ [exciting rock music]" "§ §" " § The pilgrim made some progress §" "§ And was pleased he'd gone forth §" " § I done broke my chains and escaped to the North §" " § He was gonna meet his destiny §" "§ Before he met his maker yeah §" " § King James Baldwin §" "§ Queen Josephine Baker §" " § They blazed his trail §" "§ When they stepped out of line §" " § They owned Paris and Amsterdam's gonna be mine §" " § He was born again §" "§ See, the real was at hand §" " § Oh, hallelujah §" "§ I'm standin' on the promised land §" " § It was like they'd been expecting him §" " § Whoo!" "§ - § Whoo!" "§" "§ Like they knew he was on the way §" "§ Those casually enlightened regulars §" "§ Have a seat §" "§ Here at the Headquarters Café §" "§ Yeah § [cheers and applause]" " So do you play jazz?" " Do you play da blues?" " Do you live in a fuckin' windmill?" "Do you wear clog shoes?" "[laughter]" " You should play here at Headquarters." " Is Titia still out of town?" " Where do you stay tonight?" " The wire got connected." " Oh, I guess I'll find a hotel." " The mistake got corrected." " A hotel?" "Don't you know where you are?" " Then she made him understand." " We're your new family, man." "[sweet music playing]" "§ Hey, Mr. L.A. §" "§ I know a place that you can stay §" "§ Right next door to here is a nice flat §" "§ Yeah, it's okay §" "§ The roommate's gone to Spain §" "§ The place is sloppy §" "§ It's insane §" "§ But the sun shines through big windows §" "§ Only Dracula would complain §" "§ No one's ever there §" "§ You'll have your peace §" "§ There's a view and a bottle of gin §" "§ She's back in, oh, two or three weeks §" "§ Her room would be all yours till then §" "§ So here's the keys §" " Oh, you mean..." " § My keys §" " Wow, I mean  § Here is my address, you see §" "§ It's really quite a mess §" "§ But take them, please §" "§ My keys §" "§ I got an extra set back at the place §" "§ So take mine now §" "§ That's just in case you'll need §" "§ My keys §" "§ My keys § [building rock piano]" "§ §" " § She had a crazy mixed-up flat §" "§ He wasn't thinking about that §" "§ You know the bed was kind of hard §" "§ A prison cot cum yoga mat §" "§ 1 0,000 paintings everywhere §" "§ She was kind of an acrobat §" "§ Oh, you were lucky to find a chair §" "§ The sweetest dump in which he'd sat §" "§ She had nude photos everywhere §" "§ From freaky deeky to plain arty §" "§ Some of her girlfriends showered there §" "§ As you can see Amsterdam's a party §" " § I appreciate this more than you could ever know §" "§ I promise I won't break a thing §" " [chuckles]" "§ Don't promise §" "§ You never know §" "§ My place ain't all that wonderful §" "§ But I hope you find it comfortable §" "§ So please §" "§ Take my keys §" "§ The faucets leak §" "§ The cupboard's bare §" "§ My underwear are everywhere §" "§ But please §" "§ Take my keys §" "§ Take my keys §" " § And after so long feelin' so alone §" "§ I feel like picking up the phone §" "§ And calling up that place called home §" "§ To say I found a brand-new family §" "§ Where I can be that thing called me §" "§ No more saying uncle to Uncle Sam §" "§ I'm telling L.A. just where I am §" "§ Color me Amsterdam §" "§ Amsterdam §" " § So after a little conversation §" "§ He's got keys to her flat §" "§ After a little conversation §" "§ He just walks across her welcome mat §" "§ Now who woulda thought trust could be bought §" "§ For a song and a little chat?" "§" "§ See, he had friends and family §" "§ Nowhere near as cool as that §" "§ She gave him these §" "§ Her keys §" "§ Now, in Beverly Hills they gave him chills §" "§ And South Central put his soul in the deep freeze §" "§ Brrrr §" "§ But she gave him her keys §" "§ You know those L.A. ladies in their Mercedes §" "§ They locked their doors if he'd just sneeze §" "Now he's like "Bitch, please!" "She gave me her keys."" "§ He said "The kind of place I want to be §" "§ Is where no one's cold or scared of me" §" "§ And then she handed him these §" "§ Her keys §" "§ Yeah, I guess no one ever made him feel as real §" "§ As when she mended him §" "§ By lending him her keys §" "§ And said, "Welcome to Amsterdam §" "§ "Welcome to Amsterdam §" "§ Welcome to Amsterdam" §" "§ She said "Yeah, it might look like Sodom from top to bottom §" "§ "A shopping mall of vice §" "§ But it's all right with me now" §" " § It's all right §" " § She said it's all right §" "§ Yeah, it's all right §" " § She said "Yeah, it might look like Sodom §" "§ "From top to bottom §" "§ "A shopping mall of vice §" "§ But it's all right with me now" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She said "Hey, it might look like Sodom §" "§ "From top to bottom §" "§ "A shopping mall of vice §" "§ But it's all right with me now" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § 'Cause Gibbs said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And Heidi said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And Christian said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And Spurney said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § The band said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And the actors say it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § The actors say it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And James Baldwin said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § He told me it was all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And Chester Himes said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And Richard Wright said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And Josephine Baker said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She came and told me it was all nice §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § Then she told me it was, whoo!" "§" " § Yeah, it's all right §" "§ Yeah, it's all right §" "§ Yeah, it's all right §" "§ Yeah, it's all right §" " § She said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § Josephine Baker said it's all right §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § And then she said, "Get up, Stew" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She told me "Get up, now!" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She told me "Get up, now!" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She told me "Get up, now!" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She told me "Get up, now!" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She told me "Get up, Stew!" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She told me "Get up, now!" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § She told me "Get up, now!" §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" "§ And then she said §" "§ "Oh, oh, oh!" §" "§ Go wicked on me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" "§ Yeah, it's all right §" "§ Yeah, it's all right §" "§ Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § It feels all right to me §" " § Yeah, it's all right §" " § Hey, see it's all right, all right §" "§ It's all right, all right §" "§ It's all right, all right §" "§ Whoo!" "§ [cheers and applause]" "Welcome to Amsterdam." "[cheers and applause]" "[sweet piano playing]" "§ §" " § It's all right with me, yeah § [laughter]" "§ It may look like Sodom and Gomorrah §" "§ But who could ask §" "§ For more-a?" "§" " Are we disturbing the moment of creation?" " "The moment of creation"?" "My God, Marianna." "Songwriting is a job like any other." " It's a sacred calling." " It doesn't make you special." " I ask you, who can fathom the mysteries of music?" " It's a fathomless mystery, yeah." " Yeah." " Often I feel as if it's the song that's writing me." " Oh." " [laughs]" " Hey, tell me your secret." "Where, I ask you," "§ Where do songs come from?" "§" " § Open up the flood gates §" "§ Knock down all your fences §" "§ The real is just around the corner §" "§ Test-drive your new senses §" "§ Unfetter, un-sweater §" "§ It's wetter §" "§ And it just keeps getting better and better §" "§ And better and better §" " § We just had sex §" "§ There's nothing sleazy 'bout a natural reflex §" "§ It's nice and easy §" "§ No need to crane your necks §" "§ It's all cool breezy, baby §" "§ What's a little bedroom traffic?" "§" "§ Evening news is pornographic §" "§ We just had sex §" " § That's right, all three of us §" " § It's not complex §" " § It's no big deal at all §" " § We'll smoke cigarettes and probably talk about... §" " § 1 0 or 1 5 things... §" "§ Before anyone brings up the fact that... §" " § We just had sex §" "§ To keep it fresh sometimes we shuffle the decks §" "§ We realize that this might fog up your specs §" "§ But that's just how it goes §" " § You might find it quite risqué §" " § But it's the European way §" " § La, la, la, la, la §" "§ La, la, la, la, la, la §" " § Contessa §" " [operatic singing]" "§ § [rhythmic scraping]" "§ Don't get too vexed §" "§ It's really no big deal §" "§ That we just had sex §" "§ And now we're gonna roll five big cigarettes §" "§ And have a cup of coffee §" " § I love how they're so nonchalant §" "§ About the only thing I want § [heartfelt guitar playing]" "§ §" " § The pilgrim crossed both land and sea §" "§ To find a cathedral home §" "§ Then two girl Jesus' colored him Lazarus §" "§ And rolled away the stone §" " "Dear Mr. Franklin," ""Today I don't feel as ugly as I did yesterday." ""In high school gym showers," ""I crouched in shame like Adam in the garden." ""But this morning in Amsterdam, I was ten foot tall" ""on a movie screen staring down at myself in the back row." ""And today in Amsterdam, I sat before her" ""as she explained the history of Dutch colonialism" ""without her shirt on." ""Today in Amsterdam, their tobacco mouths tasted" ""like sweet blood oranges." ""Today in Amsterdam," ""I learned how to pronounce their last names," ""lost track of how many times I came," "§ "And stared out of windows and nothing was the same §" ""Today in Amsterdam, the unspeakable beauty" ""of overflowing ashtrays," ""espresso gone cold and a half-smoked joint" ""on the table awed me." ""Today in Amsterdam, the charcoal drawing" ""she made of me naked doesn't look as ugly" ""as I felt yesterday." "[sweet piano playing]" ""This is the real city of angels." ""They remade me in their image." ""Did I say already, Mr. Franklin," ""that today in Amsterdam," ""they taught me how to wear my body?" ""Today I learned that even if it's ugly, man," ""you got to wear it like a gown." "Now I can write some real songs."" " He writes his own songs, you know." " § He measured time passing in hits from the bong §" "§ All-day café hangs and unfinished songs §" "§ Then her keys weighed more than the axe in his hands §" "§ When he tried to write a song §" "§ He knew she wouldn't understand §" " It's such a beautiful Sunday morning." " § She's living in a phony paradise §" "No, wait." "§ So many things she doesn't realize §" "§ She's basking in hell's sunshine §" "How does this song go?" " He's just going through a phase." "Even artists have to grow up." " § He's trying to write a song §" "§ But the song is writing him §" "§ It's a song about paradise wearing thin §" " After all, a real man doesn't ignore his loved ones." "No, sir." " § Today paradise was the enemy §" "§ Today the real became routine §" "§ Today my edges dulled together §" "§ Yeah, that's it §" "§ And there's no point left to dream §" "§ I want to scream §" "§ Mama §" "§ Marianna and Moroccan hash have got me stoned §" "§ And I can't find my way home §" "§ Mama §" "§ She's serving every one of my desires on a platter §" "§ But it doesn't even matter anymore §" "§ Oh, oh, oh, paradise is a bore §" "§ It doesn't even matter anymore §" "§ Oh, oh, oh, paradise is a bore §" " § It doesn't even matter anymore §" "§ Oh, paradise is a bore §" "You get it?" " Yeah, I got it." " I thought everything was all right." " It's hard to write songs when you're already in paradise." " Ah, so I see the problem." " It's like I can't get too comfortable." "Otherwise I'll forget all the shit there is to complain about." "[laughter]" " How wonderfully neurotic." "It's good you're going to Berlin." "You'll fit right in." " You're making this so easy for me." " Why make things hard?" " [chuckles]" "§ Well, here's your keys §" " Keys to her city opened his floodgates." "He followed her river's weave." "The same keys that gave him the power to stay now gave him the courage to leave." "She gave him these." " You know, there's so much more to Amsterdam than hash bars and squatted houses." "One day maybe you'll know the real city." " So if Berlin sucks, I can come back to you." " No." " § No one ever made him feel as real §" "§ As when she mended him by lending him... §" " § Hey, I got to leave §" " § Her keys §" " § Right when it was starting to feel real §" " § Why you want to leave?" "§" " § Right when it was starting to feel real §" " § Why you want to leave?" "§" "§ Right when it was starting to feel real §" " § It doesn't even matter anymore §" " § Why you want to leave?" "§" " § Oh, oh, paradise is a bore §" "§ But it doesn't even matter anymore §" "§ Paradise is a bore §" " § Right when it was starting to feel real §" "§ Why you want to leave?" "§" " § Oh daisy chain of soulful days §" "§ Good-bye, city of Amsterdam §" "§ Sometimes the melody's goin' one way §" "§ And then the song has other plans §" "We're gonna take a little break right now and come back with all to reveal." " § Right when it was starting to feel real § [cheers and applause]" " Oh, Lord!" " Yeah, I know." "What's going on?" " We are all completely drenched today." " Oh, my God." " Are you serious?" " Hey, I'm walking away from the stage." " Fix the sound." " It's not our problem." " Hello, here's your hat." " Oh, thank you very much." " Are you gonna change your shirt?" " Eventually, yeah." " Okay." " Hmm, hmm, hmm." " How do I turn him off?" " [singing]" " That's pretty." " Okay, okay, fix me up." "[humming]" " Lights." " Here we go." " Whew." "[cheers and applause]" "[heavy rock music]" "§ §" "§ Berlin:" "a black hole with taxis §" "§ Berlin:" "a forest of sharp corners §" "§ Berlin:" "swallowed if harmful §" "§ It was two miles from right §" "§ It was always all night §" "§ A concrete pool that kept diving into you blind §" "§ Berlin was always creeping up §" "§ From behind §" " Ausweis!" " Huh?" " Identity, your identity." " My identity?" " Pass!" " Okay." " Pass!" " I don't know what you're saying." " Give me your passport!" "§ §" " § Mayday, Mayday, there's a riot going down §"