Zenutiae

Outside another yellow moon
Has punched a hole in the nighttime, yes
I climb through the window and down to the street
And I’m shining like a new dime
The downtown trains are full with all of those Brooklyn girls
They try so hard to break out of their little worlds

Well you wave your hand and they scatter like crows
They have nothing that will ever capture your heart
They’re just thorns without the rose
Be careful of them in the dark
Oh, if I was the one you chose to be your only one
Oh baby can’t you hear me now, can’t you hear me now

Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Every night it’s just the same, you leave me lonely now

I know your window and I know it’s late
I know your stairs and your doorway
I walk down your street and past your gate
I stand by the light at the four-way
You watch them as they fall, oh baby they all have heart attacks
They stay at the carnival, but they’ll never win you back

Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Where every night, every night it’s just the same, oh baby
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
All of my dreams they fall like rain, oh baby on a downtown train

Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Where every night, every night it’s just the same, oh baby
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
All of my dreams just fall like rain, all on a downtown train
All on a downtown train, all on a downtown train
All on a downtown train, a downtown train

- Tom Waits 1985

There’s a dead man walking
And he’s wearing my shoes
Dead man walking
And he’s playing the blues.

There’s a dead man walking
And he’s wearing my shirt
Dead man walking
And he’s feeling my hurt.

There’s a dead man walking
And he’s wearing my hair
Dead man walking
He don’t want to care

There’s a dead man walking
He looks through my eyes
Dead man walking
See’s no sunny skies

There’s a dead man walking
And he’s wearing my skin
Knows where I come from
Don’t care where I’ve been

©Rae Allen

I’ve always enjoyed train songs, probably because I’ve always enjoyed trains and the best train songs have that rolling train travelling feel to them.

My favourite train songs are in no particular order:

1. People get Ready by Curtis Mayfield. A lot of people will say this isn’t a train song but more of a metaphor, but it certainly has that rattling train feel to it.

2. Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash. Though sung by one of the greats of country music, the man in black gives it a great blues treatment.

3. Downtown Train by Tom Waits. Its had a few covers and one of my favourites is by Everything but The Girl, however the moody Tom Waits version is the best.

more to come.

Well I hear that train a comin’
It’s rollin’ around the bend
I ain’t seen the sunshine
Since I don’t know when
Well I’m stuck in Folsom Prison
And time keeps draggin’ on
That train keeps rollin’
On down to San Antone

When I was just a baby
My mama told me, “Son,
Always be a good boy
Don’t you ever play with guns”
But I shot a man in Reno
Just to watch him die
When I hear that lonesome whistle
I hang my head and cry

Well I bet there’s rich folks eating
In a fancy dinin’ car
I bet they’re taking mushrooms
And smokin’ big cigars
Well I know I had it comin’
I know I can’t be free
Those people keep movin’
And that’s what tortures me

If they free me from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
You bet I’d move it on
A little farther down the line
Yeah, far from Folsom Prison
That’s where I want to be
Well those people keep movin’
Goddammit, that’s what tortures me

If they’d free me from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
You bet I’d move it on
A little farther down the line
Yeah, far from Folsom Prison
That’s where I want to be
Well those people keep movin’
Goddammit that’s what tortures me

- Johnny Cash

DSC03137- scones
Originally uploaded by RaeA.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups self-raising flour
• 45 grams butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup full-cream milk

Method:

1. Put the self-raising flour and the salt in a bowl.
2. Cut the chilled butter into small pieces then, using the tips of your fingers, rub it into the flour until it has the consistency of breadcrumbs.
3. Add a little milk and ‘mash’ the flour mixture into the milk with a fork. Keep adding small amounts of milk and continue to combine with the flour.
4. Remove the dough and knead two or three times to form a ball of light dough.
5. Flatten to about 1.5 cms and cut out small circles with a scone cutter.
6. Glaze the top of the scones with milk.
7. Bake in a 220°C oven for 12 minutes.
8. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

Tips:

1. Use a scone cutter and don’t twist them. This motion will ’seal’ the sides of the scone dough and prevent it from rising.
2. You can use knives to mix the butter into the flour.