...you know Blade Runner´s dystopian narrative is not too far away.
The Cars´ most recent record includes this little gem of a lyric, reflecting on 21st century life.
Once again, Ric Ocasek tackles fairly philosophical and social issues with sophistication and panache:
Blue Tip (The Cars)
You believe in anything
They tell you how to think
The simpletons all circle
In the raging roller rink
I'm trading in the alley
I'm booking up a storm
Forget about reality
'Cause nothing is the norm
Yeah yeah
So what can you do
You say
They owe me a few yeah
Blue tip of your cue yeah
You got that look on your face
You'd like to be in the race
You cannot hide your disgrace
You leave without a trace
All set to weary your heartland
Black and white TV
Stroking all the gun heads
Into the ninth degree
You here the screamers coming
They clamor in disguise
You think that you'd be running
To the other side
Yeah yeah
So what can you do
You say
They owe me a few yeah
Blue tip of your cue yeah
You got that look on your face
You'd like to be in the race
You cannot hide your disgrace
Can't fill an empty space
(Ah)
You stupefy the thinkers
(Ah)
You're hugging all the flakes
(Ah)
And all the things you think are true
(Ah)
Only mystify the fakes
Well keep your hat on backwards
And keep your lips tucked in
The world is full of quackers
And belly button rings
I know you'd like to be immune
To the things they say
You're hung up on your heroes
And upon the beast you pray
Yeah hey
What can you do
You say
Well they owe me a few yeah
Blue (blue) tip of your cue yeah
You got that look on your face
You'd like to be in the race
You cannot hide your disgrace
You leave without a trace
You got a look on your face
You'd like to be in the race
You cannot hide your disgrace
You leave a bitter taste
The Cars - Blue Tip
...Twenty-five years separate the above lyric with the one below, also by Ric Ocasek, also about our modern, 20th / 21st century world.
...Has much changed?
This Side Of Paradise (Ric Ocasek / The Cars)
The midnight oyster bellies bug you
From inside you want to scream
From inside you want to scream
The comic cut is your arrival
Your reflections are obscene
Well you're looking for another end
Doing time
But you still can't turn away
Well you're looking for a real friend
Any kind
That wants to play the games you play
On this side of paradise
You're never going to go through twice
Stay tuned at any price
To this side of paradise
Cylinder dreams passing in stages
Lethargic grins left to bare
Broadway windows cubical cages
Where escape is fairly rare
Well you're looking for another end
Any Time
But you still can't turn away
Well you're looking for a real friend
Any kind
That wants to play the games you play
On this side of paradise
You're never going to go through twice
Stay tuned at any price
To this side of paradise
You've got to keep yourself well amused
Pay no attention to the faulty news
Set yourself on automatic cruise
Sometimes you just got to lose
On this side of paradise
You're never going to go through twice
Stay tuned at any price
To this side of paradise
On this side of paradise
On this side of paradise
Ric Ocasek / The Cars - This Side Of Paradise
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