taking her favorite pen from her pocket

"mopper's medley" by midlake makes me smile every time i hear it. (i really mean that! --i'm not just saying so.)

actually, you know, those midlake boys write some of my very favorite lyrics in every single one of their songs--simple and sometimes slightly mysterious pedestrian narratives full of ache-y hope--a sort of humble defeat filled with hopefulness (not hopelessness!), which, i suppose, is an odd combination, but quite true. and i love this combination very much.

the trials of van occupanther is one of the greatest albums of all time--and that is not an opinion, my friends! it's pure truth. it fills my heart with warmth and homeyness whenever i listen to it. and check out the funny masks!

here, read "mopper's medley":

and he sings when he mops
seems to help him a lot
where there's uneven stairs
mr. landlord is there

well he mops all day
can't get away too long
when he's through
there's windows too

then nellie comes to see him
with a straight face she comes to see him
taking her favorite pen from her pocket
she writes it down
the things that she's found
and he always sometimes gets a little nervous
but he'd like for her to stay for a day

"would you care for a drink?"
"this is business," says she
"tell me where are the vents
for these apartments?"

so they go upstairs
to inspect air
the air is good
it's really good there

she's glad that he cares so much
about the safety of electrical outlets
taking her favorite pen from her pocket
she writes it down
the things that she's found
and she always sometimes gets a little nervous
'cause she'd like to stay with him for a day

see? wasn't that funny and dear?