in the land of the harley davidson

*harley davidson*

i was strolling down palm canyon drive on a bone dry desert evening last year,and my nose was soaking up the beautiful smell of the very commonplace cigars,while my eyes would feast on the beautiful american motorbikes...and this new offering is pretty much born out of that.
every year i yearn to get back out in the desert for a few months....i love the looseness and the freedom...there's no oppression or peer pressure... it's just too hot for all of that,and mostly everyone's too old to be bothered with wasting time,so there's a certain headspace out there .....and somewhere inside me was a song that needed to be written about this good feeling.
my co-writer michael owens sent me this lovely ambient guitar part that he had already recorded...it sounded so nice to my ears,and reminded me of one of my favourite records ['gone to earth' by david sylvian].....it felt like just the right canvas to write some desert inspired words and melody on top of.
this is the third song i've written with michael owens ,otherwise known as 'little mickey fingers'..the other two being'rocket science' and'failure and reputation'.
i'm real proud of the songs we've written together.
this one's a little different from the other two we've done,and vocally i reached out to get something a little more unlocked.
there's no tempo to the actual track...it's fluid or legato,or whatever the word is...it took me a while to find phrases that would fit the mecurial shape of the thing,but i was well into it.

...i shot this on a day when i knew a huge load of bikers were gonna be decending on the town[it's usually fairly quiet].....i think the bikers look so great,and i identify with their freewheeling approach to life.i've always lived my life outside of convention ,so i feel comfortable in their presence.

i could have jizzed the video up and coloured it,but i wanted to leave it raw like a piece of reportage.
everyone looks so bad assed ,but they were sweet and rocking..it was a nice day.
it's fun going out with the camera...i do this in london sometimes...sink a few cocktails and then head out on to the street...so it was great fun trying that in the desert as well......
i love what harley davidson stand for...culture,passion,style and freedom...so this song is a tribute not only to the desert ,but also to those biker folk and their beautiful purring roaring two wheelers.

long live rock n roll...

with love to you as always

mary cigarettes

written by mary cigarettes and michael owens ©

Category:

Music

Tags:

• harleydavidson
• harley-davidson
• easy
• rider
• dennis
• hopper
• cigars
• triumph
• bikers
• motorbikes
• ambient
• david
• sylvian
• california
• palm
• springs
• coachella
• marycigarettes
• singing
• vocal
• songwriting
• guitars
• vintage
• americana

[spudcustardx1]

I had forgotten how good this was. I tracked down Paul Mealor's email he did Ubi Caritas (the best bit of music for the last royal wedding) just so I could send him an email (It went along the lines of "I hope you know how good you are") I'm not big on searching out people, I love great music and if you don't take the bother to tell people they are great why would they keep doing it.

[marycigarettes]

@spudcustardx1 that's such a heartwarming thing to read on this freezing tuesday...it's a funny thing.. getting encouragement is really helpful,but i've learned not to depend on it...the audience is powerful thing,it jumps around and quite rightly doesn't always have time for what the likes of me are doing..it would drive me nuts if i depended on it..so when kind word like yours come down the line,it's just pure encouragement..so thanks...very cool of you to write.

[alexandraxxxxxx]

dear mary this in outstanding ...your voice is captivating ...cool video, Id love a Harley lol...

[marycigarettes]

@alexandraxxxxxx you'd look GREAT on a harley with your long flowing hair....it would suit you.

[LittleMickyFingers]

You breathe life into the heart and soul of the music .... top drawer stuff!

[marycigarettes]

@LittleMickyFingers so did you! ... we both did.

[boanger]

It's 4;00am.I can't sleep cause I worry some here and there, then I find this beautiful video...I ain't going to work this mournin', I'm gettin' on my bike! Here's to all my brothers & sisters and the thousands of bikers that I've waived at on the highway and partied with at the rallies. Love you all.

[jamesraymondsmith]

i lived in the mojave california desert for a couple years in 78-79. these lyrics are tops, wish i knew someon from tijuana. this one gets better with multiple viewings..he's right, this one is special,, i'm just a guitar hack...

[metamorphicmuse]

There was a time when I REFUSED to straddle anything other than a Harley. A friend finally convinced me to ride with him on his Crotch Rocket, and I can say with COMPLETE conviction, it just AIN'T the same, baby! Mary, NO ONE can beat the honesty and purity of your lyrics. You are a GOD among men. XOXOXO

[streetspiritlive]

Billie go Billie Go Amen! ; )))

[allgoraro]

This is great!

[MrChubbleyWarner]

This still sounds incredible 4 months on!! - it's def something special man...