Revisiting a Neko Case Masterpiece
Thoughts On Her Recording Of "Star Witness"
While listening to singer Neko Case on TV this morning perform a new song of hers, I was reminded of a recording she did almost 20 years ago that remains one of my all-time favorites – “Star Witness” (from her 2006 album “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood”). What is it that moves me about it? Coupled with the soulfulness of her voice, the lyrics possess a haunting ambiguity that straddles the fence between poetry and prose, and evokes a world of impressions for me both beautiful and sad. What is it about, though? Like most great lyrics, it’s not just about one thing or theme, but works on several levels, drawing in a variety of surprising connections. Superficially, it seems to be about the aftermath of a car accident, yet as you follow along with the lyrics you realize it’s not nearly that simple. (Neko herself claimed she wrote it after seeing a young black man shot to death in Chicago; make of that what you will. ) Give it a listen and see where it takes you.
Star Witness
My true love drowned in a dirty old pan
Of oil that did run from the block
Of a Falcon sedan 1969
The paper said ‘75
There were no survivors
None found alive
Trees break the sidewalk
And the sidewalk skins my knees
There’s glass in my thermos and blood on my jeans
Nickels and dimes of the Fourth of July
Roll off in a crooked line
To the chain-link lots where the red tails dive
Oh, how I forgot what it’s like
Hey, when she sings, when she sings when she sings like she runs
Moves like she runs
Hey, when she moves, when she moves when she moves like she runs
Moves like she runs
Hey there, there’s such tender wolves ‘round town tonight
‘Round the town tonight
Hey there, there’s such tender wolves ‘round town tonight
‘Round the town tonight
Hey pretty baby, get high with me
We can go to my sister’s if we say we’ll watch the baby
Look on your face yanks my neck on the chain
And I would do anything (I would do anything)
To see you again
So I’ve fallen behind
Hey, when she sings, when she sings when she sings like she runs
Moves like she runs
Hey, when she moves, when she moves when she moves like she runs (hey there, there’s such tender wolves ‘round town tonight)
Moves like she runs (’round the town tonight)
Hey there, there’s such tender wolves ‘round town tonight
‘Round the town tonight
Hey there, there’s such tender wolves ‘round town tonight
‘Round the town tonight
Go on, go on scream and cry
You’re miles from where anyone will find you
This is nothing new, no television crew
They don’t even put on the sirens
My nightgown sweeps the pavement
Please, don’t let him die
Oh, how I forgot
(Songwriters: Neko Case / Paul Andrew Rigby)
A great live version:
p.s. The Chicago poet Ryo Yamaguchi wrote a thoughtful piece about the song, which offers some thoughtful insights into the song’s lyrics:
https://plotsandoaths.com/2010/02/23/close-reads-star-witness-by-neko-case/
Ray Grasse is a writer, photographer and astrologer living in the American Midwest. He is author of ten books, and contributor to many anthologies. His websites are www.raygrasse.com and www.raygrassephotography.com.