Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #61

Ed: Swango's letters are beginning to get more and more cryptic. A few of you picked up on how he wrote that he was now thinking of me in "unusual ways" in his last letter. This one has two very odd sentences. I wrote him back asking for clarification.


Dear KK,

Opens with a classic 1-3-5-7-1 chord progression--forever attached to the quintessential pop ballad...enter the crystal-clear voice of Skeeter Davis:

Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don't they know it's the end of the world
'Cause you don't love me any more

Why do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars glow above
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything's the same as it was
I can't understand, no, I can't understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye

Well my historical-minded friend (but for some reason averse to its discussion?!) -- from my opening you can tell I saw the brilliant #12 episode of Season III of MAD MEN earlier.

But once again, I give you huge insight into who I am, And who I was. -- your choice whether to pick up on it for not...KK, dear, KK...

[Ed.: I find this sort of cryptic but I assume he means he relates to this song because he associates it with KK's suicide. But remember, the book written about him said they found traces of cyanide in her from a slow poisoning.]

Once again, MAD MEN is deadly accurate in time & tone. "END OF THE WORLD" as sung by the unknown Skeeter Davis was a huge hit, and has stood the test of time.

Two other points on the song:

1) A few years ago, I heard a morbid yet fascinating radio discussion on the "death rock" of the early-mid 1960s. In his pop rock/horror novel "Christine", Stephen King called them "Teenage Death Songs": "Teen Angel" / "Dead Man's Curve". One of the participants said "you can almost hear the gunshot as "End of the World" finishes.

Not sure I would go that far--but it is really the perfect personification of PopLove/Love Ends/World Ends.

Listen to the full song--the part where she speaks the third verse over music...

2) This may surprise you: The song has obviously been recorded over the years by many artists. One of the most powerful was in the mid-1970s by Karen Carpenter.

Again here's a window into me. And much more going on here---but can't really discuss without a willing & open partner... [Ed. Am I wrong in thinking this is cryptic?]

***

Kelly, THANK YOU for the Harpers Magazine essay on JG Ballard. You suspected correctly that I would want to read it.

A totally personal and biased opinion: Kelly--you are such a thoughtful and intelligent and giving woman, And very particular and very comfortable with being alone. (I consider that a very good thing, KK). I have no doubt that at some point a man will emerge who can be your equal in those things--and who "gets you". I will say again had I met you in 93 or so--who knows? I certainly would have tried. XOXO/And again, forgive my intrusion into verboten territory, but you deserve a powerful and intense and overwhelming and richly varied sexual relationship with the right man. And I have no doubt that with the right man, you will give totally, completely, unselfishly of your mind and body... Only a man who will do the same is worthy of your sexuality & love...

***

Yes, I know not exactly your standard "Hey how ya doin', seen any good movies?" type of letter. But you do bring out the curiosity and commentary in me, for better or for worse...

Settling down a bit:

>I can well imagine your near-hibernation during the winter, becoming "more and more of a recluse" as you put it. Surrounded by your films & TV and cooking, some letters !! and perhaps--at time carefully chosen friends...

>Have you ever thought you had a touch of Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD]?

Way behind on this letter as usual, but let me start on some of your always scintillating blog entries:

>Your RATE-A-DATE followup to the guy you met while you were with [Ginger Snap] was both informative & analytical.

Wouldn't it be amazing if you could get a "DATEFAX" when you met someone? a love/date/marriage/relationship history? Like a CARFAX when you're thinking about buying a car!

>Kelly, you never cease to amaze me: "Romance" with a 32-yr old when you were 16? You never did anything beyond kissing? Since he was a drug addict probably good. But I mentioned to you, without details of course--heaven forbid--my own experience and "education" with an older woman...

>Your blog analysis of Irene Vilar & Impossible Motherhood was most illuminating. She really does present a problem for "pro-lifers" and "pro-choicers" and those who are somewhat neutral.

She sounds like a reality show waiting to happen.

I do look forward to what you have to say after you read her book, Kelly.

Must get this in the mail, so will further comment on "REIDTARD" (The Final Chapter?), MAD MEN and FLASH FORWARD.


Thinking of you, Kelly. Stay well, stay warm, and stay the way you are... You know you love me, XOXO Gossip Girl...

Yours,

Michael