"MAYOR OF SIMPLETON" XTC (1989)

For the month of November, I’ll be selecting songs in conjunction with the music Twitter challenge: #WelcomeToTheOccupation.

During my high school years, my friend’s older sister introduced me to WDRE/WLIR. “They play cool music.” The introduction went something like that. That radio station literally changed the trajectory of my musical preferences. I was forever stuck in classic rock. And when I say forever, I’m referring to 8th-10th grades. WDRE was the city’s local alt / college rock station, which made it a treasure trove especially during the eighties. XTC is a band that I wouldn’t have discovered if it weren’t for that station. Songs like “Earn Enough For Us”, “Making Plans For Nigel”, “Dear God” and “Mayor of Simpleton” got regular airplay on it.

XTC was always big on clever lyrics and inventive, yet catchy melodies. The brainchild of Andy Partridge, “Mayor of Simpleton” has both. The song’s lyrics took an interesting approach, pairing shortcomings of being simple-minded with knowing perhaps the one thing that really matters. The rather abrupt guitar chord intro, Beatlesque chorus and soaring bridge deliver all the charm you can handle.

“And I can't unravel riddles, problems and puns. How the home computer has me on the run And I may be the Mayor of Simpleton. But I know one thing And that's I love you.”

"EARN ENOUGH FOR US" XTC (1986)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #SeptSongLyricChallenge

Day 10

XTC are considered by many to be one of the most underrated bands of the 80’s. Had they toured more regularly, their following would’ve been much larger. Their songwriting and musicianship are both impressive and unique. One of my go-to tracks from XTC is “Earn Enough For Us” from the acclaimed Skylarking album. The lyrics tell the very un-rock & roll story of providing for one’s family, which is the reason why this song resonates with me much more so than when I first heard it.

“I can take humiliation and hurtful comments from the boss. I'm just praying by the weekend I can earn enough for us.”

"DEAR GOD" XTC (1986)

Funny how this song created such religious controversy when it first came out. While this letter to God was written from the perspective of an agnostic, I think there’s something to be learned here in terms of what it means to pray with an honesty and an earnestness that’s often missing in the modern religious discourse. It’s masterfully penned by Andy Partridge—and the string arrangements and haunting guitar strums make it one of my all-time favorite new wave classics.

“Dear God, hope you get the letter and I pray you can make it better down here.”

"SENSES WORKING OVERTIME" XTC (1982)

Like many other XTC songs, “Senses Working Overtime” is an epic composition. The band rarely toured. But they made every minute count when they were in the studio, resulting in some of the most ambitious records ever made. “Senses Working Overtime” is comprised of three ingenious verses and that signature chorus banded together by a bridge, then a traditional bridge, then a bridge reprise. What I respect most about XTC. It’s blood, sweat and tears poured into the music every single time.

“And I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime. Trying to take this all in. I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime. Trying to tell the difference 'tween the goods and grime.”