GUNPOWDER DAYS
“Ooh, pretty!” (I’m watching fireworks out my window while I type this) Today is Guy Fawkes Day so tonight a bunch of us went out with some of the FMC staff (ie Michelle and Ana) to see what festivities the great city had planned for us. The bus ride was uncomfortable but funny-everyone mobbed the bus and the driver couldn’t even make them pay, there were so many being pushed by people behind them. The only part of my body not pressed hard against a stranger was my neck and parts of my lower legs. We missed the major fireworks show, but then we got to the top of the high hill, to Alexandra Palace, which I don’t know much about but it’s very pretty. It had a nearly perfect 180 degree view of London, which looked like any other town spread out far away in the dark, except for the fireworks. In every corner of the city, constantly, for the entire hour and a half that we stood on that hill, there were fireworks. Seriously, in every few blocks of every neighborhood, people were setting off every little firework they had, and the combined effect was of a whole city breaking out and celebrating. It blew my mind-this view was seriously one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. They were only very small and often didn’t even explode, but they were everywhere. I can’t even begin to describe it. “If you could see it then you’d understand.” And at one point Emily and I were standing next to each other and had another moment where we both turned and looked at each other and at the same time were like, “Oh man, I wish you were a guy, cuz I want some one to make out with. I really wish you were a guy.” It was so funny. I used the glowsticks Mom sent to help us stay together in the dark, and Michelle bought us all sparklers. It was my very first sparkler (I know, I was deprived) and I had fun dancing with it down an avenue of trees. This whole holiday is so queer. Here’s a bit of writing that had its humble beginnings as my away message tonight: "Hey, 400 years ago some traitors nearly succeeded in destroying our entire political and social structure--let's celebrate by setting off every cheap explosive known to modern man! It's been a few weeks since there's been a cheap, gaudy carnival with cheap, gaudy beer for cheap, gaudy people. And let's have our children hit the streets again to get candy from strangers--it's been nearly a week since Halloween. Try to blow up Parliament, kids, you'll be famous someday. Penny for the Guy, mister, penny for the Guy…Lord love those Brits. Happy Guy Fawkes Day 2005, Elizabeth II reigning. Par-tay in da house tonite.” While we were gone, Jeff, Maria, Karla, and Katie bought fireworks and set them off in the park. I’m still green with jealousy.
One time on [Guy Fawkes Day],
I went out to see the fireworks [display].
From a hill I could see all the rockets as they flew
from the town below me.
Bombs bursting in the air,
The crowd cheered with every flare,
In the distance the clouds were cracking and flashing,
Mountains shaking with every explosion.
I remembered thinking that night,
As I looked into the sky,
More than pyrotechnics meets the eye.
Chorus
And the fireworks fly,
And the fireworks fall,
But I have seen the best of all.
And it's true,
After every charge is through,
I can still hear the thunder call.
Glitter bombs turn pasty pale,
Under five-mile electric trails,
Soaring skies and lofty Sierras,
Never looked quite as good in the pictures.
Neon flickers in the haze,
Billboards set to catch our gaze,
So much noise,
Nothing holds our attention,
It has all been done before.
So let the rockets sparkle and fade,
Let the streamers fill the sky,
More than pyrotechnics meets the eye.
Look up, I look up at night,
Planets are moving at the speed of light.
Climb up, up in the trees,
every chance that you get,
is a chance you seize…
Ideas that you'll never find,
all the inventors could never design.
The buildings that you put up,
Japan and China all lit up.
The sign that I couldn't read,
or a light that I couldn't see,
somethings you have to believe,
but others are puzzles, puzzling me.
And all that noise, all that sound,
all those pieces that I have found.
And birds go flying at the speed of sound,
to show you how it all began.
Birds come flying from the underground,
if you could see it then you'd understand,
Oh when you see it then you'll understand…
One time on [Guy Fawkes Day],
I went out to see the fireworks [display].
From a hill I could see all the rockets as they flew
from the town below me.
Bombs bursting in the air,
The crowd cheered with every flare,
In the distance the clouds were cracking and flashing,
Mountains shaking with every explosion.
I remembered thinking that night,
As I looked into the sky,
More than pyrotechnics meets the eye.
Chorus
And the fireworks fly,
And the fireworks fall,
But I have seen the best of all.
And it's true,
After every charge is through,
I can still hear the thunder call.
Glitter bombs turn pasty pale,
Under five-mile electric trails,
Soaring skies and lofty Sierras,
Never looked quite as good in the pictures.
Neon flickers in the haze,
Billboards set to catch our gaze,
So much noise,
Nothing holds our attention,
It has all been done before.
So let the rockets sparkle and fade,
Let the streamers fill the sky,
More than pyrotechnics meets the eye.
Look up, I look up at night,
Planets are moving at the speed of light.
Climb up, up in the trees,
every chance that you get,
is a chance you seize…
Ideas that you'll never find,
all the inventors could never design.
The buildings that you put up,
Japan and China all lit up.
The sign that I couldn't read,
or a light that I couldn't see,
somethings you have to believe,
but others are puzzles, puzzling me.
And all that noise, all that sound,
all those pieces that I have found.
And birds go flying at the speed of sound,
to show you how it all began.
Birds come flying from the underground,
if you could see it then you'd understand,
Oh when you see it then you'll understand…