Here on the 4th, I’m still thinking quite a lot about what I was doing on the 3rd, which was a return to see the last day of the extraordinary Kerry James Marshall retrospective at MOCA. Marshall’s work is explicitly political, often times without relying on the explicit polemics of most political art. Much of it was focused on the simple lack of representation of black bodies in the art world, so Marshall painted exclusively Black figures, and made them as Black as Black can be as a color. The subject matter also was political just in it’s choice, present Black folk in a variety of idyllic scenes, instantly recognizable to Black folk themselves, but also not so dissimilar from basic “Americana” that had been normalized throughout the years. “Bang” is a perfect example of that, a simple meeting of children on the 4th of July, a reminder that America’s history is shared by all Americans, and all Americans have had a part in the making of this most imperfect union.
That notion of America as an imperfect union seems especially apt in the given political moment, one which seems filled with more uncertainty of anytime during my life (take note, I was born in 1975, a year after Nixon resigned). And in this kind of moment, songs like “Our Republic,” often come to mind. One of Jason Molina’s greatest strengths as a songwriter (something that will always be sorely missed because of his far to early passing) was how he could turn a phrase. While many of his songs in those early days often sounded like they were from a different era, it was the way he constructed his lyrics that made them stand out the most.
Songs: Ohia – “Our Republic”
You should know,
Trouble comes from a passionate word,
And you should know,
Passion comes from a passing word,
Dark blue they,
Our banners flayed,
And burning to the base,
Submit to draw closer,
The glance you’d once given me,
An attempt of the old position,
They impose their pushing in steep heroics,
These fine others,
I owe my lifted, tho’ wounded head,
And every side of you to a man,
There have been signals,
These are now joined by a future,
And only say which decayed,
Not live opposite the failed republic,
Time will meet and pass you by,
You should know,
Trouble comes from a passionate word,
You should know,
Passion comes from a troublesome word,
You should know,
Trouble sounds like a comforting word,
You should know,
Passion comes from a passing word…
Now, I have no idea if “Our Republic,” was written about our republic, likely it was about a more personal relationship, but the words might serve as a warning to all sides in our current situation, where political wins become losses almost as quickly. At times watching our current politics you’d think that each side truly believed that they live in different worlds, and not the same exact country. But, I’m a firm believer that road to peace isn’t a peaceful one, but instead one that’s paved with trouble, and while that’s not what’s celebrated often on the 4th, the country we have is here because of it, and the world we’ll eventually create will be better for the passionate troubles we’re going through right now.
A special note on the this file, this actually comes from a digitized version of a cassette compilation of music from Songs: Ohia vinyl LPs that I made for road trips in the early 2000s. I bought a copy of the 1st album at the tribute to Jason Molina that was done after his passing here in LA, but the sound on that more recent reissue is a little too clear, and to my ears, this one still sounds warmest and true.