I've been feeling haunted by time. Maybe it's just the turning season, spring passed by and winter on on the horizon. Or it could be the myopic perception of a subterranean shift in my subconscious lifecycle. In any case, I was drawn yesterday to pair an old song of mine with an amazing clip from a camera moving smoothly down Market Street in 1906 pre-earthquake San Francisco.
What strikes me most about this footage is the feeling of casual normality. People move easily along the street in cars, carts, trolleys and on foot, in a city that is a thriving exemplar of the cutting edge of modernity. There is no sense of the looming cataclysm that will bring their city to the ground, kill 3000 souls and leave a quarter million homeless.
I can't help but feel great kinship with them.
Entrapment
I am so caught up in the day to day
With my eyes on tomorrow but my mind on yesterday
From the daily news to the bills to pay
I am so caught up in the day to day
I am so caught up within my desire
Burning up my life trying to quench each fire
I can never stop and I'm so damned tired
I am so caught up within my desire
I am so caught up in my hidden fears
With my bravest smile holding back my tears
And I've built them strong through the passing years
I am so caught up in my hidden fears
I am so caught up in the roles I play
Who I really am I can barely say
And it's just the same for those who share my stage
I am so caught up in the roles I play
I am so caught up in the day to day
With my eyes on tomorrow but my mind on yesterday
From the daily news to the bills to pay
I am so caught up in the day to day
6 comments:
fabulous!
I've seen this footage several times in the past and it is still hypnotizing. Of a world before traffic lights and an everyday acceptance of serious danger just crossing the street. The free for all nature of that scene always gets me. Also thinking of what a metropolis, San Francisco was even that long ago. When in SF, I drive down Market street and have recalled this footage. It is so much more sterile and inactive.
I'm also reminded of how many streetcars are there. A continuous stream of them. We had mass transit installed fully before it was destroyed by the Bus and Tire companies from an ugly business conspiracy of which we still suffer.
Time marches on. Grab it when you can.
Poignant and really on the mark.
First, I watched the entire vid. It was amazing and I was surprised by the story it told, about a time I never knew. And you remarks could not have been more poignant and insightful.
Your poem was powerful and unexpected. We are all caught up in our day to day though. There are just so many days, and so many bills, how can you not be.
Thanks! It's strange to think that people 100 years from now will have billions of hours of video from today's society.
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