We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Coney Island of the Mind

from I Need To Talk To You by Samm Bennett

supported by
gk2nist
gk2nist thumbnail
Jon Hurd
Jon Hurd thumbnail
freakpowerticket
freakpowerticket thumbnail
coeruleum
coeruleum thumbnail
/

about

I wrote this song around the year 2010, or so, if I recall correctly. I might be a year or two off on that. Just one of the many (hundreds) I've written over the years and never gotten around to recording. With the recent death of poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, however (he died at age 101 on February 22, 2021) I was reminded of this song I had written, since I took the title from his book of poetry AND from the phrase in a Henry Miller book, which is where Ferlinghetti borrowed it from, and where I first read it, I believe, as I was a big Henry Miller fan back in high school days.

Anyway, the occasion of Ferlinghetti's departure from the planet spurred me to record this one, finally. It's spoken, not sung, which also seemed appropriate as an homage to the poet.

lyrics

CONEY ISLAND OF THE MIND

every other car of the F train is engulfed in flame
but it's pulling on outta West 4th street station just the same
step on in, step lively
and watch the closing doors
we're gonna ride this burner all the way down
to Coney Island’s golden shores

we'll jump on the roller coaster
it's made outta bones and mud
we'll play the little game where you shoot the ducks
tonight we're out for blood
we'll go down under the boardwalk
no telling what we'll find
down in Coney Island
a Coney Island of the mind

we'll head on over to the side show
and see the woman with a hundred toes
the two headed fish and the elastic man
who hammers nails into his nose
exotic dancers from Cleveland
and curiosities of every kind
down in Coney Island
a Coney Island of the mind

with ferris wheels spinning in all their eyes
a million souls with a quarter to spend
wander through this half-dreamt place
from the past to the present and back again
we're just two more fools who never wanna go back home
and have to face what we left behind
down in Coney Island
a Coney Island of the mind

then in the midst of the sickening swirl
at the height of the cheapest thrill
there's a blink just a second of silence
when everything goes dark and still
then a million colored flashing lights
bright enough to strike you blind
illuminates the desperation at the heart of this
Coney Island of the mind

and now the dead cold winter surrounds this place
the roller coaster's covered with snow
the midgets and dancers have all gone home
we're the only ones left at the freak show
the ferris wheel has rolled away
it's pitch black where the lights once shined
all we got is each other baby
and a Coney Island of the mind
all we got is each other baby
and a Coney Island of the mind
of the mind
of the mind
of the mind

credits

from I Need To Talk To You, released May 7, 2021
Samm Bennett: vocal, KORG classic WaveDrum, ektar, talking drum, sandpaper, little Indian bell, triangle, onboard synth

All words and music Copyright Samm Bennett, All Rights reserved
Published by Directional Music (BMI)

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Samm Bennett - Polarity Records image

Samm Bennett - Polarity Records Tokyo, Japan

Singer and songwriter, player of unusual string instruments such as 3-string and 1-string guitar, plus jaw harps, mouthbow, electronics and junk, plus all manner of drums and percussion.

contact / help

Contact Samm Bennett - Polarity Records

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Samm Bennett - Polarity Records, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now