Seeburg 222
Words and music by Serene Dominic copyright 2022
lyrics
Seeburg 222, so much love cradled inside you
Seeburg 222, so much love cradled inside you
Future legions of teen won't know what it means
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
To keep punching B17
And crying by the record machine
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Once music was a destination
An around-the-clock preoccupation
You'd lean against it when your song was playing
Seeburg 222, so much love cradled inside you
Seeburg 222, so much love cradled inside you
Hit parade made to order, 3 songs for a quarter
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Choose from 80 45s with the original B-sides
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Once we couldn't see needle touching wax
We lost touch with our music, turned out backs
Why replace with a small space digital one
When you got a fully loaded phone?
Seeburg 222, so much love cradled inside you
Seeburg 222, my God, man, where are they taking you?
credits
from Allerton Avenue in 3D,
released March 1, 2022
Serene: "One night at Bullocks I took a good look at the digital jukebox mounted on the wall and wondered who would use a jukebox where you make your song selections over the phone? With every song in the world at your fingertips, why would you use such a monstrosity? Old jukeboxes were even bigger space eaters but they were a bright flashing thing beauties, something you could lean on and study. And pose by for album covers like Chuck Berry and Bruno Mars's' gorilla. Seeburg 222 also sounded like the name of a small fighter plane so once I saw that as a title, we were off to the races.
This recording was built up from a little ukulele song I'd started in week two. I'd spent a good part of week one belaboring a song called "Jukebox Lament" that went through several versions including one with a character study of a man named Pro-Action Jackson before I let it sit and stay like a disobedient dog. No song idea left behind unless it's given at least two tries. Only an unbeatable title with a fairly comprehensible lyrical idea attached can save that one from song Siberia.
The song is pretty self-explanatory but the fate of our jukebox, judging by the moody coda, is uncertain. Maybe Seeburg 222 fights back his oppressors, even without the assistance of Pro-Action Jackson."
New on the always-great label Velvet Blue Music is “Slow Parade” from Gileah Taylor, boasting warm songs built on piano and guitar. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 26, 2024