John Hiatt's Slow Turning

Certain songwriters inspire me to the bone. Last night, I saw John Hiatt at the City Winery on Varick Street.  This venue made sense since long ago the space was the dance hall known as Heartbreak, a subject Hiatt lyrically majors in with a minor in regret.

Hiatt has a new record out, "Mystic Pinball," he played four songs from it last night and nothing reflects the quality of an artist like the seamless integration of new work into a show that knocks out the audience. Listening to the new tunes now and I love them.

But I do admit I snuck in Paper Thin, Drive South and Slow Turning  (lyrics below).

When I was a boy

I thought it just came to you

But I never could tell what's mine

So it didn't matter anyway
My only pride and joy

Was this racket down here

Bangin' on an old guitar

Singin' what I had to say
I always thought our house was haunted

'Cuz nobody said boo to me

I never did get what I wanted

But now I get what I need
It's been a slow turnin

'From the inside out

A slow turnin' baby

Spring St. & West Broadway looking south

But you come about
A slow learnin

'But you learn to sway-ah-hay-hay-hay

A slow turnin', baby

Not fade away, not fade away, not fade away
Now I'm in my car

Ooh, I got the radio down

Now I'm yellin' at the kids in the back

'Cuz they're bangin' like Charlie Watts
You think you've come so far

In this one horse town

Then she's laughin' that crazy laugh

'Cuz you haven't left the parkin' lot
Time is short and here's the damn thing about it

You're gonna die, gonna die for sure

And you can learn to live with love or without it

But there ain't no cure
It's just a slow turnin'

From the inside out

A slow turnin'

But you come about, ya
A slow turnin', baby

But you learn to sway-ah-hay-hay-hay

A slow turnin'

Not fade away, not fade away, not fade away...

My first book of photos, "River to River ~ New York Scenes from a Bicycle," is on sale for $12.95 @ Amazon.