Just got back from playing a Father's Day celebration for Mississippi rural homeless folks in the poor side of town almost totally black except for a couple of white guys who looked like they might have let the party go on a little too long in their lives. Fish fry, we did our acoustic music (blues and originals), very hot and humid, nice people (very nice - everyone), lots of little black children some of whom at one point came up on the stage (a small black boy and girl) and asked if they could play a song.
They were so intent on this that I figured that they could play. So we positioned them in chairs with these acoustic guitars in their laps and waited. Nothing. "Will you help me?" the little girl finally asked. "Will you put your left hand on the neck and play what you play and let me do the rest?" I was very impressed. I finally figured out from her mother that she knew "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" so we just sang a little of it. Then the tiniest little black boy (two feet tall?) came up and said, "Can you play that song by Nellie and that white dude?" Also an impressive guy in corn rows and a pin striped suit was there for the occasion Don't know who he was, but I'm thinking preacher or politician.
Then there were the gangsta looking guys hanging out on the porch next door watching everything.
Even though it was the rural south "other side of the tracks" it was a nice street with huge oak trees, gardens, and a white dog in the fence next door (the gangsta's house) which someone leaned over to pet and got a nasty bite (it was a pit bull).
Anyway, I could go on like this forever but what I'm thinking is what are the films about the homeless? Are there any? I can't think of any. Okay these people are maybe what you would call formerly homeless cause there is now this great big house - lots of bedrooms and bathrooms that has been made into a homeless shelter for them and supported by the hospital and the university.
Also just to note, Wang Dang Doodle is the alternate Mississippi state anthem and the ultimate song of good will. This has been proven over and over and over. Rock on y'all.
They were so intent on this that I figured that they could play. So we positioned them in chairs with these acoustic guitars in their laps and waited. Nothing. "Will you help me?" the little girl finally asked. "Will you put your left hand on the neck and play what you play and let me do the rest?" I was very impressed. I finally figured out from her mother that she knew "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" so we just sang a little of it. Then the tiniest little black boy (two feet tall?) came up and said, "Can you play that song by Nellie and that white dude?" Also an impressive guy in corn rows and a pin striped suit was there for the occasion Don't know who he was, but I'm thinking preacher or politician.
Then there were the gangsta looking guys hanging out on the porch next door watching everything.
Even though it was the rural south "other side of the tracks" it was a nice street with huge oak trees, gardens, and a white dog in the fence next door (the gangsta's house) which someone leaned over to pet and got a nasty bite (it was a pit bull).
Anyway, I could go on like this forever but what I'm thinking is what are the films about the homeless? Are there any? I can't think of any. Okay these people are maybe what you would call formerly homeless cause there is now this great big house - lots of bedrooms and bathrooms that has been made into a homeless shelter for them and supported by the hospital and the university.
Also just to note, Wang Dang Doodle is the alternate Mississippi state anthem and the ultimate song of good will. This has been proven over and over and over. Rock on y'all.
1 2
Anyway, I could go on like this forever but what I'm thinking is what are the films about the homeless? Are there any?
The Fisher King kind of. Not really, I guess.
"You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you've got something to say."
F. Scott Fitzgerald
"The Grapes of Wrath"?
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Anyway, I could go on like this forever but what I'm thinking is what are the films about the homeless? Are there any?
I've got one "in my head," the first screenplay I never wrote. Maybe I can get hold of that guy on eBay.
BTW, nice of you to perform for this celebration and thanks for passing on the story.
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
Anyway, I could go on like this forever but what I'm thinking is what are the films about the homeless? Are there any?
I think that Hollywood doesn't do many stories about the homeless because it's very hard to find the right moment to insert the giant mechanical spiders.
That's not to say they couldn't do it if someone gave them enough money...
That was a gracious gift of giving that you did today, Suzy. My hat's off to you!
Doug
Just a virtual guy... in a virtual world
Then the tiniest little black boy (two feet tall?) came up and said, "Can you play that song by Nellie and that white dude?"
Nelly and Keith Urban? Or is it Toby Keith? Kenny Chesney? All I know is it aint my dog George Strait. Nelly did do a tune with Joe Perry too.
Ok, I admit it. I watch Country MTV but what is up with the MILF factor they are trying to advance? Old chicks, like at least 30, with wrinkles, and hips, trying to be hot? The "my give a damns busted" chick, the other country chick playing in Honky Tonks in Russia trying to get Russians to drink. (Is that the same chick?) The other one, the blonde, with crows feet wrinkles around her eyes, that the DP obviously wants in, cause I just saw a new movie with Faye Dunaway, and she had less wrinkles than the free-holes on CMT!
Anyway, I could go on like this forever but what I'm thinking is what are the films about the homeless?
Hollywood is scared to get grimey. How you gonna learn about the homeless, unless you get down and dirty, and roll with em for a week? Do this: Become a bum for a day or two. If you know where some homeless cats hang out. Show up and tell em, " it! I'm through with this ***. I got money, who wants to get drunk" Ive done it. Spent the day and night, behind the mall, smoking weed and drinking malt liquor.
Some homeless people are smarter than alot of rich people, thats for sure. The knowledge of music, and movies, and books was mindblowing. These people are just like us. They just dont have homes. Some homeless people just want to be left alone. Leave em alone. Others are gregarious, funny, insightful, and prophetic.
One bum used to live in the park by my house. He was a real trip. He would go crazy, saying he wrote the Star Bangled Banner or the Theme to Star Wars. He said he was a millionaire. He was friends with Jimi Hendrix. He was the greatest musician alive, and if we would buy him a beer he would prove it. We bought him beers, and let him entertain us with his crazy outbursts. It wasnt until he was murdered did we learn he was Jaco Pastorious
Also just to note, Wang Dang Doodle is the alternate Mississippi state anthem and the ultimate song of good will.
A homeless one legged Nam Vet told me check out Willie Dixon.
Oranse
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The Fisher King. Kinda goes overboard with the whole Holy Grail theme, but it's interesting.
Also, there's a movie by the director who made "Decline of the American Empire" and "The Barbarian Invasions" (which won an Oscar last year) called "Joyeux Calvaire" (Poverty and other delights), which follows two homeless men on their trek throughout Montreal. It's a very realistic and glamorous look at homelessness, and I catch it every time it's on TV.
jaybee
Anyway, I could go on like this forever but what I'm thinking is what are the films about the homeless? Are there any? I can't think of any.
The Fisher King. Kinda goes overboard with the whole Holy Grail theme, but it's interesting.
Also, there's a movie by the director who made "Decline of the American Empire" and "The Barbarian Invasions" (which won an Oscar last year) called "Joyeux Calvaire" (Poverty and other delights), which follows two homeless men on their trek throughout Montreal. It's a very realistic and glamorous look at homelessness, and I catch it every time it's on TV.
jaybee
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Damn.
cd
The difference between immorality and immortality is "T". I like Earl Grey.
One bum used to live in the park by my house. He was a real trip. He would go crazy, ... him entertain us with his crazy outbursts. It wasnt until he was murdered did we learn he was Jaco Pastorious
Damn.
cd
The difference between immorality and immortality is "T". I like Earl Grey.
I think I've told the disco version of this story before, but the ring-tone version is: one time I had this beggar take me out to lunch at a nice Italian restaurant. Can't remember if he was actually homeless, too, but he used to beg for money at the subway station during rush hour.
Lois
Lois
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