Listening and hearing are not the same thing.

Have you ever been listening to a song that you've heard hundreds of times and suddenly noticed that the lyrics are really interesting? The other day I was driving down the road and "99 red balloons" came on the radio. I've always dismissed it, just a happy nonsense song with a helium obsession, but this time for some bizarre reason I actually listened to the lyrics. And laughed. It was most amusing! It also, for reasons that will be obvious if you read the lyrics, reminded me of Fleet, and of Bob in particular. ("The war marchine comes to life, opens up one eager eye," gives me a mental image of Bob sitting up, opening his eyes and grinning that disturbing grin of his. He he he.)

Anyhow, there's something about happy, bouncy end of the world songs that amuse me muchly. And if any of you can send me a copy of this, or of "It's the end of the world as we know it," (by REM) I'll jump for joy.

( 99 Red Balloons )