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Neko Case — Thrice All American
Album: Furnace Room Lullaby
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 142









Released: 2000
Length: 3:07
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I want to tell you about my hometown
It's a dusty old jewel in the South Puget Sound
Where the factories churn and the timber's all cut down
And life goes by slow in Tacoma

People they laugh when they hear you're from my town
They say it's a sour and used up ol' place
I've defended its honor, shrugged off the put-downs
You know that you're poor, from Tacoma

Buildings are empty like ghettos of ghost-towns
It gives me a chill to think what was inside
I can't seem to fathom the dark of my history
I invented my own in Tacoma

There was nothing to put me in love with the good life
I'm in league with the the gangs, and the guns, and the crime
There was no hollow promise that life would reward you
There was nowhere to hide in Tacoma

People who built it they loved it like I do
There was hope in the trainyards of something inspired
Once was I on it, but it's been painted shut
I found passion for life in Tacoma

Well I don't make it home much, I sadly neglect you
But that's how you like it away from the world
God bless California, make way for the Wal-Mart
I hope they don't find you Tacoma
Comments (31)add comment
Tacoma is definitely on the up-and-up. Not quite large enough or happening enough for me, but a really nice little city on its own. The Tacoma Neko is singing about was the Tacoma of the late 80s/early 90s I think.
Posted 15 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
 RadioDoc wrote:
No, a contrived voice maybe.  A vastly over-rated voice definitely.  A drunken karaoke voice.
 
You're on crack son.  I've heard her live and I am telling you... this is a legitimate songbird.  No studio trickery here.

Posted 15 years ago by Thistle    [ Reply ]
 RadioDoc wrote:
No, a contrived voice maybe.  A vastly over-rated voice definitely.  A drunken karaoke voice.
 
Blasphemy! {#Fire}
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
Can't get enough Neko.  If hers was the last voice I ever heard singing I would be okay with that.

Posted 15 years ago by Thistle    [ Reply ]
Papernapkin wrote:
She may have a good voice, but it's so Photoshopped in all her songs.
No, a contrived voice maybe.  A vastly over-rated voice definitely.  A drunken karaoke voice.


Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
 xkolibuul wrote:
If you can't see the destruction that suburban sprawl hath wrought in the U.S. of A., that's even more sad.  
 
Sure things can go astray.
It's part of history.
I'm the eternal optimist.
I believe things can be turned around.
I was in Tacoma a few years ago. Things were looking up.


Posted 16 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
Ah, the memories of the aroma of Tacoma. Blue tarp capitol of Washington.
Posted 16 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
If you can't see the destruction that suburban sprawl hath wrought in the U.S. of A., that's even more sad.  

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Fuh is a very unhappy person that doesn't like America. Sad, sad man indeed. A person can find fault with anything. Holy cow life is to short to do that!
I've been to Tacoma and I found it to be quite pleasant.
 


Posted 16 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
I have fond memories of Tacoma, last day in the Navy went to some friends house in Tacoma. Got wasted big time....ah yes, Tacoma I loved it.
Posted 16 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
She may have a good voice, but it's so Photoshopped in all her songs.
Posted 16 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
I'm from the northwest and growing up we always railed on Tacoma--glad we weren't from there. But then, we wished we weren't from where we were from either. Man, this song hits home.
Posted 16 years ago by chrisinwilson    [ Reply ]
Seems like I just miss a Neko Case song every time I log on. Haven't heard much from her, but I'd really like to (given the glowing comments she always gets). I may just bite the bullet and buy this CD. Unless there's a better intro for a Neko noob...
Posted 16 years ago by makadar    [ Reply ]
She is pretty...and so is her music. Man I love her voice!!!
Posted 16 years ago by coolpeople_rule    [ Reply ]
Neko's voice is stunning
Posted 17 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
One of my uploads...a real gem from Furnace Room Lullaby. A romantic, nicely crafted song for a "worn out old (home) town"...
Posted 17 years ago by bschena    [ Reply ]
Hadn't heard this one from Neko before, but I LOVE it! Her voice can cut through soot, grime and dirty wax build up... but always with a haunting quality for the ages.
Posted 17 years ago by skindy    [ Reply ]
She has one of the best voices around..
Posted 17 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
okobojicat wrote:
Wow. You totally rip the city, then say you don't live there and don't really know what you are talking about. Brilliant. For those of us that still live here, and do like the city of Tacoma, you sound like an idiot. So don't comment on what you don't know. Go to downtown. Go party down sixth ave sometime. Tacoma is coming back. Its a city with soul and a damn nice place to live.
Fuh is a very unhappy person that doesn't like America. Sad, sad man indeed. A person can find fault with anything. Holy cow life is to short to do that! I've been to Tacoma and I found it to be quite pleasant.
Posted 17 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
DJac wrote:
I drive a Tacoma in Seattle... it seems pretty fast. Oh, maybe she's talking about something else... never mind...
A fast Toyota? Thats a oxymoron if I ever heard one.
Posted 17 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
Wow! Patty Griffin followed by Neko Case. It doesn't get much better than this! Somebody pinch me!!!
Posted 17 years ago by Lotus_Miata    [ Reply ]
fuh2 wrote:
Another town bites the dust thanks to highways to hell sprawl. Tacoma is just another rotten core city with suburbs all around it. Thanks to excessive sprawl all the tax base left inner Tacoma which led to its decay. But it is on the comeback a bit. Some urban renewal efforts. I dont live ther but this is what I heard. Very common American problem. (click here)
Wow. You totally rip the city, then say you don't live there and don't really know what you are talking about. Brilliant. For those of us that still live here, and do like the city of Tacoma, you sound like an idiot. So don't comment on what you don't know. Go to downtown. Go party down sixth ave sometime. Tacoma is coming back. Its a city with soul and a damn nice place to live.
Posted 17 years ago by okobojicat    [ Reply ]
Another town bites the dust thanks to highways to hell sprawl. Tacoma is just another rotten core city with suburbs all around it. Thanks to excessive sprawl all the tax base left inner Tacoma which led to its decay. But it is on the comeback a bit. Some urban renewal efforts. I dont live ther but this is what I heard. Very common American problem. (click here)
Posted 17 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
Very catchy. I love Neko Case...her voice is so unique.
Posted 17 years ago by Daniel_Pittenger    [ Reply ]
Most interesting part of this song, its not so true anymore. Tacoma has really had a revival the past 15 years, and is really taking off. There are parts that are still a bit interesting (East Side, South Side, I'm looking at you) but the city is quite beautiful. There is nothing quite like sitting on Commencement Bay in the early morning and seeing Mt. Rainier appear out of nowhere out of the fog amidst downtown.
Posted 17 years ago by okobojicat    [ Reply ]
My bad...thanks for the lyrics
Posted 17 years ago by creativebones    [ Reply ]
I drive a Tacoma in Seattle... it seems pretty fast. Oh, maybe she's talking about something else... never mind...
Posted 17 years ago by DJac    [ Reply ]
I want to tell you about my hometown It's a dusty old jewel in the South Puget Sound Well the factories churn and the timbers all cut down And life goes by slow in Tacoma People they laugh when they hear you're from my town They say it's a sour and used up old place I defended its honor, shrugged off the put downs You know that you're poor, from Tacoma Buildings are empty like ghettos or ghost-towns It gives me a chill to think what was inside I can't seem to fathom the dark of my history I invented my own in Tacoma There was nothing to put me in love with the good life I'm in league with the the gangs guns, and the crime There was no hollow promise that life would reward you There was nowhere to hide in Tacoma People who built it they loved it like I do There was hope in the trainyard of something inspired Once was I on it, but it's been painted shut I found passion for life in Tacoma Well I don't make it home much, I sadly neglect you But that's how you like it away from the world God bless California, make way for the Wal-Mart I hope they don't find you Tacoma
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
creativebones wrote:
I heard her mention South Puget Sound...she must be from Seattle huh?
I really hope that was a joke. If not, please relisten to the song.
Posted 17 years ago by okobojicat    [ Reply ]
I heard her mention South Puget Sound...she must be from Seattle huh?
Posted 17 years ago by creativebones    [ Reply ]
Hell yeah, I wish life went by slow in Tacoma.
Posted 17 years ago by okobojicat    [ Reply ]