12月25日はクリスマスよりも旧友の言葉、「もう25日かぁ、終い天神やな」をどうしても思い出してしまう。2009年までは・・
2009年にVic Chesnuttが自ら命を絶ってから、もう早いもので6年。ここ数年、この季節はどうしてこのことが頭をよぎる。
僕はクリスマスがどうこう(いいも悪いも)もなく、ただこの時期特有の浮かれた感じも嫌いではないし、クリスマスソングも好きなの多い。ディケンズの「クリスマス・キャロル」は毎年のように読み直す物語。それにラテン語でのノエルという言葉も好き。そういえば「マスター・キートン」の中で「ノエルの休戦」という素晴らしいエピソードも好き。
映画といえば、ポール・オースターの小説「オーギー・レンのクリスマス・ストーリー」を原作とした1995年の「スモーク」はなんど観てもたまらない。
ようやく仕事も終わり、疲れを徐々に冷ます夜更け。
今宵はTom Waitsの「Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis」とホットウイスキーで静めよう。
hey Charley I’m pregnant
and living on 9-th street
right above a dirty bookstore
off cuclid avenue
and I stopped taking dope
and I quit drinking whiskey
and my old man plays the trombone
and works out at the track.
and he says that he loves me
even though its not his baby
and he says that he’ll raise him up
like he would his own son
and he gave me a ring
that was worn by his mother
and he takes me out dancin
every saturday nite.
and hey Charley I think about you
everytime I pass a fillin’ station
on account of all the grease
you used to wear in your hair
and I still have that record
of little anthony & the imperials
but someone stole my record player
how do you like that?
hey Charley I almost went crazy
after mario got busted
so I went back to omaha to
live with my folks
but everyone I used to know
was either dead or in prison
so I came back in minneapolis
this time I think I’m gonna stay.
hey Charley I think I’m happy
for the first time since my accident
and I wish I had all the money
that we used to spend on dope
I’d buy me a used car lot
and I wouldn’t sell any of em
I’d just drive a different car
every day dependin on how
I feel.
hey Charley
for chrissakes
do you want to know
the truth of it?
I don’t have a husband
he don’t play the trombone
and I need to borrow money
to pay this lawyer
and Charley, hey
I’ll be eligible for parole
come valentines day.
