Counting Crows - Recovering the Satillites
Long hours. It’s something that many professions have, but for some reason the architectural profession takes it to "a whole nother" level. Those late nights go hand in hand with music and on one of those sleep deprived evenings, while listening to the album Recovering the Satellites by the band Counting Crows, I began to notice some similarities between some of the lyrics and the name of the project I was working on. As an example of what can happen while putting in long hours in the office, I present first the original lyrics, then my modified version. And before you ask, no alcohol was involved.
Background: At the time I was working at Dahlin Group Architects and the project was known as Bonita Canyon.
A Long December, words by Adam F. Duritz
A long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving
Oh the days go by so fast
And it's one more day up in the canyons
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think that I could be forgiven
I wish you would
(Na na na, etc. yeah)
The smell of hospitals in winter
And the feeling that it's all a lot of oysters, but no pearls
All at once you look across a crowded room
To see the way that light attaches to a girl
And it's one more day up in the canyons
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think you might come to California
I think you should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)
Drove up to Hillside Manor sometime after 2 a.m.
And talked a little while about the year
I guess the winter makes you laugh a little slower
Makes you talk a little lower about the things you could not show her
And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself
To hold on to these moments as they pass
And it's one more day up in the canyon
And it's one more night in Hollywood
It's been so long since I've seen the ocean
I guess I should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)
A Long December, words by Neal A. Pann
A long night and there’s reason to believe
Maybe this job will be no different then the next
I can’t remember the last change that you said as you were leavin’
Now the changes come so fast
And it’s one more change to Bonita Canyon
And it’s one more night at Dahlin Group
You would think that I could get a life
I wish I could
(Na na na, etc. yeah)
I smell from not bathin’
And I feel that it’s a lot of work, but no bonus
All at once you look across a crowded field
To see your friends enjoying the sun
And it’s one more change to Bonita Canyon
And it’s one more night at Dahlin Group
You would think that I could get a life
I wish I should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)
Drove up to my house sometime after 2 a.m.
And talked a little while about the job
I guess the hours make you work a little slower,
Makes you talk a little lower about the raise you won’t be getting
And it’s been a long night and there’s reason to believe
Maybe this job will be no different then the next
I can’t remember all the changes that I made
As it plots and I make another pass
And it’s one more change to Bonita Canyon
And it’s one more night at Dahlin Group
It’s been so long since I’ve seen the sun
I guess I should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)