mike nesmith, “wax minute”
froM: Tantamount to treason volume 1, 1972
“As you complicate things greatly
Since you came into my life
Old veneers and stately postures
Wax minute within your sigh
And the taxing way of adjusting
To all the thoughts which you reveal
Only incites me to motion
While that’s the crux of your appeal
Just the thought of how
It’s always been concealed
Where’s my heart, love?
As only you can heal
And his humble plans just don’t seem
To inspire me to heights
As they did or as seeing you
Or as touching you might
And the card that I should have sent days ago
Falls short of reaching you
Memories speak kindly now
But what can I do?
Just be thankful
For an insight granted to few
And don’t linger
On what it might have meant to you
The distance which I keep
Has entered into play
Miles which make me say
I won’t be seeing you”
Who knows what the general public thought of the musical chops of the Monkees when they achieved fame during the 60’s. Though their cumulative musical experience may have been limited, it could be said they used the band as the training ground to create themselves. There is enough evidence though of Michael Nesmith’s plentiful contributions to some of the most convincing and inventive country rock experiments. He sings his ass off on “Wax Minute” which almost seems a conversation he’s having with himself. Pedal steel wizard Red Rhodes teleports the whole affair with his other worldly out of kilter solo. Michael Meeks takes it out with an avant ice rink organ solo. Happy Birthday Mr. Nesmith (12.30.42) in that Mutton Chop Kingdom in the Sky!
