Crude Awakening - Burning Man 2007

Published 2007-09-09
An edited version of the long but amazing finale of "Crude Awakening" @ Burning Man this year. I was lucky enough to be sitting third row and felt the intense heat this baby put off. Probably one of the coolest things I've witnessed in a long time.

The siren wasn't going the entire time...but I liked how erie it made the piece feel. Add to that some Godspeed You! Black Emporer and it makes for an interesting perspective on what "Crude Awaking" is about, in my opinion.

Sorry about the low quality...took a crappy camera to BM this year and compression makes it look worse.

What is being said:
The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel.
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows The government is corrupt
And we're on so many drugs
With the radio on and the curtains drawn We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
And the machine is bleeding to death
The sun has fallen down
And the billboards are all leering
And the flags are all dead at the top of their poles
It went like this
The buildings tumbled in on themselves Mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble and pulled out their hair
The skyline was beautiful on fire
All twisted metal stretching upwards Everything washed in a thin orange haze
I said, "Kiss me, you're beautiful..
These are truly the last days"
You grabbed my hand and we fell into it Like a daydream or a fever
We woke up one morning and fell a little further down
For sure it's the valley of death
I open up my wallet And it's full of blood.

All Comments (2)
  • @dailyflash
    I'm so grateful I was there. It was otherworldly. Thanks for including the siren. You had to be there to really hear it right!