Minus 5

Who can now remember Zebediah Lane?
The great singing sensation of 1909
With his chicken and his monkey and his ukelele
He achieved what seemed like undying fame
But now his multi-platinum wax cylinder rolls
Like his name, have crumbled away

One hundred years from now
Who will still be famous?
Scott McCaughey of The Minus 5
John Crist of the Dashboard Saviours
Or their collaborators
Pearl Jam, REM, Sonic Youth, Guided By Voices
The Walkabouts, The Posies (Ken and John)
The Presidents of the United States Of America
(Not them, the other ones)?

Massive popularity is never enough
Not even worldwide acclaim or universal love
Can guarantee eternities of honour
For our names

As Velazquez and Picasso will happily explain
History remembers the names
Of those who creep out of the shadows
And reposition the frames

Beam me up, Scott McCaughey
Let's take The Minus 5 at warp factor 3
To a planet just like Earth, to a city like Madrid
To a place just like the Prado Gallery
We'll spend the day just looking at Las Meninas
Asking ourselves 'Who was that king? What was his name?
The one who let his family get in the way
Of the self-portrait Velazquez was painting?'

Wearing shades at night is never enough
Not exceptional skill or below zero cool at Minus 5 degrees
Can guarantee eternities of honour for our names

As Scott McCaughey and I have no doubt realised
History remembers the names
Of those who creep out of the shadows
And reposition the frames