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Normal History Vol. 428: The Art Of David Lester

Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 33-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.

“Water In A Bucket” is about the American Dream, brought into focus through the basic necessity for water. The video I made this week shows people in happier times—before the dream turned into a nightmare. The lyrics attempt to turn awareness to the very basic act of having to haul water. I’ve used the video to re-politicize the song by adding footage of a water faucet in Flint, Mich. This seems like a step in the right direction in general. Giving older work new context.

Images: Stock footage. Flint faucet. Mecca Normal performing in Holland circa mid-90s.

Water In A Bucket

La la la my my my la la la my my my

Water in a bucket
down the street

You carry your water in a bucket down the street

La la la my my my la la la my my my

You carry your water too
in a North American city
in a North American street

Where the dream started
it started without you

I wanna get out of this dream
nightmare

I wanna climb out of this dream
this dream
this nightmare
nightmare
nightmare

It’s no dream
nightmare
nightmare

I wanna get out of this dream
nightmare

The dream started without you

It’s no dream
La la la my my my la la la my my my

“Water In A Bucket” from Water Cuts My Hands (K, 1991) (download):