Dag van de (nrc*)ex

Het is vandaag, 2 januari, de Dag van de Ex. Althans, dat wil ochtendkrant nrc*next voor elkaar krijgen. En zodoende is de krant van vandaag omgedoopt tot de nrc*ex, staat op de voorpagina een stelletje dat inmiddels geen stelletje meer is (hadden ze maar de kleren aangehouden) en is in de krant een reportage te lezen over exen.

Bob Dylan heeft hier niet zoveel mee te maken. Toegegeven: als er iémand is die veel over ex-geliefden heeft geschreven en gezongen, is dat Dylan wel. Maar daar dacht ik niet aan, toen ik het ex-verhaal in de krant las.

Waar ik wel aan dacht, is het lied Day Of The Locusts. Want zoals de Dag van de Ex een uitvloeisel is van de Dag Van De-explosie, zo is ook de dag van de sprinkhaan een dag waar we bij stil kunnen staan. En daarom voor vandaag de tekst van Day Of The Locusts.

Oh, the benches were stained with tears and perspiration

The birdies were flying from tree to tree

There was little to say, there was no conversation

As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degree

And the locusts sang off in the distance

Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody

Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance

Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singing for me

I glanced into the chamber where the judges were talking

Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb

I was ready to leave, I was already walkin’

But the next time I looked there was light in the room

And the locusts sang, yeah, it give me a chill

Oh, the locusts sang such a sweet melody

Oh, the locusts sang their high whining trill

Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singing for me

Outside of the gates the trucks were unloadin’

The weather was hot, a-nearly 90 degrees

The man standin’ next to me, his head was exploding

Well, I was prayin’ the pieces wouldn’t fall on me

Yeah, the locusts sang off in the distance

Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody

Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance

And the locusts sang and they were singing for me

I put down my robe, picked up my diploma

Took hold of my sweetheart and away we did drive

Straight for the hills, the black hills of Dakota

Sure was glad to get out of there alive

And the locusts sang, well, it give me a chill

Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody

And the locusts sang with a high whinin’ trill

Yeah, the locusts sang and they was singing for me

Singing for me, well, singing for me

Copyright © 1970 by Big Sky Music; renewed 1998 by Big Sky Music