Listen to this probally 300 times since 2014 but i only just fully realised the pun in the title and the metaphor of people being treated like convinience stores.
it is what I do, I dream. I just get high some times. and I'm going to role out of here some day. I just, might not get to drive. buddy you have inspired me for 10 years now.
I cannot count the number of times I have watched this video; shared it with friends; shouted about it to random people… It still destroys me. Buddy’s words. The visuals. So, so well done. Thank you.
you're not alone. My friend and I, discovered this 14 years ago. Just watched him wed. We still quote it. life, don't get me started on upside down balloons
This is no doubt the best spoken word I have ever heard in my entire existence and I have no idea when one will come along that's better than it, but I look forward to it, because something that good has to be life changing in drastic ways.
This prose made me look at someone for the first time. Someone I knew for years but never saw until this. No matter how many times chills still cascade down my spine.
This song is amazing. I saw him perform it live and I cannot begin to tell you the sheer grip you feel when he speaks this in person, let alone the power of the recording. You captured this extremely well. Awesome job.
Realising I've been enjoying this piece for 12 years. "I can tell, buddy, by the mini thins and the way you drive, we're both taken with novelty" So real
We both know the smell of a convenience store at 4 a.m. like the backs of alotta hands. She sells me trucker crack/Mini-Thins (it's like Vivarin). She doesn't make me feel awkward about it. She can tell it's been a long drive and it's only gonna get longer. Offers me a free cup of coffee, but I never touch the stuff. Besides, I'm gonna need more speed than that. We notice each other’s smiles immediately. It's our favorite thing for people to notice--our smiles. It's all either one of us has to offer. You can see it in the way our cheeks stretch out like arms wanting nothing more than to say, "You are welcome here." She-- shows brittle nicotine teeth with spaces between each one. Her fingers are bony, there's no rings on'm, and she'd love to get'er nails done someday. One time she had'er hair fixed. They took out the grease, made it real big on top, and feathered it. She likes it like that. She'll never be fully informed on some things just like I will never understand who really buys Moon Pies, or those rolling, wrinkled, dried-up sausages. But then again, she's been here a lot longer than me. She's seen everything from men who grow dread locks out of their top lips to children who look like cigarettes. I give'er my money. I wait for my change. But I feel like there's something more happening here. I feel-- like a warm mop bucket and dingy tiles that'll never come clean. I feel like these freezers cannot be re-stocked often enough. I feel like trash cans of candy wrappers with soda pop dripping down the wrong side of the plastic. I feel like everything just got computerized. I feel like she was raised to say a LOT of stupid things about a color. And I feel like if I were to identify myself as gay-- this conversation would stop. It's what I do. I feel. I get scared sometimes. And I drive. ...But in 1 minute and 48 seconds I'm gonna walk outta here with a full tank of gas, a bottle of Mini-Thins, and a pint of milk while there's a woman still trapped behind a formican counter somewhere in North Dakota who says she wants nothing more than to hear my whole story, all 92,775 miles of it. I can feel it though, y'all, she's heard more opinions and trucker small talk than Santa Claus has made kids happy, so I only find the nerve to tell'er the good parts, that she's the kindest thing to happen since Burlington, VT, and I wanna leave it at that because men--who are not smart--have taken it farther, have cradled her up like a nutcracker and made her feel as warm as a high school education on the dusty back road, or a beer, in a coozy. I feel like she's been waiting here a long time for the one who'll come 2-steppin'; through that door on 18 wheels without makin'er feel like it's her job to sweep up the nutshells alone when she's done been cracked again, who won't tempt her to suck the wedding ring off his dick, but will show her--simply--LOVE. She doesn't need me or any other man but she doesn't know that either, and I'm just hopin' like crazy she doesn't think I'm the one because the only time I'll ever see North Dakota again is in a Van Morrison song late (LATE) at night, I promise. Y'all, I feel like she's 37 years old wearing 51 (badly), dying inside (like certain kinds of dances around fires) to speak through you, a forest, if you weren't so taken with sparks. But she was never given those words. She has not been told she can definitely change the world. She knows some folks do but not in convenience stores and NOT with lottery tickets so I finally ask'er what I've been feelin' the entire time I've been standin' there still gettin' scared like I do sometimes really (REALLY) ready to drive I ask, "Is this it for you? Is this all you'll ever do?" Her smile collapsed. That tightly strapped-in pasty skin went loose. Her heart fell crooked. She said (not knowin' my real name), "I can tell, buddy, by the Mini Thins and the way ya drive-- we're both taken with novelty. We've both believed in mean gods. We both spend our money on things that break too easily like... people. And I can tell you think you've had it rough so especially you should know... It's what I do, I dream. I get high sometimes. And I'm gonna roll outta here one day. I just might not get to drive."
My best friend gave me a book signed by Buddy Wakefield. He visited her school and performed. I always read the book but never heard his voice until now. Somehow...it's exactly as I thought it would be. :) So amazing.
so cool to see this video, Buddy came into my studio to to demo this piece and a few others. I still have the masters and listen to the different versions. Thanks Buddy. keep inspiring like you do.
Is there any way a the piano track from this can be separated? I love the vocal performance too, but would like to have just the piano to listen to as well.
always hit me with the same intensity as the first time. amazing talent.
Buddy Wakefield has changed my life. What an amazing human being.
Been listening to this for almost five years and i still come back to it. Absoluty love Buddy and his art. Incredible.
5 years later same \
@@brooklynsartclasswashingto5543 ppt and
I work 3rd shift at a convenience store, I listen to this regularly. so much relateability..
12 years later and still brings a tear
Listen to this probally 300 times since 2014 but i only just fully realised the pun in the title and the metaphor of people being treated like convinience stores.
it is what I do, I dream. I just get high some times. and I'm going to role out of here some day. I just, might not get to drive.
buddy you have inspired me for 10 years now.
This poem made me feel queasy inside and almost wanting to cry, making me want to have more compassion to everyone I meet, thank you buddy
This is lovely.
"Dyin' inside like certain kinds of dances around fires
to speak THROUGH you;
a forest, if you weren't so taken with sparks!"
Can you explain this for me please
8+ years of this song making me cry, every, single, time. Thanks Buddy
Dude, from me to you, im that cashier
Tho happier inside, this was beautiful.
Thank u love
Jackie
13 years later and this is still by far one of the best
I cannot count the number of times I have watched this video; shared it with friends; shouted about it to random people…
It still destroys me.
Buddy’s words. The visuals. So, so well done.
Thank you.
you're not alone. My friend and I, discovered this 14 years ago. Just watched him wed. We still quote it. life, don't get me started on upside down balloons
This is no doubt the best spoken word I have ever heard in my entire existence and I have no idea when one will come along that's better than it, but I look forward to it, because something that good has to be life changing in drastic ways.
I'm going to assume you still haven't found a better one. Because I haven't yet
@@egone61I have not. Different account nowadays, but same favorites. This poem will live with me for the rest of my life.
@@jessicaautrey6136 thanks for replying, I haven't listened to this on a while lol
@@jessicaautrey6136this poem will never be topped. You are correct.
First heard this nearly 2 years ago but I still can't get enough of it. The ambiguity of the last line kills me every time
This prose made me look at someone for the first time. Someone I knew for years but never saw until this. No matter how many times chills still cascade down my spine.
Sitting in my bus in a truck stop on Albuquerque NM feeling every word right now.
Like ... -people. ... holy shit that cuts me every time.
I've heard this so often that I know it by heart. And I cry every single time.
Dude taught me a lot about rapping. Taught me more about living.
The part about being 37. And. Passing for 51 I can totally identify with I cry every time I hear this song
I start to cry at parts that are not supposed to make me cry.
This song is amazing. I saw him perform it live and I cannot begin to tell you the sheer grip you feel when he speaks this in person, let alone the power of the recording. You captured this extremely well. Awesome job.
Realising I've been enjoying this piece for 12 years.
"I can tell, buddy, by the mini thins and the way you drive, we're both taken with novelty"
So real
We both know the smell of a convenience store at 4 a.m. like the backs
of alotta hands.
She sells me trucker crack/Mini-Thins (it's like Vivarin).
She doesn't make me feel awkward about it.
She can tell it's been a long drive and it's only gonna get longer.
Offers me a free cup of coffee, but I never touch the stuff.
Besides, I'm gonna need more speed than that.
We notice each other’s smiles immediately.
It's our favorite thing for people to notice--our smiles.
It's all either one of us has to offer.
You can see it in the way our cheeks stretch out like arms
wanting nothing more than to say, "You are welcome here."
She--
shows brittle nicotine teeth with spaces between each one.
Her fingers are bony, there's no rings on'm, and she'd love to get'er nails done someday.
One time she had'er hair fixed.
They took out the grease, made it real big on top, and feathered it.
She likes it like that.
She'll never be fully informed on some things just like I will never understand
who really buys Moon Pies, or those rolling, wrinkled, dried-up sausages.
But then again, she's been here a lot longer than me.
She's seen everything
from men who grow dread locks out of their top lips
to children who look like cigarettes.
I give'er my money.
I wait for my change.
But I feel like there's something more happening here.
I feel--
like a warm mop bucket and dingy tiles that'll never come clean.
I feel like these freezers cannot be re-stocked often enough.
I feel like trash cans of candy wrappers
with soda pop dripping down the wrong side of the plastic.
I feel like everything just got computerized.
I feel like she was raised to say a LOT of stupid things about a color.
And I feel like if I were to identify myself as gay--
this conversation would stop.
It's what I do.
I feel.
I get scared sometimes.
And I drive.
...But in 1 minute and 48 seconds I'm gonna walk outta here with a full tank of gas, a bottle of Mini-Thins, and a pint of milk while there's a woman still trapped behind a formican counter somewhere in North Dakota who says she wants nothing more than to hear my whole story, all 92,775 miles of it.
I can feel it though, y'all, she's heard more opinions and trucker small talk than Santa Claus has made kids happy, so I only find the nerve to tell'er the good parts, that she's the kindest thing to happen since Burlington, VT, and I wanna leave it at that because men--who are not smart--have taken it farther, have cradled her up like a nutcracker and made her feel as warm as a high school education on the dusty back road, or a beer, in a coozy.
I feel like she's been waiting here a long time for the one who'll come 2-steppin'; through that door on 18 wheels without makin'er feel like it's her job to sweep up the nutshells alone when she's done been cracked again, who won't tempt her to suck the wedding ring off his dick, but will show her--simply--LOVE.
She doesn't need me or any other man but she doesn't know that either, and I'm just hopin' like crazy she doesn't think I'm the one because the only time I'll ever see North Dakota again is in a Van Morrison song late (LATE) at night, I promise.
Y'all, I feel like she's 37 years old wearing 51 (badly), dying inside (like certain kinds of dances around fires) to speak through you, a forest, if you weren't so taken with sparks.
But she was never given those words.
She has not been told she can definitely change the world.
She knows some folks do
but not in convenience stores
and NOT with lottery tickets
so
I finally ask'er what I've been feelin' the entire time I've been standin' there
still
gettin' scared like I do sometimes
really (REALLY) ready to drive
I ask,
"Is this it for you?
Is this all you'll ever do?"
Her smile
collapsed.
That tightly strapped-in pasty skin
went loose.
Her heart
fell crooked.
She said (not knowin' my real name),
"I can tell, buddy, by the Mini Thins and the way ya drive--
we're both taken with novelty.
We've both believed in mean gods.
We both spend our money on things that break too easily like...
people.
And I can tell
you think you've had it rough
so especially you should know...
It's what I do,
I dream.
I get high sometimes.
And I'm gonna roll outta here one day.
I just might not get to drive."
"It's what I do - I dream." Wow. I am enthralled.
always makes me tear up
My best friend gave me a book signed by Buddy Wakefield. He visited her school and performed. I always read the book but never heard his voice until now. Somehow...it's exactly as I thought it would be. :) So amazing.
so cool to see this video, Buddy came into my studio to to demo this piece and a few others. I still have the masters and listen to the different versions. Thanks Buddy. keep inspiring like you do.
Beautiful Cinematography! It's a very simple and gorgeous expression and it fits Buddy's poem wonderfully!
still listening to this soooooo many years later. think I am at least a few hundred of those views lol.
My teacher shared this with the class and i fell in love with it
Stefanee D. That’s a great teacher...
Still listening in 2020
Is this it for you? Is this all you will ever do?
Love love love it!!!
Beautiful
unbelievable
You have ruined the only life that I have known until I "met" you. I will be grateful for the rest of my life.
LOOVE!
I am driving in Sarasota, FL :)
gaaaaaahhhh gives me goosebumps everytime.
It gets really powerful as it goes on
"Because men-- who are not smart..." excerpt makes me want to aspire to something better; a man that always has honor and never takes the easy way.
Love this so much.
I love it so god damn much.
great video, amazing poem.
So superb, beautifully executed
I think my heart just broke.
hearts don't break
they bruise and get better :)
awesome vid captured the craziness for sure!
beautiful
Love this : )
We both spend on things that broke easily, like...people.
Is there any way a the piano track from this can be separated? I love the vocal performance too, but would like to have just the piano to listen to as well.
This, pairs well with Orville Peck’s “Drive Me, Crazy.”
Awesome
Much love from Ringling College
thank you
perfect
Anybody know where I can get my hands on the sheet music for this?
Love the poem, ps where were you driving? it looks familiar
this is Florida sarasota
anybody know where i can perhaps download this??
how did u get evry1 2 drive backward.
Anyone know where to find the music?
u know it from GTA