Backmasking

The poems of Backmasking uncover secret messages of rock and roll in relation to religion, mostly in a loose sonnet form reminiscent of David Wojahn's classic, Mystery Train. Set mainly in the Muscle Shoals area of Alabama, these narrative poems, spun in reverse, detail a young man's ascent into the glittery world of guitar heroes, all the while singing out the day-to-day absurdities of the sacred and the profane.Fame Studio Session Muscle Shoals, Alabama 1989Its history in rock and roll was lost on meThe night that we snuck in. My buddy JonHad called a friend who'd let us tape for free.The evening band had paid, was packed and goneWhen we arrived with drums, guitars and Tom-His blank cassettes would dub our only tune.I can't recall who played the bass, or humThe hooks and riffs we tracked. So, pretty soonWe called it quits, our demo done. I'd loveTo say we felt Aretha's vibe, or heardThat Wilson Pickett preacher-scream aboveOur own pathetic din. But clever wordsAnd chords are not enough. Beside our carsWe lingered in the lot and spoke of stars.