The Minus 5 - Momus

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 cyclinder 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