For the Record(ing)

Some of you may recall that I have a portable alarm clock/ FM/ shortwave/ medium-wave (AM) /longwave radio which decided to stop working as a reliable radio after it had been dropped on its head one too many times. Since I didn't have the money to try to get it repaired back when the problems started, I've just been using it as an alarm clock and listening to music and the occasional international news programme online instead. (I do have an antennaless stereo which gets in a few stations and a small dollar store gift radio as well, but those don't bring me the exotic sounds the other radio used to.)

Anyway, there was one day a few years ago when I was sitting here at the computer desk and the radio decided to come alive for no apparent reason, playing The Beatles "I Feel Fine." The radio worked for a few days, then went silent again. If you've guessed that all this blather is prelude to a statement that the mysterious radio gremlins are at work again, you're quite right. The first thing I heard early this morning was something on news radio I didn't bother listening to, but I thought you all should know that the first piece of music the radio chose to play for me today was a new Suzanne Vega song, "Unbound."

I was once
Bound at the root
Confined with twine
Both mind and foot

I cut it loose
And now am free
As anything
Alive can be