I'm spending a Saturday evening at the Stamford abode as I still nurse the emptystomachvodkayumyumyum hangover of BABB and getting packed for my San Diego trek.

I don't know what wrong with me, though. You'll recall that last week John R. Cash's world weary video for "Hurt" had me blubbering like an idiot. Now I had the bonus disc for Elvis Costello's tragically underrated "Mighty Like A Rose" on and stopped in my tracks and shed more than a couple of tears listening to his live reading of "Couldn't Call It Unexpected #4 (right-click save as)."

I don't know if it's due to the lack of sleep, the throbbing headache, the packing frenzy or the still silently lurking ruminations of last week. Whatever it was, it got me.

I saw a girl who'd found her consolation
She said "One day my Prince of Peace will come"
Above her head a portrait of her father
The wilted favour that he gave her still fastened to the frame
"They've got his bones and everything he owns
I've got his name"

Well you can laugh at this sentimental story
But in time you'll have to make amends
The sudden chill where lovers doubt their immortality
As the clouds cover the sky the evening ends
Describing a picture of eyes finally closing
As you sometimes glimpse terrible faces in the fire
We'll I'm the lucky goon
Who composed this tune
from birds arranged on the high wire

Who on earth is tapping at the window?
Does that face still linger at the pane?
I saw you shiver though the room was like a furnace
A shadow of regret across a young mother's face
So toll the bell or rock the cradle
Please don't let me fear anything I cannot explain
I can't believe, I'll never believe in anything again
-Declan MacManus