If a picture is worth 1000 words, how many do you think a song is worth? Surely the numeric value goes beyond the lyric count. Each song has the ability to take on new life throughout time.
There are few artists who represent this magic to me better than Pat the Bunny, the king of folk punk. Pat has been there for me through many phases, teaching me at times, and holding space others. He left the scene years ago, and I felt it was one of the biggest blows to art that I've seen in my lifetime. He was iconic to crust punks.
It was time for him though. He'd lost touch with the angst and anger that punk represents on purpose. After losing so much to drugs, the man got sober! Big moves. Pat tried to stick it out with us, but found it problematic it seems. Legend left, going off to live in a monastery.
For years he kindly asked to be left alone, and most of us begrudgingly obliged.
I'd frequently make the joke that the world had gone to shit because Pat was missing from music. During covid times I often said that if only Pat came back, maybe it would set the world right again.
Maybe he heard all of us that felt the same way because HE'S BACK!! I've been smiling as I listen to his new tunes and reading through the comment sections. Apparently, I'm far from the only one who thinks his reappearance is a golden sign of good things to come.
Before I share my favorite new tune from Pat, let us go back in time a bit... the album "From here to Utopia" has gotten me through some STUFF. When I first stumbled on it nearly a decade ago, I was living a pretty wild life. I struggled to find intellectual connection with folks, I felt that no one got it.
Ah, the hallmark of young punks. NO ONE GETS ME! Although I always felt I was more goth, the jury tends to be out on that. I certainly like punk music a bit more. One of Pat's projects Ramshackle Glory is a prime example of why this is.
His voice is scratchy and a bit whiney at times. So real; perfect to carry the sort of messages he shares. Connection, mistrust of societal structures, community, and compassion. Yes.
This song reminds me that we all have struggles that hide beneath the surface. That we only have each other to count on to make it through tough times. Sometimes checking in saves lives. Sometimes remembering we all carry the same erratic muscle in our chests can give us a better perspective on what it means to be human.
If you like that one, I suggest listening to the whole album. It's cathartic, an ode to fucking up and bucking up. It was written by a sober man trying to find a way to fight both the system and the cycles that those outside the system can be known to fall into.
For whatever reason there has often been someone looking up to me in my life. People ask me for advice, perspective, help. I'm the recipient of secrets, and I guess that's good because I keep them.
It's absurd though, I'm insane. Not like haha insane, like I do batty shit. I'm afraid of many things I shouldn't be and almost none of the ones I should. I don't even know how to summarize how this has manifested in my life path, but I can just tell ya that NO ONE should be looking up to me.
For this reason, I'm Going Home is a song near and dear to my heart... "If singing changed anything, they'd make it illegal. I hate strangers, loud noises, and crowds, I play a show every night. And would you believe there are people who come to ME for advice?" Mhm.
I'm not sure I've believed in anything for a very long time, but I will fight for what feels right nonetheless. It's part self-flagellation and part morale compass navigation. I'm not an atheist but I'm also not religious. I equally love the line, "I pray as much as an atheist can, and then I walk home."
Sometimes you just do the damn thing cause what else are you going to do? If misguided people feel this is something to admire, at least we've created hope, I GUESS.
It's weird to be human.
Okay, now for the pièce de résistance— new music from Pat!
Imagine my surprise when I loaded up this track to find Pat looking AND sounding healthy and beyond positive! The vibe is totally different than anything else he's collaborated on before. Some of his new songs, like buckeye are downright dance worthy!
So often when we see artists disappear after kicking bad habits, they either tend to stay gone, or come back with the habits in tow. Well, the king of folk punk managed the rarely seen feat of beating those stats. He fought the system from within, it seems, and came back to spread some sunshine to those who missed his presence in their headphones.
"I didn't think it would be hard to learn to live, but that's the thing, it really is these days. So many ways to get pulled under, under water in your mind..."
Although it annoys me a bit to skip over the 30 second intro of this song, I've played it over and over again since finding it. Years later and my own life changes to boot, and Pat the Bunny is still singing words that resonate with me. Maybe they will resonate with you too.
Here's hoping that Pat's reappearance is the golden sign it seems to be to so many of his fans. I know I'm far from the only one that could use some good tidings!
