The Nothing Maker

He doesn't make shoes
Or design a new shirt
Or take photographs
But no one gets hurts
And he doesn't look trendy
Like guys in magazines
You won't see him at parties
He's not the face behind the scene.

He makes nothing
He's the nothing maker
He's the maker of nothing
He's the nothing maker

And he doesn't paint pictures
Or write poetry
Or act on a stage
For others to see
and he don't expect much
Santa Claus knows
Cause he doesn't make lists
Of toys and new clothes.

He makes nothing
He's the nothing maker
He's the maker of nothing
He's the nothing maker

Everyone's chasing
A reason to live
Mostly they take more than they give
The succeeder justifies
Why he's better than the rest
He believes his own lies
And thinks he's the best...
...but my guy

Doesn't make movies
To suit an audience's whim
He lives by a code
Known only to him
And he doesn't make money
to buy watches and cars
Cause there's no time and no place to go
For a man who has nothing to show

He makes nothing
He's the nothing maker
He's the maker of nothing
He's the nothing maker

On the new album, The Nothing Maker celebrates the life of an ordinary person, someone who isn't interested in being a rock star or any other kind of artist.

What i was getting at is that art is so overrated these days. I hate the way everyone judges people by the art they create or collect or like. Some people spend more money on a painting of a horse than they would on a real horse but, frankly, which is more beautiful? (...)

So the records we choose to buy say something about us?

Not really. They don't tell people who you really are. If i say i like Maria Callas and Elvis Presley it tells you that i'm an awesome chick but ultimately it's just musical taste. It doesn't tell you the important stuff like "is this person kind?" I'm not saying i'm not judgemental about people's tastes, because i am. But my cultural tastes still don't tell you who i am as a person.

Interessante entrevista da Chrissie Hynde na Classic Rock, a propósito de várias coisas, entre as quais o último álbum dos The Pretenders, "Break Up The Concrete". A música não me diz muito confesso, mas a letra, e a ideia por trás da mesma é muitíssimo interessante. É a primeira vez que reparo numa canção que retrata a vida de uma personagem que é o antítese da estrela de rock ou do artista. O "ordinary man", alguém que, pelos vistos, se está a tornar o verdadeiro "artista revolucionário" dos dias que correm. Alguém que ousa não ser diferente, alguém que não sente a pressão exterior e vive pelo seu próprio código. Se o Lennon cantou sobre o "Working Class Hero", os Pretenders sobem a fasquia cantando sobre o "ordinary hero".

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