Words & Music

by Mike Power

latest

  • Triangle Factory Fire (song) – James Power

    103 years ago today 146 garment workers died in the greatest loss of life in New York City until September 11, 2001: The Triangle Factory Fire. It became a galvanizing moment in the history of labor and the regulation of industry, with familiar arguments still echoing today. From Peter Dreier and Donald Cohen’s piece at Capital and… Read more

  • The First Day of Spring – Published by The Vagabond City Journal

    Here’s a short piece of mine, The First Day of Spring, published today by The Vagabond City Journal. Read more

  • Royals – Bruce Springsteen – Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland 1-3-2014

    I’ve never seen a diamond in the flesh I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies And I’m not proud of my address In the torn up town, no post code envy But every song’s like: Gold teeth, Grey Goose, tripping in the bathroom Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashing the hotel room We don’t care We’re… Read more

  • Caught Between Two Worlds

    My most recent piece of music is an instrumental, so far anyway. While working on “The Parting Glass” with the capo on the 5th fret I started noodling around and stumbled on this little melody that made me think of music from a long time ago. Except for the part with the flanger. It’s called… Read more

  • The Piano & The Process

    Process wasn’t something Joe thought a lot about. What the process used to involve was sex or, in lieu of a partner, masturbation. Something to clear the mind. Then a hit or two, never more, of some decent street weed. Something to float on. Then, sometimes, stretching. Especially once he got old enough to feel… Read more

  • The Impossible Dream

    “No matter how hopeless, no matter how far.” – Joe Darion I can’t help but think – despite ample evidence to the contrary – that I am a member of an optimistic species. We like to chase dreams. And the fact that they’re sometimes impossible doesn’t make them any less desirable. For some strange reason… Read more