Info Req: Black Diamonds (Jez Lowe)

Subject: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: GUEST,aesop
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 10:37 AM

I have the words to Jez Lowe's song Black Diamonds but I don't understand the first verse: "Oh clubs will make you wonder, so don't make that mistake/Spades are made for digging boys and hearts will only break" Do clubs and spades have to do with the suits of playing cards? What does it have to do with coal mining?

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: MMario
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 10:45 AM

poetic license? imagery?

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: Walter Corey
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 12:27 PM

I don't know specifically what he means about clubs, but since all four suits are mentioned in the first verse (counting the black diamonds), he's obviously trying to draw a parallel between a deck of cards and coal mining - probably that going down in the mines is very much a matter of luck.

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 12:27 PM

Well, he does base it all in the black diamonds. I agree that it is poetic license and imagery.

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: GUEST,aesop
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:10 PM

Thanks. I thought it might be some literal reference. Some British thing I wasn't familiar with.

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: MMario
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:13 PM

I don't get the clubs reference myself - the "spades" and "digging" certainly fit in with the mining; and many heart were broken one way or another in coal mining, so that is also appropriate.

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: GUEST,aesop
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:13 PM

I can understand spades are made for digging and hearts will only break. But why do clubs made you wonder? I think you're right about the aspect of luck.

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: nutty
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 02:26 PM

But if you understand the significance of the spades, hearts and diamonds then you might wonder about the clubs. It's all a play on words really.

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: MMario
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 02:30 PM

*smacks head*

boy do I feel shtupd!

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 02:37 PM

Brilliant!

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: Hrothgar
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 06:03 AM

Maybe he wrote it for performance in a Miner's Club.

:-)

Subject: RE: Jez Lowe's Black Diamonds
From: Suffet
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 08:18 AM

The best rendition of Black Diamonds, at least among the three or four I have heard, is by Water Sign.

--- Steve