Their name is Luka

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1. Patrick Coffin says:

   December 14, 2010 at 6:23 pm

   Deo volente: A hearty "lighten up" may be in order. Woody Allen's definition of comedy as "tragedy plus time" has a lot of truth in it. That Hassan Luka clip made milk spurt from my nose, my friends. And I didn't even have milk up there.

   Your facts are not fully straight, either, I'm afraid. Suzanne Vega said this of the song during a 1985 English concert: "Luka was a boy I used to see in my old neighborhood, although it's not necessarily about him. It is his name, I did get his character, but this is not really the situation that he was in, and actually it could be about almost anybody who has been abused in some way."

   By your reasoning, Miss Vega is exploiting the Pain of Innocent Children by making an obscene pile of cash off her one-hit ditty.

   Take a step farther. What Hitler did to the Jews and many others during the war was far far worse — in the real world — than what the *fictional* Luka may have gone through — and yet I laughed pretty hard at Mel Brooks' The Producers.

   And so should you. One salient reply to evil is to defang it, over time, by laughing at it.

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2. Patrick Coffin says:

   December 14, 2010 at 6:06 pm

   Great blast from the past! "Just don't ask me what it was. Please."

   HA!

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3. Patrick Madrid says:

   December 3, 2010 at 3:16 am

   It's very thoughtful of you to post the lyrics, but I know the words and what the song is about. It was a big radio hit in the 80s, after all. The first video was context for those who don't know the song. The second is a humor item. I understand if you don't find the second one humorous.

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4. Deo volente says:

   December 3, 2010 at 1:22 am

   Patrick,

   This song is about child abuse. He is talking about this to his downstairs neighbor. The boy says he is "clumsy," he has "walked into the door," it "only hurts until you cry out". It is a very sad song about a very serious subject. What kind of person grabs those lyrics and makes fun of this message to a total stranger? Good grief! And to label it humor is very odd!

   "If you hear something late at night
   Some kind of trouble. some kind of fight
   Just don't ask me what it was
   Just don't ask me what it was
   Just don't ask me what it was

   I think it's because I'm clumsy
   I try not to talk too loud
   Maybe it's because I'm crazy
   I try not to act too proud

   They only hit until you cry
   And after that you don't ask why
   You just don't argue anymore
   You just don't argue anymore
   You just don't argue anymore

   Yes I think I'm okay
   I walked into the door again
   Well, if you ask that's what I'll say
   And it's not your business anyway
   I guess I'd like to be alone
   With nothing broken, nothing thrown…"

   D.v.

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