“The Loser” by Auctioneer
A somewhat romanticized take on stalking care of Craig Hendrix, a Kensington (Philly) musician who records under the name Auctioneer.
The fellow in this song, the titular loser, he’s been at it for a while, vouyer-ing his way through a neighbor’s upstairs curtains and it always seems to be while she’s undressing. But no – more than that, man – it’s about knowing her. Listing and reflecting on the items that clutter her room, using these as clues to her life, her trappings and passions and ideals, searching for the fated connection that’s just gotta be there. Virgin Suicides shit, right? The dudes know what I’m talkin’ about.
Then he’s wracked with guilt. Knowing that he’s pervy and intrusive, and out of her league besides, this busted Quasimodo type who, if she she knew he was ogling her, the curtain would be snapped shut. Then he goes inward, self-reflective from his perch in a tree, mulling over the man he could be.
So far, his story is plausible – sad, but plausible. I’m with the guy up until this point.
But his inward journey then takes him to some bizarro / indistinct place(s). He talks about meeting John the Baptist and frolicking with him in the river, or something, which I guess is emblematic of rebirth and so forth. But in that rebirth, the loser seems to have constructed some sort of false bond (or fortified his existing false bond) with the object of his lust, one where he once lived in fear of approaching her, but admires her for now being unafraid of him, since “she knows that I am watching, and she barely draws the shade.”
So, uh, is this tune a confidence building pep-talk? “She WANTS you to ogle her, dude!” Or is our anti-hero delusional, and ultimately more pathetic than ever?
Can’t say for sure.
But to me, the bigger mystery is how easily a pretty melody and smart arrangements make voyeurism seem like a breezy, delightful pastime.
LISTEN: “The Loser” [hear more Auctioneer tunes]
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