Our friend Wes gave us Jay Brannan‘s CD, Goddamned, when it first came out. Since then, it’s grown and grown on me, and I find myself liking it more and more. For example, the video for “Housewife” was my favorite video of last year.

Now Brannan has put out a new video, “Can’t Have It All,” which has long been one of my favorite tracks on the album. In fact, it was number 8 on my list of favorite songs for 2008.

Like “Housewife,” this video is simple and effective. I like that Brannan doesn’t need to do a lot in his videos — the music stands for itself and the video serves as a support for the song. I’ll put the lyrics after the break.

applying moisturizer in the microwave window
for the tenth time, he should’ve called me an hour ago
would he be here with flowers if I lived in Arizona?

they say there’s no love left in the big cities, it’s kinda true
I guess you’ll find me coming soon to a small town near you
I’ll sell my guitar so I can by myself a tractor

fuck this, this can’t be my life
I moisturized ten times tonight
why can’t I sit down and write,
bring this question to light?

do you want a lover, or do you want a life?
one hand or the other, the butter or the bread knife?
do you choose winter, spring, summer, or fall?
it’s driving me crazy that I can’t have it all

if these walls could talk, they’d probably cry out for mercy
’til I’m outlined in chalk, I’ll be romantically thirsty
so I drink and drink from the proverbial time sink

fuck this, this can’t be my life
tears flowing in full force tonight
why can’t I sit down and write,
bring this question to light?

do you want a lover, or do you want a life?
one hand or the other, the butter or the bread knife?
do you choose winter, spring, summer, or fall?
it’s driving me crazy that I can’t have it all

do we hold the future, or does it come in peace?
and if it’s in my hands, are you sure it should be in brittle hands like these?
life, love, and the pursuit of all the things they promised me
can I have all of the above? are the best things in life truly free?

do you want a lover, or do you want a life?
one hand or the other, the butter or the bread knife?
do you choose winter, spring, summer, or fall?
it’s driving me crazy that I can’t have it all