Going to Michigan

Going to Michigan
Album	Martial Arts Weekend
Released	2002
Artist	The Extra Glenns
Length	2:29
Previous Track	"Going to Morocco"
Next Track	"Terminal Grain"

Going to Michigan (originally titled Going to Detroit) is the ninth song on the album Martial Arts Weekend. It was originally to be released on Nothing for Juice, but it did not make the final cut.

Lyrics

As the car rolled north towards Michigan you complained
That all I like to listen to is Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army
Well maybe that's true
But what about you
And the Blue Cheer comprehensive retrospective box set
That's pretty annoying too

The wing window flew open
The air was thin
I heard you say so and I heard the
Shadings of meaning therein
And your fingers touched mine
And that supersonic whine began near the back of my skull
And the white rose burned
You know exactly what I mean about the burning white rose, yes you do
Yes you do

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• On the tape for the NFJ outtakes: "Hey Tim, last message here, let me tell you why this song is actually on the tape. It wasn't gonna be, but I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and a song off of the master that I was dubbing off of ended up on your tape, and, well, I didn't want you or anyone else to hear it because it was bad, so now I've got to record a different song for you. This one was supposed to have been released by somebody at some point, but, you know, sometimes people say they're going to release a 7" and then they sort of change their minds. Well, this poor song fell by the wayside and I liked it. It's called 'Going to Detroit.'"

Things Referenced in this Song

• Tubeway Army was an electronic and new wave band. Their frontman was Gary Numan.
• Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues rock band.

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 2000-03-05 - The Absolutely Kosher House - San Francisco, CA
• 2000-10-15 - Go! Rehearsal Studios, Room 4 - Carrboro, NC
• 2002-12-07 - Amstel Festival - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 2003-03-14 - The Hideout - Austin, TX
• 2007-07-22 - Rhino Records - Claremont, CA
• 2009-11-28 - Theater of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
• 2010-10-21 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
• 2010-10-23 - Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA
• 2019-12-07 - The Haw River Ballroom - Graham, NC
• 2022-09-07 - Bell's Beer Garden - Kalamazoo, MI