I'm violating a pretty major rule with this week. I wrote the hook to this song a long ways back - months ago, in fact, but never really finished it.
I've always been into this hook and the concept behind it, particularly the turn it takes that is kind of unexpected, so I don't feel so guilty finishing it.
I'm pretty deep into this thing, so I'm allowed to cheat every once in a while, right?
Those of you paying close attention may have noticed that ever since I started getting laid on a regular basis, the quality of my productions have declined rather markedly. I do apologize because you are about to be exposed to the most glaring example of this decline.
That being said, this song would not have been possible at all without the help of my indirectly-aforementioned boyfriend who brilliantly composed most of the lyrics for this song after we both decided that we need to be more like The Jamies' bass player, Saysha Heinzman. "She's a rock'n role model," was the precise phrase that started the song, and before I knew it he was off and running.
The crappy production will be remedied as soon as possible with an actual recording with The Jamies. So, sit back and enjoy the scruffiness while it lasts.
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lyrics she meditates for breakfast does yoga by the new school she's puttin' down the whiskey and breakin' all the rules she runs a mile after dinner she climbs rocks in her bare feet it never stopped her from holding down a sick-ass stupid beat
rock rock rock rock rock'n role model!
she's a portrait of perfection all her actions are absolute she's spinning a new direction and with every turn she speaks the truth she eats steak but only free range she hangs out but never past three she's got integrity she knows what this world really needs
rock rock rock rock rock'n role model!
from out of the bottom she's climbing the ladder for something inside her that's growing yet shattered and knowing it never comes easy
Listen to this week's song first and then read my take on it. I really don't want what I have to say coloring your experience.
Yeah, not my best one.
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Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you Tony Dilella of Queens band, Quick Finger. He happened to stop by (and step in) while I was unsuccessfully trying to cobble together a decent lead guitar part for this song.
The result is pure magic. I will say no more. But, your face is about to get rocked off, JSYK.
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lyrics I've been shaking since yesterday hid my hands and ran the other way i made sure it can't go far bought a lot of gas put it in the wrong car you always knew it can't go far
it's all new since yesterday lost a shoe but walked here anyway you always knew you'd take it too far you need a lot of gas and maybe you need the right star you always knew you'd take it too far
I had to give my dog away a couple of days ago. This song is about that.
I've been fighting a pretty bad-ass sore throat for the better part of the last week, so the vocals on this one aren't exactly award-winning.
I don't have much else to say about this song. Admittedly, it's not one of my best, but it does capture something. And that's the point, really, of this whole thing. Just capturing moments in my life...
Hope you get something out of it too.
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lyrics she'll keep your name and hopefully it'll sound the same as when i said it too
i'll hide your things and someday it won't hurt as when all this was new
if i loved you as much as i wanted to i'd still have to do what i have to do and she'll love you as much as i wanted to
i'll find a way to make believe it's ok in all these empty rooms
you'll run and play and maybe think of me for a moment or two
Since I started this project (and proceeded to write nearly a dozen songs about one single boy*) Angela Bowers and I have been joking about needing a quarterly boy about whom to write these weekly songs.
Be careful what you wish for.
This is another one of those songs that I put together out of a bunch of ramblings that made no sense at the time, but hang together in a way that is rather illuminating. (if knowing more about my psyche can be classified as illuminating in any way to anyone but me).
I think it's about falling for somoene, or more accurately, meeting someone you think you could fall for and then deciding it's probably best not to.
Thanks this week goes to Christopher Plummer and Ms. Bowers (the latter for lending her much needed and oft-appreciated guitar skills and the former for once again lending a solid pair of trusted ears). Truth be told, there are few weeks that don't get a good Plummer once-over.
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* He's actually more man than boy, just for the record.
lyrics i make every mistake for a reason you now every sad song has a season turned it over again in my mind and i'm not giving in this time
real love creeping in can be deadly turning every sad song into a medley of never quite getting to find a diamond that really does shine so I'm not giving in this time
you can take it back caught your flu, not a heart attack and i'm not looking back your flu is not a heart attack
someday you'll take it away for no reason saturday? or maybe today. it's the season turned it over again in my mind the hows that don't have a why i'm not giving in this time
Special thanks to my old & dear friend Kim Loconto (thank you for being a friend), with some extra help on the recording from two other dear friends - Zarrin-Taj on vocals and Sam Hopkins on smokin' guitar.
Angela Bowers did not appear on this week's song because she couldn't drag her ass out of bed at 4pm on a Sunday.
I would also like to thank New Boy. (Can't wait to meet him!)
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lyrics HEY! YOU! NEW BOY! COME HERE!
hey there new boy what did you do boy? buy me a drink or two boy hey new boy, come here!
tell me about the book you read i wanna know what makes you laugh oh i just bet that most of it makes me laugh too boy
i can't take you home to meet my mom she only likes men men who have real jobs but I'll kiss you now anyway it feels too good in your arms boy!
(spoken) hey, kim you know there's nothing i like more than the smell of a new boy early in the morning i know just what you mean jamie. like, the way his hair catches the light... makes me wanna lose my mind!
hey there new boy leaving so soon, boy? i should go too, boy oh new boy come here!
tell me about bike you bought i wanna know what size your bed is oh i just hope that i can fit right next to you in it, boy!
i can't take you home to meet my dad he'd just get upset the whole thing makes him too sad but i'll go home with you anyway it feels too good to be bad boy!
I don't always know where songs come from - how they start in my experiences and get processed somehow for packaging inside of a tune and lyrics. Sometimes, just being near someone I'm close with can produce a song based on their experiences. I think this is one of those cases.
The production on this one is rather stark. I recently realized that I have access to a pretty sick Fender Rhodes piano in one of the rehearsal spaces I rent, so I've used it quite liberally on this track. But besides that and a single lead vocal track, that's all she wrote. The subject matter is kinda heavy, so I couldn't really justify turning this into a big production number.
I hope you can enjoy my restraint. It is a rare treat.
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lyrics you never learned how to fight you never learned how to lie so he took what he liked you didn't know how to hide
did you keep what you heard did it hurt every time you believed every word and he crossed every line
pack a gun for the ride watch him run with your eyes pack a gun get it done you know how the west was won pack a gun
you can go underground i can wait for a sign i will not make a sound but I'll stay close behind
pack a gun for the ride
hope is what you design
pack a gun
get it done
you know how the west was won
pack a gun
I recorded this one last nite at my dentist's house.
Seriously.
It's for Angela Bowers - my friend and cohort. It's about being a tough girl and letting someone get the best of you and then getting over that someone.
I know I'm not supposed to say this about my own songs, but this one really gets me for some reason. The only thing I'd change if I had more than one week is the guitar solo. Not one of my more shining moments. Oh well.
Special thanks this week: the aforementioned Angela Bowers (as muse this time, not collaborator), Dr. Shanaahz Gill, his amazing girlfriend Meagan (sorry, Meagan, I can't spell your last name) and Tom Petty for writing the song "Yer So Bad."
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lyrics you're such a fun girl you're so bad and everybody knows it you know they never look away you're so bad
you've got ur own world but you've been had and you don't wanna show it but i can see it anyway you've been had
seen what you been lookin' for it's not what u think no not at all not at all i know he didn't want anymore but you can't feel bad baby sooner or later you'll thank him
you'll find a new way to keep your hand and no one will see it yeah you'll never give it away you're gonna keep ur hand
That's right - we're talking about a duet this week - and not just any kind of duet. The kind of duet that might make Meatloaf or Bonnie Tyler proud. It's a bit of a departure but it was a hell of a lot of fun.
My only regret on this track is the lack of time we had to tighten things up sound engineering-wise and even songwriting-wise. I'd never written a duet before and even with the capable help of Mr. Christopher Plummer, it proved to be a bit of a challenge. Special thanks this week also goes out to guitar virtuoso Angela Bowers.
So, now, brace yourselves. This is awesome in ways that only a rare few can truly understand.
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lyrics
her: it took a few years to get over an old fling you were gonna save me with a brand new thing
him: it took a few years to get over an old thing you were gonna save me with a brand new fling
thought this time it'd be enough thought this time it'd be enough
her: but I like the way you smile him: and I like the way you laugh
thought that would be enough to push away the past
not enough again it's never enough again just not right again another door shuts again
him: you were looking at me like I was your leading man but I'm a walk-on role in a one night stand
her: you were looking at me like I was your biggest fan but I play a brand new role whenever I can
thought this time it'd be enough...
him: you were reckless and fast just like my dreams knew how to touch me how to make me scream but it's just not gonna be enough it seems
her: you better find yourself a new whipping girl cuz it ain't me