Hello, all.
I think tomorrow could engender some good song material. I may also be wrong.
Taylor Swift has released onto iTunes her new title song, Fearless. I love this song. It's her "best first date I haven't had yet." She inspires me. (Why are all my sentences the same structure and so stupidly simplistic?)
I don't know why I wrote this song. A friend asked "Do you think life should be more like a fairy tale?" And I'm feeling like I want a fairy tale right about now. I just pulled together a few ideas and wrote this in one sitting, but I don't know if it's any good. It's probably really lame. I'll rely on the judgment of my terrific readers. Reader.
More Like a Fairy Tale
She never looked too happy
and no matter what, said sorry
[there's a couplet here that I took
out right now for this release]
I was her friend and one day
she turned to me to say
CHORUS:
Life should be more like a fairy tale
love letters 'stead of e-mails
and the prince is always good and sweet
with looks to sweep a girl off her feet
and the girl is always his one princess
in a world where everybody says yes
and their dreams come true
let me tell you what I'd do
for my life to be more like a fairy tale
Wish I could sing about
the neighbor whose memories are falling out
and his wife, who he'll soon forget
but all she has is the one regret
he never rode on a horse with her
and off into the sunset together
CHORUS:
Life should be more like a fairy tale
love letters 'stead of e-mails
and the prince is always good and sweet
with looks to sweep a girl off her feet
and the girl is always his one princess
in a world where everyone says yes
and their dreams come true
let me tell you what I'd do
for their lives to be more like a fairy tale
BRIDGE:
I spent more time pretending
and staying up all night dreaming
until one day I saw him with her
and I knew it was over
CHORUS:
Life should be more like a fairy tale
love letters 'stead of e-mails
and the prince is always good and sweet
with looks to sweep a guy off her feet
and the girl is always his one princess
in a world where everyone says yes
and their dreams come true
let me tell you what I'd do
for my life to be more like a fairy tale
and then you came out of nowhere
with that smile and soft hair
you were the unexpected prince
and my heart jumped the fence
when you asked, I said yes
I was your princess
It's funny, now that I think of it. Taylor's song, "White Horse," has a chorus as follows: "I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairytale / I'm not the one to sweep off her feet and lead her up the stairwell /This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town / I was a dreamer before you went and let me down." Very opposite to this song, maybe.
Just tell me what you think, straight up. Thanks!
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
SNBK,BTCVWCTIIAL(ANS,WIVLFM).BNIFLABTB.
p.s. I'm am starting to compose my own chord backing/melody, so maybe someday I'll be able to play it. I love my guitar teacher. He's the most awesome person I have ever talked to.
p.p.s. Lewis Hamilton is a jackass.
16 days until Fearless!!!!
24 October 2008
05 October 2008
Genius
Boo! I'm back.
I don't know what it was that happened, but all of a sudden, I couldn't write. It could have been some events that transpired that I couldn't make sense of or make a decision about, or a series of daydreams I kept continuing, or just an incredible influx of work. But, since I'm back, it means I've written another.
During the past two weeks, I've been busy obtaining some amazing albums from my heroes, to supplement my already extensive country collection: Brad Paisley (Mud on the Tires, Time Well Wasted, Who Needs Pictures), Tim McGraw (Let it Go), Kellie Pickler (Small Town Girl), Miranda Lambert (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Kerosene), and Sugarland (Love on the Inside, Enjoy the Ride). I also got Jessica Simpson's country effort, Do You Know, just to see what that was about, and it is surprisingly good. I'm currently obsessed with Tim McGraw (I love love love love love his album Live Like You Were Dying) and Brad Paisley (I think Mud on the Tires is brilliant, particularly "Celebrity" and "Little Moments" and "Whiskey Lullaby"). So I can't wait to get to Nashville, if only to be able to go to some shows of these musical geniuses.
Speaking of geniuses, this new song is entitled as such. It's about this kid who sits next to me in one of my classes. I met him in the spring, when we were working on a show together, but his reputation and that of his family and sister preceded him, so everyone knew that he is a mathematical and scietific genius, which sort of shaped what everyone thought of him before they met him (what a comma splice of a sentence). But me being me, I didn't think anything until I met him myself. I found him...attractive. And annoying. His pomposity and disregard for anything but himself caught me somewhere where I had no idea what to say to counter his attacks on my intelligence. And yet, we became friends. I worked out this system: he doesn't say thank you, he doesn't apologize (both complete opposites from me), so I just balance that with my personality. And it works. So when I walked into the classroom in the fall, I sat down beside him, and it transpired that we were the only ones at the table. The first couple of weeks, he was still that annoying, superintelligent to the point of condescension, slightly jerkish boy I had met in the spring. To make conversation, I asked him about his girlfriend. Ah. They had broken up over the summer. Through a bit of nosy questioning, I asked him why (they had been dating for years), and I ended up finding out that he stopped wanting to date her around June (which was somewhere along the lines of when he started really talking to me). So fast forward to this past week. He began apologizing! He began being polite! Surreptiously, of course, and only like twice a period. But it was still a big difference. And all of a sudden, he seemed to care what I said (which was the most surprising). And you get the seeds for this song.
I'm really proud of this song, because it's the type I've always wanted to write, the kind that shows but doesn't tell. Where something is implied but not expressely stated. Examples: Tim McGraw's "Between the River and Me"--does he really kill the guy? and if so, how?; Brad Paisley's "Cigar Song"--the whole arson storyline; and I could keep on going forever, since it's the mark of a good songwriter. (I'm not saying I'm a good songwriter.) And then there are the songs where you don't know what happens, but it could go either way. I'm not saying that however you interpret the song is the truth, because part of the reason I wrote it this way is because I'm not sure how I feel yet.
(I had qualms about posting this song, based on what you said, but you said you wanted me to.)
Genius
CHORUS*:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
I had to look hard to find something I liked
and when we sat together I saw that side
he had no defect
the more I saw, the less I wanted to look
then he leaned over and wrote on my notebook
David is perfect
CHORUS:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
One thing about his being so smart
was that it made me work extra hard
cause I wanted to beat him
but to beat him at his own game
was like stopping the falling rain
and I kept on trying
CHORUS:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
He said apathy was his best trait
and that he only cared about his own fate
but I knew better
CHORUS:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
(*Many songs begin with the chorus, like Tim McGraw's Last Dollar (Fly Away).)
You asked.
Criticism accepted, comments appreciated.
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. In my shoutouts section, I want to give Kimi Raikkonen the biggest hug ever. I want to give Joe Biden a hug, too, but Kimi needs it more than Mr. Biden does right now.
p.p.s. I changed guitar teachers, and am currently learning how to play Kenny Chesney's "Beer in Mexico" (which is a cool song) and the best part is that when I play it, it sounds just like his version!
36 days until Fearless! (and for those who are counting, 29 days until Brad Paisley's new album, Play)
I don't know what it was that happened, but all of a sudden, I couldn't write. It could have been some events that transpired that I couldn't make sense of or make a decision about, or a series of daydreams I kept continuing, or just an incredible influx of work. But, since I'm back, it means I've written another.
During the past two weeks, I've been busy obtaining some amazing albums from my heroes, to supplement my already extensive country collection: Brad Paisley (Mud on the Tires, Time Well Wasted, Who Needs Pictures), Tim McGraw (Let it Go), Kellie Pickler (Small Town Girl), Miranda Lambert (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Kerosene), and Sugarland (Love on the Inside, Enjoy the Ride). I also got Jessica Simpson's country effort, Do You Know, just to see what that was about, and it is surprisingly good. I'm currently obsessed with Tim McGraw (I love love love love love his album Live Like You Were Dying) and Brad Paisley (I think Mud on the Tires is brilliant, particularly "Celebrity" and "Little Moments" and "Whiskey Lullaby"). So I can't wait to get to Nashville, if only to be able to go to some shows of these musical geniuses.
Speaking of geniuses, this new song is entitled as such. It's about this kid who sits next to me in one of my classes. I met him in the spring, when we were working on a show together, but his reputation and that of his family and sister preceded him, so everyone knew that he is a mathematical and scietific genius, which sort of shaped what everyone thought of him before they met him (what a comma splice of a sentence). But me being me, I didn't think anything until I met him myself. I found him...attractive. And annoying. His pomposity and disregard for anything but himself caught me somewhere where I had no idea what to say to counter his attacks on my intelligence. And yet, we became friends. I worked out this system: he doesn't say thank you, he doesn't apologize (both complete opposites from me), so I just balance that with my personality. And it works. So when I walked into the classroom in the fall, I sat down beside him, and it transpired that we were the only ones at the table. The first couple of weeks, he was still that annoying, superintelligent to the point of condescension, slightly jerkish boy I had met in the spring. To make conversation, I asked him about his girlfriend. Ah. They had broken up over the summer. Through a bit of nosy questioning, I asked him why (they had been dating for years), and I ended up finding out that he stopped wanting to date her around June (which was somewhere along the lines of when he started really talking to me). So fast forward to this past week. He began apologizing! He began being polite! Surreptiously, of course, and only like twice a period. But it was still a big difference. And all of a sudden, he seemed to care what I said (which was the most surprising). And you get the seeds for this song.
I'm really proud of this song, because it's the type I've always wanted to write, the kind that shows but doesn't tell. Where something is implied but not expressely stated. Examples: Tim McGraw's "Between the River and Me"--does he really kill the guy? and if so, how?; Brad Paisley's "Cigar Song"--the whole arson storyline; and I could keep on going forever, since it's the mark of a good songwriter. (I'm not saying I'm a good songwriter.) And then there are the songs where you don't know what happens, but it could go either way. I'm not saying that however you interpret the song is the truth, because part of the reason I wrote it this way is because I'm not sure how I feel yet.
(I had qualms about posting this song, based on what you said, but you said you wanted me to.)
Genius
CHORUS*:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
I had to look hard to find something I liked
and when we sat together I saw that side
he had no defect
the more I saw, the less I wanted to look
then he leaned over and wrote on my notebook
David is perfect
CHORUS:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
One thing about his being so smart
was that it made me work extra hard
cause I wanted to beat him
but to beat him at his own game
was like stopping the falling rain
and I kept on trying
CHORUS:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
He said apathy was his best trait
and that he only cared about his own fate
but I knew better
CHORUS:
he was always the genius of the grade
but I never let that impress me
what led to my opinion being made
was the warmth of his arm on my knee
(*Many songs begin with the chorus, like Tim McGraw's Last Dollar (Fly Away).)
You asked.
Criticism accepted, comments appreciated.
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. In my shoutouts section, I want to give Kimi Raikkonen the biggest hug ever. I want to give Joe Biden a hug, too, but Kimi needs it more than Mr. Biden does right now.
p.p.s. I changed guitar teachers, and am currently learning how to play Kenny Chesney's "Beer in Mexico" (which is a cool song) and the best part is that when I play it, it sounds just like his version!
36 days until Fearless! (and for those who are counting, 29 days until Brad Paisley's new album, Play)
14 September 2008
By the Light of the Stars
I'm back, in less than 24 hours. Actually, even less than 12. Surprised?
I was extremely dissatisfied with yesterday's post, so I had to edit it completely, and I also didn't like the song all that much (was that obvious or what?). So I turned off my computer and went to bed, with the intention of writing another song. And what came out was my favourite song. Ever. The idea had been rolling through my mind for the past two weeks, but I never knew how to write it. I guess I should describe it as "the best first date I haven't had yet." (I got this idea from Taylor Swift, who described one of the new songs as such.) Since I've never been on one, I guess this is what I want. I'm a romantic, so the result should not surprise anyone. But I really really love it.
By the Light of the Stars
the stars were shining the night you took me out
in your red truck we just rode around town
I asked where we were going and you said it's a surprise
you stopped then and told me to close my eyes
you took a blanket from your truck and led me
to an empty parking lot where we lay down
and stared up at the night sky and the stars
CHORUS:
and you said "you don't know how beautiful you are
right here beside me by the light of the stars
I could lay here with you forever
and never let go, not ever
girl, you have no idea"
I held on and captured the night for a memory
your eyes like two black holes looking at me
you cradled my head on your shoulder
and with your other hand showed me the big dipper
two hours later we hated to leave
we rolled the windows down and I let my hair free
our way home was lit by the light of the stars
CHORUS:
and you said "you don't know how beautiful you are
right here beside me by the light of the stars
I could drive here with you forever
and never let you go, not ever
girl, you have no idea"
BRIDGE:
you were saying goodbye with a kiss
and I said I wanted more nights like this
and I could feel the beating of my heart
when you said my eyes reflected the stars
CHORUS:
and you said "you don't know how beautiful you are
right here beside me by the light of the stars
I could stay here with you forever
and never let go, no never
girl, you have no idea"
the stars were shining the night you took me out...
What do you think?? I really really want you to like it.
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
I was extremely dissatisfied with yesterday's post, so I had to edit it completely, and I also didn't like the song all that much (was that obvious or what?). So I turned off my computer and went to bed, with the intention of writing another song. And what came out was my favourite song. Ever. The idea had been rolling through my mind for the past two weeks, but I never knew how to write it. I guess I should describe it as "the best first date I haven't had yet." (I got this idea from Taylor Swift, who described one of the new songs as such.) Since I've never been on one, I guess this is what I want. I'm a romantic, so the result should not surprise anyone. But I really really love it.
By the Light of the Stars
the stars were shining the night you took me out
in your red truck we just rode around town
I asked where we were going and you said it's a surprise
you stopped then and told me to close my eyes
you took a blanket from your truck and led me
to an empty parking lot where we lay down
and stared up at the night sky and the stars
CHORUS:
and you said "you don't know how beautiful you are
right here beside me by the light of the stars
I could lay here with you forever
and never let go, not ever
girl, you have no idea"
I held on and captured the night for a memory
your eyes like two black holes looking at me
you cradled my head on your shoulder
and with your other hand showed me the big dipper
two hours later we hated to leave
we rolled the windows down and I let my hair free
our way home was lit by the light of the stars
CHORUS:
and you said "you don't know how beautiful you are
right here beside me by the light of the stars
I could drive here with you forever
and never let you go, not ever
girl, you have no idea"
BRIDGE:
you were saying goodbye with a kiss
and I said I wanted more nights like this
and I could feel the beating of my heart
when you said my eyes reflected the stars
CHORUS:
and you said "you don't know how beautiful you are
right here beside me by the light of the stars
I could stay here with you forever
and never let go, no never
girl, you have no idea"
the stars were shining the night you took me out...
What do you think?? I really really want you to like it.
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
13 September 2008
Fall In Love With Someone Else
Hey, all.
Did anyone watch the "CMT Music Fest" on ABC last Tuesday? It was hosted by Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler, and (of course) Taylor Swift. The CMA Fest is a week-long event in Nashville during which the artists meet fans and sign autographs and perform on the street. There are also concerts every night, and that is what aired. The real event was sometime in June, but it aired last Tuesday. I myself didn't watch it live, but taped it and watched it last night. There were performances by the three hosts, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Bucky Covington, Keith Urban, Rodney Atkins (when he came on I screamed, he played one of my favourite songs), Faith Hill, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jewel, Dwight Yoakam, Rascal Flatts (they played twice), Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Gretchen Wilson, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, and Miranda Lambert. I loved it. Taylor opened with "Picture to Burn," but she played again on the streets of Nashville. She played one of the songs that will be on Fearless, called "Love Story." I heard it for the first time yesterday, and saw the video today. Definitely worth watching. So when I watched her play the song, I burst into tears during the chorus. Her songs always make me cry because they're so wonderful! But this one is especially beautiful.
Next is the song. I don't know how good it is. It was spawned yesterday, the result of an emotional me. It's about the same subject as "The Words Were Mine." Things happened yesterday (I won't go into detail) and I hated myself as I had never before done (which is saying a lot). In the end, I told myself severely I'd have to (can you guess?) fall in love with someone else. And I don't want to. But I know I have to, for his sake.
It may very well be the worst song I have ever written. It's probably because I've heard all of Taylor's amazing songs that the gap between the caliber of hers and mine is immutable. I was also going to take his name out of it, but what the hell.
Fall In Love With Someone Else
Matt played hockey and wore a red baseball cap
he had black hair and eyes and was quick to laugh
he said sweet things and I couldn't help it
I used to walk away with a mind full of him
I looked for him but I didn't realize
since we never spoke I'd look crazy in his eyes
I noticed it the first day I didn't see him
that his patience was going a little thin
he walked quickly, didn't wait for his friends
I knew then that I would have to end it
PRE-CHORUS (change of music before the chorus, chorus usually then has different melody):
I guess I was kidding myself
looked for you everywhere I ever was
but I was just trying to save myself
hold onto a hope I thought I'd lost
CHORUS:
but believe me when I say
I know I've gotta let you go your way
and I've gotta stop pretending
and move on to start my happy ending
so I'm letting you go now
cause I know somehow
I've got to fall in love with someone else
I know Matt's favourite shirt was navy blue
but I'll bet he never knew the truth
now it's old news, just another blind guy
another chance for happiness to pass me by
I wished hard and put my heart in his hands
but he didn't get it, didn't understand
now I'm trying hard not to fall apart
cause he don't even know he broke my heart
and now I hate me even more than ever
because I made him hate me back
PRE-CHORUS:
I guess I was kidding myself
looked for you everywhere I ever was
but I was just trying to save myself
hold onto a hope I thought I'd lost
CHORUS:
but believe me when I say
I know I've gotta let you go your way
and I've gotta stop pretending
and move on to start my happy ending
so I'm letting you go now
cause I know somehow
I've got to fall in love with someone else
BRIDGE:
he showed me pretty clearly
he doesn't want to be the one for me
but I'll forgive him anything
cause he sees it all but knows nothing
CHORUS:
but believe me when I say
I know I've gotta let you go your way
and I've gotta stop pretending
and move on to start my happy ending
so I'm letting you go now
cause I know somehow
I've got to fall in love with someone else
leave it up to my Matt
to do it all like that
I don't know if I want to know what you think about this song. But I will tell you that you are completely allowed to tear it apart. Tear me apart, too, for that matter. Tell me I'm an idiot, crazy, hypocritical. Tell me everything I need to know. Thank you.
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. 58 days to Fearless!
Did anyone watch the "CMT Music Fest" on ABC last Tuesday? It was hosted by Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler, and (of course) Taylor Swift. The CMA Fest is a week-long event in Nashville during which the artists meet fans and sign autographs and perform on the street. There are also concerts every night, and that is what aired. The real event was sometime in June, but it aired last Tuesday. I myself didn't watch it live, but taped it and watched it last night. There were performances by the three hosts, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Bucky Covington, Keith Urban, Rodney Atkins (when he came on I screamed, he played one of my favourite songs), Faith Hill, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jewel, Dwight Yoakam, Rascal Flatts (they played twice), Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Gretchen Wilson, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, and Miranda Lambert. I loved it. Taylor opened with "Picture to Burn," but she played again on the streets of Nashville. She played one of the songs that will be on Fearless, called "Love Story." I heard it for the first time yesterday, and saw the video today. Definitely worth watching. So when I watched her play the song, I burst into tears during the chorus. Her songs always make me cry because they're so wonderful! But this one is especially beautiful.
Next is the song. I don't know how good it is. It was spawned yesterday, the result of an emotional me. It's about the same subject as "The Words Were Mine." Things happened yesterday (I won't go into detail) and I hated myself as I had never before done (which is saying a lot). In the end, I told myself severely I'd have to (can you guess?) fall in love with someone else. And I don't want to. But I know I have to, for his sake.
It may very well be the worst song I have ever written. It's probably because I've heard all of Taylor's amazing songs that the gap between the caliber of hers and mine is immutable. I was also going to take his name out of it, but what the hell.
Fall In Love With Someone Else
Matt played hockey and wore a red baseball cap
he had black hair and eyes and was quick to laugh
he said sweet things and I couldn't help it
I used to walk away with a mind full of him
I looked for him but I didn't realize
since we never spoke I'd look crazy in his eyes
I noticed it the first day I didn't see him
that his patience was going a little thin
he walked quickly, didn't wait for his friends
I knew then that I would have to end it
PRE-CHORUS (change of music before the chorus, chorus usually then has different melody):
I guess I was kidding myself
looked for you everywhere I ever was
but I was just trying to save myself
hold onto a hope I thought I'd lost
CHORUS:
but believe me when I say
I know I've gotta let you go your way
and I've gotta stop pretending
and move on to start my happy ending
so I'm letting you go now
cause I know somehow
I've got to fall in love with someone else
I know Matt's favourite shirt was navy blue
but I'll bet he never knew the truth
now it's old news, just another blind guy
another chance for happiness to pass me by
I wished hard and put my heart in his hands
but he didn't get it, didn't understand
now I'm trying hard not to fall apart
cause he don't even know he broke my heart
and now I hate me even more than ever
because I made him hate me back
PRE-CHORUS:
I guess I was kidding myself
looked for you everywhere I ever was
but I was just trying to save myself
hold onto a hope I thought I'd lost
CHORUS:
but believe me when I say
I know I've gotta let you go your way
and I've gotta stop pretending
and move on to start my happy ending
so I'm letting you go now
cause I know somehow
I've got to fall in love with someone else
BRIDGE:
he showed me pretty clearly
he doesn't want to be the one for me
but I'll forgive him anything
cause he sees it all but knows nothing
CHORUS:
but believe me when I say
I know I've gotta let you go your way
and I've gotta stop pretending
and move on to start my happy ending
so I'm letting you go now
cause I know somehow
I've got to fall in love with someone else
leave it up to my Matt
to do it all like that
I don't know if I want to know what you think about this song. But I will tell you that you are completely allowed to tear it apart. Tear me apart, too, for that matter. Tell me I'm an idiot, crazy, hypocritical. Tell me everything I need to know. Thank you.
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. 58 days to Fearless!
06 September 2008
The Words Were Mine
Hello, all!
It's been a crazy week. But who hasn't had one? I really can't complain, because the best part of my week was yesterday when, during lunch, I went outside and sat at one of the picnic tables by a playground close by. The luxury was fantastic, but so was having the muses around me to majorly rewrite an old song. It was one I had liked before, but having written it in about 15 minutes, it needed the revision I had refused to give it until yesterday. I saw the subject of the song and realized how lame it was, so I decided to make it (a) more relatable, (b) more realistic, (c) less telling, and (d) better.
In its original form, it was titled "Good Luck Tonight," the story of a girl who had always wanted to say that (and the rest of the chorus) to her high school crush, the goalie of the school ice hockey team, but he never saw her and so she was left with nothing but the embarrasment of having been turned down by him; it skipped a few years and there she was, watching him as the big shot goalie on a professional ice hockey team and she still wants to say that (and the rest of the chorus) but she never will. The chorus was "good luck tonight / I hope you stop every puck coming your way / never go down without a fight / the season isn't over until May / so good luck tonight." Lame, I know.
Fast forward a few months later, and the song is entitled "The Words Were Mine," the story of a girl who wanted to tell her high school crush (it is irrelevant as to whether or not he is the goalie of the school ice hockey team) that he is awesome but it came out differently (use your imagination) and so he thinks she is really weird and doesn't speak to her anymore, much to her dismay.
The Words Were Mine
you know I can't stand it when you look at me that way
no smile, just a glance, then you look away
as if I had never been
and it's plain what you think of me
CHORUS:
forgive me for what I said the first time
it was awkward but the words were mine
don't you know about first impressions
if you're wrong, there's an easy solution
just try again 'cause I swear
it's your disdain that I can't bear
I meant to say you'll be great one day
and wish you luck for every game you play
but it didn't come out the right way
so now it's just a glance, then you look away
CHORUS:
forgive me for what I said the first time
it was awkward but the words were mine
don't you know about first impressions
if you're wrong there's an easy solution
just try again 'cause I swear
it's your disdain that I can't bear
BRIDGE:
you wouldn't judge a song by its first note
or discard an author from the first word he wrote
the day is not determined by the morning weather
the block in your road could be as light as a feather
CHORUS:
forgive me for what I said the first time
it was awkward but the words were mine
don't you know about first impressions
if you're wrong there's an easy solution
just try again 'cause I swear
it's your disdain that I can't bear
(the first time the words were mine)
(I'll maintain I don't need disdain)
you know I can't stand it when you look at me that way
If you were wondering how much of the original song remained, it is the first line (and thus the last as well) that is completely unchanged from Good Luck Tonight to this new one, and so are the first two lines of the second verse (although originally I had them during the bridge). The second line of the song used to be "one glance, a moment of eye contact, and then you look away," which I thought was stupid in this rewrite, so I changed that in both cases. And that's it. So it could almost be that it is an entirely new song. Funny.
Opinions? Comments? Likes? Dislikes? All are much appreciated, thank you very much!
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. Good luck to Roger Federer in tomorrow's final of the US Open, and to Kimi Raikkonen in tomorrow's Belgian GP (remember what you said, that you have to win it to stay alive in the championship hunt, and I'll be supporting you!).
p.p.s. 66 days to Fearless!
It's been a crazy week. But who hasn't had one? I really can't complain, because the best part of my week was yesterday when, during lunch, I went outside and sat at one of the picnic tables by a playground close by. The luxury was fantastic, but so was having the muses around me to majorly rewrite an old song. It was one I had liked before, but having written it in about 15 minutes, it needed the revision I had refused to give it until yesterday. I saw the subject of the song and realized how lame it was, so I decided to make it (a) more relatable, (b) more realistic, (c) less telling, and (d) better.
In its original form, it was titled "Good Luck Tonight," the story of a girl who had always wanted to say that (and the rest of the chorus) to her high school crush, the goalie of the school ice hockey team, but he never saw her and so she was left with nothing but the embarrasment of having been turned down by him; it skipped a few years and there she was, watching him as the big shot goalie on a professional ice hockey team and she still wants to say that (and the rest of the chorus) but she never will. The chorus was "good luck tonight / I hope you stop every puck coming your way / never go down without a fight / the season isn't over until May / so good luck tonight." Lame, I know.
Fast forward a few months later, and the song is entitled "The Words Were Mine," the story of a girl who wanted to tell her high school crush (it is irrelevant as to whether or not he is the goalie of the school ice hockey team) that he is awesome but it came out differently (use your imagination) and so he thinks she is really weird and doesn't speak to her anymore, much to her dismay.
The Words Were Mine
you know I can't stand it when you look at me that way
no smile, just a glance, then you look away
as if I had never been
and it's plain what you think of me
CHORUS:
forgive me for what I said the first time
it was awkward but the words were mine
don't you know about first impressions
if you're wrong, there's an easy solution
just try again 'cause I swear
it's your disdain that I can't bear
I meant to say you'll be great one day
and wish you luck for every game you play
but it didn't come out the right way
so now it's just a glance, then you look away
CHORUS:
forgive me for what I said the first time
it was awkward but the words were mine
don't you know about first impressions
if you're wrong there's an easy solution
just try again 'cause I swear
it's your disdain that I can't bear
BRIDGE:
you wouldn't judge a song by its first note
or discard an author from the first word he wrote
the day is not determined by the morning weather
the block in your road could be as light as a feather
CHORUS:
forgive me for what I said the first time
it was awkward but the words were mine
don't you know about first impressions
if you're wrong there's an easy solution
just try again 'cause I swear
it's your disdain that I can't bear
(the first time the words were mine)
(I'll maintain I don't need disdain)
you know I can't stand it when you look at me that way
If you were wondering how much of the original song remained, it is the first line (and thus the last as well) that is completely unchanged from Good Luck Tonight to this new one, and so are the first two lines of the second verse (although originally I had them during the bridge). The second line of the song used to be "one glance, a moment of eye contact, and then you look away," which I thought was stupid in this rewrite, so I changed that in both cases. And that's it. So it could almost be that it is an entirely new song. Funny.
Opinions? Comments? Likes? Dislikes? All are much appreciated, thank you very much!
Much love, and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. Good luck to Roger Federer in tomorrow's final of the US Open, and to Kimi Raikkonen in tomorrow's Belgian GP (remember what you said, that you have to win it to stay alive in the championship hunt, and I'll be supporting you!).
p.p.s. 66 days to Fearless!
03 September 2008
I Lied to You
Hello, again!
So it's a few days later, and so much has changed. The biggest thing is that I told my mom about my dream. The bottom line of the entire long, realistic, slightly scary (in a 'this is your future' way), and tearful (on my end) conversation - that took place, inexplicably, with me standing in the door to the closet in my bedroom - was that at the end of my college education, I had her permission to move to Nashville and pursue the country music dream if my dreams still aimed that way. I've also decided to write a letter to Taylor Swift, with two of my songs (I'm thinking 'I Didn't Know' and 'Twice Used and Once Discarded').
The next segment of the posts, as everyone knows, is the song. It is entitled 'I Lied To You,' and the story behind it is strange. Let me introduce it this way: Do you know the story behind Taylor's 'Stay Beautiful'? Apparently she saw a guy on the street whom she thought was wonderful, and was nice to her and everything, and she wrote a song about him (this is just what I heard, it may not be true). Well, this song is similar, in that I met the subject, Mark, in an elevator at my sister's dorm. Two days ago, we installed my sister into her new college dorm (she is graduating this year!) and her room was on the seventh floor, so in order to bring all the items in, we had to go up and down in the elevator. And the rest is a song.
---song has been removed by the blogger on Sept. 6 for major rewrite---
It is quite possible that this song is the worst I have ever written. Perhaps too much information? And I should mention that I exaggerated the emotions way too much, particularly in the 8th line of the first verse and the fourth line of the chorus. The sixth line of the chorus is, unfortunately, true because I can't forgive myself for lying to him. I don't even know him! I guess this puts me off lying for life. Just don't pretend to be something you're not. It could end up hurting someone else. That's what I've learned. And if I have to write a very crappy song to learn that, so be it. Sorry you had to suffer through that one.
Much love and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. 69 days until Fearless!
So it's a few days later, and so much has changed. The biggest thing is that I told my mom about my dream. The bottom line of the entire long, realistic, slightly scary (in a 'this is your future' way), and tearful (on my end) conversation - that took place, inexplicably, with me standing in the door to the closet in my bedroom - was that at the end of my college education, I had her permission to move to Nashville and pursue the country music dream if my dreams still aimed that way. I've also decided to write a letter to Taylor Swift, with two of my songs (I'm thinking 'I Didn't Know' and 'Twice Used and Once Discarded').
The next segment of the posts, as everyone knows, is the song. It is entitled 'I Lied To You,' and the story behind it is strange. Let me introduce it this way: Do you know the story behind Taylor's 'Stay Beautiful'? Apparently she saw a guy on the street whom she thought was wonderful, and was nice to her and everything, and she wrote a song about him (this is just what I heard, it may not be true). Well, this song is similar, in that I met the subject, Mark, in an elevator at my sister's dorm. Two days ago, we installed my sister into her new college dorm (she is graduating this year!) and her room was on the seventh floor, so in order to bring all the items in, we had to go up and down in the elevator. And the rest is a song.
---song has been removed by the blogger on Sept. 6 for major rewrite---
It is quite possible that this song is the worst I have ever written. Perhaps too much information? And I should mention that I exaggerated the emotions way too much, particularly in the 8th line of the first verse and the fourth line of the chorus. The sixth line of the chorus is, unfortunately, true because I can't forgive myself for lying to him. I don't even know him! I guess this puts me off lying for life. Just don't pretend to be something you're not. It could end up hurting someone else. That's what I've learned. And if I have to write a very crappy song to learn that, so be it. Sorry you had to suffer through that one.
Much love and thank you for the musik,
NBK
p.s. 69 days until Fearless!
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