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)