Track 1: Collette, Miss Marvel, Sap, Elizabeth, Tormented

Collette (Every Time I Say Your Name)

Written June 2011 - Home demo

Before writing this tune, I wrestled for over a month on a song titled April’s Fool. AF was thoughtfully constructed lyrically, but when push came to shove, I wasn’t able to get it to work, no matter how many re-writes I did. It was a nice idea that didn’t cut it. 

So my guitar stood silent for 2 months, and that’s when I saw the movie Bandslam. In it, a pretty boy who broke a pretty girl's heart tries to win her back by playing her a song he wrote. And the first thought that shot through my brain was, “Every a-hole’s got a guitar these days”. When I was a teen it wasn’t as widespread. A guitarist was a rare and special entity. But nowadays every a-hole has a guitar, and some a-holes use it as a weapon (they get what they want, then leave). 

Lyrical note: Teeth are passive-aggressive. They look pretty and white and innocuous behind a smile but can turn scary when they gnash and tear and chew. I’ve used that idea in songs a few times. 

The track circles around the theme of love and guilt. It's about the users vs. those who stay even when things turn ugly. It’s about taking the blame when you are blameless (because –even if it’s not logical- you’re supposed to protect the ones you love. Even from their own self-destructive tendencies.) 

I actually played guitar for another verse/chorus… but could never write lyrics that were worth a damn or added anything new to the main idea. Sometimes a song says what it has to and that’s it. I had 2 verses and a chorus and it didn’t need anything else. So I did a fade and cut off the second half music. The number is slight but personally meaningful; it always chokes me up when I hear it.

Lyrics

And every asshole with a guitar 

Will tell you what you want to hear 

They’ll bare their white teeth 

And sink them into your flesh 

Feast on your insecurities 

Until you relent, to their need 

But I, I don’t know how to lie 

And when I tell you that I’d go to hell and back for you 

It’s not hyperbole; you know it’s true 

Cause my hands are stained red 

From all the times I kept the blood from spilling 

Through the holes in your arms 

Oh Collette, every time I say your name 

Ah it’s like, I accept all the blame 

a-accept all the blame 

Oh Collette, every time I say your name 

Ah it’s like, I accept, all the blame

Miss Marvel 

Written on January 13, 2010 - Home demo

This came on a lark, I wasn't planning to spend that Wednesday writing and recording a tune, but I was playing around with an Am chord, thinking of Cat Stevens style, then took that, and went in a different direction. 

The dark subject matter (drug addiction) is something I'd revisit time and again. Not a story song, more one of my mantras where I circle around the same idea. Started off acoustic, but that version was putting me to sleep, so I electrified it and that seemed to work better. It might be a little dry, but is one of my personal favorites.

Lyrics

Hey Miss Fury, always in a hurry

You scattered your atoms in a moment of panic, now you wish you could take it all back

Hey Miss Marvel, you had ‘em all under your spell

Now you wish you could put a cap on that bottle because it’s more than you can handle

You block out the bodies, you block out the regrets

You pretend you can’t remember, but you never can forget

And you’d like to be a stone cold bitch

You’d like to be a stone cold bitch

‘Cause it’d be easier that way

Hey Miss Perception (misperception), you bought your own deception

Now you wish you could break every mirror in the house so you could see things a little more clearly

Hey Miss Marvel, you had me under your spell

Now you wish you could put a veil over my eyes, ‘cause they’re more than you can handle

You block out the promises, you block out the regrets

You pretend you can’t remember, but you never can forget

And you’d like to be a stone cold bitch

You’d like to be a stone cold bitch

‘Cause it’d be easier that way

Sap
Lyrics written December 2006

Sometimes titled "I'm a Sap", this one comes from the "Delirum" sessions - other songs from that CD will be featured on 2 seperate pages. I was having fun with this one, tapping into my love for superhero comics and film. Aside from a couple flubs, I'm proud of the guitar work, and what I wrote for the jangly lead, which mimick a kind of 12-string sound, without me playing a 12-string. Capo on 5th fret, B flat's the opening chord.

Lyrics
I'm a sap, I'm a fool, I'm a spaz, I'm a tool 

I'm a sap, I'm a fool, I'm a spaz, watch me drool

You told me to expect your call so I've been starring at the phone for hours

And the only explanation for my behavior is that you must have superpowers

'Cause I swear I got my head stitched together, then it unravels when I see your smile

I get so stupidly, stupid over you, it's practically infantile

When I'm feeling nigh-invulnerable, think I can handle any scheme you bring

Then you slide your leg across my knee and I'm reduced to your stuttering idiot plaything

Though I swore I had my head stitched together, I unravel when I see your smile

I get so stupidly, stupid over you, it's practically infantile

I can't fly, and I'm not bulletproof

But I got a heart that beats just for you

And there's nothing that it can't do

Chorus - lead - pre-chorus - chorus

Shawn · Elizabeth

Elizabeth
Written in January 27, 2010

A song of memory and regret. The lyrics draw imagery from the film "Elizabeth the Golden Age". I don't know nautical terms and couldn't find the correct wordage, I've heard batten hatches, but I don't know if you batten sails - however, fold, or lower or wrap up, or secure sails, just didn't roll off the tongue... if it's embarrassingly wrong, file it under abuse of artistic license. Haha.

Lyrics
Oh my merciless melody, oh my armored Elizabeth
Remind me of thy countenance that stole each shallow breath
And I'll batten down my sails and find mooring in your charms
I'll name you as my guiding star, through the ink washed night, to the safety of your arms

Oh memory my wicked one, you interrupt my sleep
You crawl into my empty bed uttering promises you can't keep
And I think I've been driven mad by the echoes in my ears
That ring baleful reminders, of the sorrow and the taste of your bitter tears

 
Elizabeth, Elizabeth, oh my sweet regret, I never will forget, my Elizabeth

Tom Stewart Killed Me

Written on October 3, 2011

A drummer friend wanted me to write her a song to sing for a Halloween gig her band was playing. Unfortunately, inspiration made like Robert Denby and eluded me, so I was kind of hoping she’d forget about it.

Days later, I’m watching Tormented from MST3K, and it comes to that “Tom Stewart Killed Me!” chant and the light bulb goes off in my head… "Saaaay, that could be a Halloween song!" And so it was.

This is a rough demo recorded on an old 16-track Fostex at home (hand claps are off because I was holding the mic while singing and wound having to clap my wrist) and I’m no lead guitarist, but I like the sound of it - this was meant as a template for her and her band.

Lyrics

(whispered) Someone's in the lighthouse

Tom Stewart said he loved me, Tom Stewart lied

Tom Stewart left me hanging, then he took himself a bride

As I drew in my last breath and was swallowed by the sea

That fool Tom Stewart thought he'd seen the last of me

Tom Stewart killed me, Tom Stewart killed me (2x)

This ain't the end, this ain't the end

Oh boy, you're only going to be with me, oh yeah

And I'll haunt you to the altar, and I'll torment you in your dreams

I'll steal you from your pretty bride and take comfort in her screams

And I'm clothed in seaweed, and I've got a killer(s) smile

Take that to the grave baby, I'll be joining you in a while

Chorus