some new lyrics
Sunday, August 27, 2006 at 04:47PM I've been reading a big collection of Orson Scott Card's stories, and a lot of them are sort of fables, kind of modern "once upon a time" sort of stuff. The structure of this song probably owes a lot to that. And the idea behind it probably has a lot to do with me and friends of mine that grew up in a sort of "christian bubble."
I think I'll call it "Happy Ending" but I'm open to suggestions. Feel free to send me any comments or questions or criticisms or any of that.
I also accept money and movie coupons.
Steven always loved a story
since he was a little boy
he’d grab a book and climb into his mother’s lap
but his mother, oh God bless her
she loved that little boy
and she’d only read the parts she thought were happy
and he grew to be a man
but he never understood
that there’s always something bad
between the good and the good
every night there by his bedside
he’d offer up his prayers
ask Jesus to keep his friends and family from harm
so when his Dad came down with cancer
and Mom, she wrecked the car
he knew that Jesus must have never really cared
cause he grew to be a man
and he never understood
that there’s always something bad
between the good and the good
and he fell in love
with a perfect girl
she smiled so pretty
it tore his world apart
when she left without saying goodbye
well, he always loved a story
since he was a little boy
he’d grab a book and climb into his mother’s lap
and if she’d read the parts where knees got skinned,
kids didn’t share and the cheaters win
well, he might believe that Jesus really cared
but he grew to be a man
and he never understood
that there’s always something bad
between the good and the good
I'll go ahead and promise to play it at this week's Square Peg show, if you promise to come out to it. (I'll try and post a demo in the drawing board sometime this week after the show...)
Reader Comments (17)
oh you can count on me being there...and don't forget to play a normals song like you said you might...just might make my week...or month
I'll hold you to that promise. See you Tuesday.
So un-CCM. Awesome! Too bad I live in Philly, otherwise I would love to see the show.
I think I like it...but I got to hear it before I give final verdict. Probably will blow me away like most stuff you write. Wish I could make it to a show... ever want to come up to Ohio?
it's a beautiful song (well lyrically so far)... not sure about the title though.... i will explain tuesday if i get a chance.
I like it... sounds different than a lot of other stuff you've written (in a good way)... I'd love to hear the music too, but i'll have to catch the bootleg or DB post (something about Austin is not conducive to day trips to Nashville, haha). Hope all goes well, God bless.
Got it ... kinda reminds me of "Moral of the Story"... which I liked. Just a very different voice than some of your other songs, which is VERY cool.
sean
What about calling it "Between The Good"? Just a thought!
You had me worrying there for a minute... a friend of mine, Harry Offutt, has a song "Happy Ending", currently climbing the charts of IndeHeaven. His is a bit more "straightforward" than I envision your song being.
Hope yours gets a good response at the show, so that you are encouraged to get a "real" recording of it. Will you put it on a future solo album? a Caedmon's album? Or will it be one you offer to the publisher for another artist?
And D~: There's already a great song called "Cover My Eyes"by Marillion- check it out. Guess there's only so many song titles in existence.
"Between The Good" is a good title, I'm not sure that "Happy Ending" works. What about "A Mother's Ommisions" or "Ommissions."
But ... but ... you told me that I didn't have to come on Tuesday! ;)
[Not like I'm listening to you on that score.]
Those are some great lyrics. I really wish I could come. But, Seattle's a good walk from there.
I like "Between the Good" too. It depends on how the melody goes in the chorus, though...
As far as how many song titles are in existence, in today's iTunes world there's not anything wrong with having a song title similar or identical to another artist. It just might get some accidental lovin'.
This is really late, but I hope you read this. Andy, you're capable of much better songwriting. Although the subject matter of this piece hasn't been explored by too many writers, the lyrics are quaint and cheap. Just look at the chorus; "the good and the good" is a tired take on an old cliche. Bad writers often think they've written something good because there is substance in the message of the piece. They don't realize that a nice sentiment doesn't make up for poor execution. You don't usually make that mistake. The latter two Normals records and your first two solo were incredible. You showed yourself to be one of the best songwriters of your generation.
It seems that lately you've been living an easy family life. Your CCM fans have been nice to you. They'll probably applaud everything you do. You can write to please them and make a good living. I hope that instead you'll be critical of yourself and labor to create songs that will forever be respected.
Gosh, those are some presumptuous conclusions in there with the criticism.
Hey Joel - I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. Geof makes a good point, though, it seems like you're making two different statements, one about the song, and the other about me personally.
You can dislike the song, that's fine. It IS a different style, what someone earlier called a "different voice." It was an experiment in a number of ways, and I agree, it's not the best song I've ever written, but I do like it. Still, if you don't, that's fine.
The other statement you made, about me living an "easy family life" and how my "CCM fans have been nice to (me)" is a pretty big presumption. If you've been reading this site at all, I hope you see that I've been attempting to use the musical ability I have to do a couple different things. Yeah, I'm writing songs and playing guitar these days for other artists to help try and pay the bills. And that's because I have a family who I need to support.
If you read this blog, though, you should have also noticed how much work I put into my newest record and that I really believe in it. Now, if you think that album's writing is tired cliche, then you probably should just write me off now. I thought it was the best writing I'd done yet, for the most part. The truth is, I have to pay the bills to allow me to make the music I really want to make, both solo and with Caedmon's, because that stuff doesn't pay the bills. Not even close. And with all the work I do to keep us afloat, we still barely make it month to month.
I unashamedly live a family life. I love it. Completely and thoroughly. It's a beautiful thing. But it is in NO way easy, I don't really think I have ANY ccm fans, and the people that do follow my music follow me for the same records you liked.
I am incredibly and increasingly critical of my writing, but I have also realized that to be good, writing doesn't have to be only sad or deep or tragic.
Good writing is the communication of truth in the most presentable form available. And that truth can be salvation and reformation as well as the truth that girls are pretty and I like hot dogs (although I don't). I feel that the scope of what I can write has opened in the past few years, mainly because I do enjoy my life, as not-easy as it is, and that has allowed me greater freedom to write.
Your accusations carry with them what seems to be a bit of anger. I would love to know why a song that you didn't think was really great should carry such weight. For every song on the albums you liked there were ten that weren't as good to get me there. This is probably one of those songs. I guess I'll be more careful about sharing my baby steps. And I'd love to know, or maybe I won't love it but it would be good for me to know, if I've rubbed you the wrong way with my work or my actions recently.
what ´bout calling it "growing naive", or maybe "naive growing" lol! not 2 creative huh?, ok...it was just a thougt :P