We have already a fair bit interest in our next meeting, October 8th. Don't hestitate to contact me if you interested in showcasing next month or in the future: thomas.g.wilson at gmail.com
Our last month's topic "repetition" was a little vague, so I for this next month, I would like focus flip side of last year "How to write a happy song". No matter how we all love an upbeat ditty, I think there is something more profoundly lasting in explorations of suffering. Romantic comedies may make the big bucks at the box office, but it is usually tragedies win the Oscars and draw interest for years to come. The difficultly lies in writing a "sad" song well.
Luckily we have Joshua Weresch joining us on October 8th, a Hamilton songwriter renowned in our circle for delving into the morose and morbid.
Here is new work in progress that he offers us:
South Wins War
21 September 2008
Hamilton, ON
Joshua Weresch
I suppose it is simple: "You're pissing me off."
It could be the laughter, could be the cough.
You awaken at dawn with blood on your clothes
And the South wins the war again.
Don't come to this calling, twitching with guilt.
Here are bricks without straw; there's a city re-built.
You awaken at noon, take the wrong antidote
And the South wins the war again.
And it's over the concrete to take the last stand.
The poor folk are coming with fire in their hand.
You awaken at night with a knife to your throat
And the South wins the war again.
Another pianist, Joyce McAughey offers us some songs self-described as " depressing, neurotic , kicked by the world lyrics with an upbeat feel".
Nobody's Fool words and music by Joyce McAughey
c.2008
I'm nobody's fool
I'm nobody's girl
I'm nobody's favourite star.
I never thought things would turn out this way,
I guess that's just the way things are.
I'm not a footstool in your living room nor
A doormat in your hall.
I know there's so much you despise about me
I know 'cause I've heard it all.
I'm sick and tired of this
I'm sick and tired of this
I'm so sick and tired of this
I'm sick to death of it.
I stay here on my sofa
Just to pass the time
I watch the world go by me
It seems to manage just fine.
I'm sick and tired of this
I'm sick and tired of this
I'm so sick and tired of this
I'm sick to death of it
I'm nobody's fool
I'm nobody's girl
I'm nobody's favourite star
I never thought things would turn out this way,
I guess that's just the way things are
I guess that's just the way things are
I guess
That's just the way things are.
Waiting words and music by Joyce McAughey
c.2008
She paces the sidewalk
She spins and turns around
Her lipstick's been applied
With a mirror on the ground.
Chilled to the bone
Under this warm October sky
She raises a toast to the passersby.
She waits
Patiently for someone
Who never really has appeared.
Was he late again for coffee?
Was he late again my dear?
She said she saw him on the corner
With his new-found long lost friend
And she thought that he'd be waving
But he never looked back again
He never looked back.
She said the days are getting shorter now
And the seasons how they change.
As she stood in the doorway under
Cigarette haze.
Chilled to the bone
Under this warm October sky
She raises a toast to the passersby.
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6 comments:
"...a Hamilton songwriter renowned in our circle for delving into the morose and morbid."
I'm morose, possibly only in the obsolete sense of "scrupulous, painstaking" (Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "morose")! "Morbid," however, "characterized by excessive gloom or apprehension, or (in later use) by an unhealthy preoccupation with disease, death, or other disturbing subject; given to unwholesome brooding" (Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "morbid") is a term under which I cannot stand for I don't believe it's an unhealthy preoccupation. Yes, I admit that I am preoccupied with those themes but only so that we don't forget that they, too, are a part of our lived experience and need to be seen with a good, simple, cruel, and unflinching eye. If I seem to address these themes repeatedly, it's only because we need to be reminded of them repeatedly. It's a healthy preoccupation, I think, but I'd love to hear other thoughts on the matter.
I took what Tom said as being poetic, and didn't get the impression that you writing sad songs is Morbid in the dictionary sense of the word.
On a general side note about sad songs...
One great way for anyone to soften the blow or sneak a "Morbid" song up on a listener is to make it an up beat tune. I have a friend that wrote a song called Dancing on The Gravestones, and the lyrics were all about all the people who had died in his life (really sad) but the song was a cute little folk song that was very "Happy" sounding. A great effect and a lasting memory.
I also heard that not all cultures associate minor chords with being sad. Major and Minor seem to not be universal principles of conveying emotion. That leaves it wide open for the songwriter.
Randell,
I also agreed with Tom about the "morose" and "morbid" terminology, but I wanted to qualify the terms, that's all. Thanks for bringing the poetic/dictionary division to my attention; that's important.
Brian deBoer writes plenty of sad songs with upbeat tunes. Hearing them, and thinking about what you've written, I think you're quite right: it does soften the blow.
I didn't know about that last point regarding major and minor chords; that's interesting. It's another example of the necessity of the song to unite opposites -- a major chord with a "minor" emotion -- indicating the unity behind things.
whoops -- i just had to amend the spelling on this comment:
I did hesitate in applying the above epitaphs to Mr. Weresch, but rather enamoured with the alliteration, I decided impulsively that it was better to be provoking than altogether literally correct. Rather than be anxious with the at times dark and profound themes that Josh delves into (those quite in antithesis to those of our mainstream pop culture), I chose to celebrate them in a slightly ironic and hyperbolic fashion. Certainly Josh's songs are much more than the above, but I am merely trying to be provocative so that those who do not know his music may perhaps take an interest.
O blogophere, do not consider Josh slandered!
Thomas,
No, I don't think the blogosphere does consider me slandered, for whatever that's worth. I certainly don't feel slandered. I just like to clarify, as stated above. Provocatory comments are welcome, even needed, these days.
Regards,
Joshua
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