A local couple truly support local music, and periodically run a songwriting contest, For Song Sake. They provide a title, and songwriters submit their songs. The reward is a place on their intimate in-home concert series stage.
This time around, the title was "Have It Next". After some pondering, I reflected on all the horrible neighbor wars that have escalated beyond reason in recent years, and by extension, how society seems to have largely forgotten to behave like adults. This song was written as a humble request to be kind to one another, remember that your fellow humans have as much right to their happiness as you do, to not sweat the small stuff, and stop escalating to the point where people end up in jail or worse.
I've been fortunate, as the worst we've had was a few calls to the city for having our skoolie (retired school bus renovated to a motorhome) on our property, which is allowed, and resulted in compliments for my work on the conversion by the inspector.
You can have it next to mine, and I think you'll find
I don't mind it at all
The business of your land is none of mine
The rules that I enforce don't carry past that line
We all need to get along when we're together
Try to understand, see different perspectives
Do the best we can
Get along despite the difference
even if there's quite a few
You can have it next to mine
And I'll have mine next to you
You can have words with me, I don't mind
We're both adults, and things will work out fine
We all need to get along when we're together
Try to understand, see different perspectives
Do the best we can
Get along despite the difference
even if there's quite a few
You can have it next to mine
And I'll have mine next to you
You see it on the news, some people get to feuding
Gets so out of hand, distorted past reason and truth
If they'd taken the time, it could have all been avoided
All that anger and hate in the heart ends up hurting you
We all need to get along when we're together
Try to understand, see different perspectives
Do the best we can
Get along despite the difference
even if there's quite a few
You can have it next to mine
And I'll have mine next to you
We all need to get along when we're together
Try to understand, see different perspectives
Do the best we can
Get along despite the difference
even if there's quite a few
You can have it next to mine
And I'll have mine next to you
@pattie Feb 2022
Love your style - the guitar - your vocals - the lyrics - just over the top - love it! Great job!
@tseaver Feb 2022
Good write. and a great call to community over ideological (or horticultural?) purity. The bridge is particularly telling. Lovely solo.
@aeye Feb 2022
great piece with a really nice message and a really nice melody.We should all definitely be more neighborly to each other.
@grayland Feb 2022
Hey Stuart! This song grabbed me as soon as I heard the guitar! Great plating, and great vocals! This song has it all and a fantastic message to boot. Since the pandemic, everyone's nerves are on edge and more people should listen to your message. Very well done, well written and well sung...
@cheslain Feb 2022
Beautiful piece well delivered. A welcome positive message in the lyrics. Wise words. Nice touch picking up the pace for a while towards the end.