Feb 2022 ukulele banjo fuc acoustic
Ah, the unrequited. (This one was the hardest to write so far)
This song narrates the all too common story of two friends- from the perspective of the one wondering/wishing/dreaming that there might be something more underneath their closeness. And how far that person will go preserving the fantasy...
I struggled writing this one because of the delicacy of it, even 15+ years after being "in it". Funny how nostalgia can shine a light on so many different facets of our emotional selves.
Late nights in your dormitory
We made up radio plays
Silly voices, improv songs
We would laugh the whole night long
But all the humor halted in your gaze
We’d get stoned and go out on adventures
Bring along our cameras and pens
you would sketch stuff we would find
and I would try to read your mind
To determine whether we were more than friends
Help me read this right
cause I don't know what I'll find
are you some kind of brother or a cousin
or the love of my life
I guess i don't have to know tonight
We’d get drunk on little penguin
make up characters and scenes
i'd pretend to be your boss
you'd pretend you were my lover
and my heart would thump so loud that i could scream
and when you drew me in your bedroom
Me, sitting naked in your chair
you chuckled underneath your breath
said that you'd just drawn my breast
it was hard pretending that i didn't care
help me read this right
cause i don't know what i'll find
are you some kind of sadist or my best friend
or the love of my life
i guess i don't have to know tonight
and you took me to your hometown
and I even met your folks
and we went to all the thrift stores
And had all the inside jokes
and you flirted with my roommate
and you dated my friend
and you told me all your secrets
and i kept them
so there it is wrapped up in tissue
this little world that i kept safe
where i could hide away my love
but couldn’t call it what it was
i guess i thought that i could keep you that way
@mckillop Feb 2022
"Help me read this right" - genius!
The whole chorus is really good, and the whole song points back to it and supports it and the theme.
This is inspired songwriting.
@theawkwardsleep Feb 2022
Storytelling is your forte. I'm inspired by this. Every song you share is like a little sharing of your soul, so perfectly told. another great one.
@tseaver Feb 2022
Great write. The storytelling is perfect, and the harmonies and bouncy uke keep it moving, right up to the final heartbreak.
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
Oh -- and I also like the multiple meanings of "I guess I thought that I could keep you that way."
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
I'm loving this song project of yours! "I would try to read your mind/ To determine whether we were more than friends" is such a powerful/relatable memory. I love "I guess i don't have to know tonight" (and the lines from other verses in that location, too). Also "and you told me all your secrets/and I kept them" -- that line punched me in the stomache.
@jessicamoon Feb 2022
So good! I think the melody works really well with the lyrics. I love the story of the drawing and the lyric “are you some kind of sadist or my best friend or…” awesome song :)