I'm a sucker for a song with a name for a title, and one of my favorite songs from FAWM 21 was the name challenge. So I decided to give it another go, and this old memory presented itself.
Cool, Teresa
You were nothing but cool, Teresa
With your flawless hair and authentic concert tees
I was making good grades
You were making your way, Teresa
The way you totaled out that till like you could do just what you pleased
And you said
Let’s be friends just for summer or something
I guess that you’ll be better than nothing
Slim pickings in this godforsaken town
I was shy, Teresa
But you could make a shift fly, Teresa
We took turns changing for the beach behind the break room door
You let it fly on 95
You were my first friend who could drive, Teresa
Salt in our hair as we came back from the shore
And you said
Let’s be friends just for summer or something
I guess that you’ll be better than nothing
Slim pickings in this godforsaken town
And I remember when you ducked behind the counter
And waited there
Until your actual friends walked away
You brushed it off and brushed your hair
And said, I just couldn’t be that girl today
You landed on your feet, Teresa
You bought a big house down the street, Teresa
I see your face on the real estate sign in the next door yard
Sometimes I see you at the store
A friendly nod and nothing more, Teresa
So when you said hello today it caught me a little off guard
Cause you’d said
Let’s be friends just for summer or something
I guess that you’ll be better than nothing
Slim pickings in this godforsaken town
@tukayandryan Feb 2022
Love the development of the story and the insight into teenage friendships and beyond. Your voice is magical and I am constantly in awe of your phrasing. Your harmonies are just gorgeous.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
You have a gift for story telling and bringing your words to life. I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to your music. Thank you!
@andygetch Feb 2022
True confession I listened to this because of the 'mathelete' tag, and obviously the mathelete was not the subject. The lyric takes me back to high school and early college age years where she reminds me of more than a few like her, including one that I had an unrequited crush on but lost touch, then decades later I got a call at work from someone who that person referred to me and I remember that surprise very clearly.
@natalie Feb 2022
There is such sweet acceptance in this song ~ both of who you were and who she was, and who you both are now. I love the portrait that you paint without judgment -- just simple, poetic observation. It leaves the door open for the listener to fill in the blanks with all the emotional ups, downs, hopes, fears, wonders, insecurities, and all the other possibilities of adolescence. So well done on all levels!
@fonte Feb 2022
Also, the lyrics are just hitting me!!
@fonte Feb 2022
Ok ok this is brilliant. What a cool groove, with just a minimal backing. Harmonies are just to die for. Your voice! So so good. Love everything about this :-)
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022
Really like the story and the details and this has really nice phrasing and rhythm. I think the simple uke and background vocals help to focus on the story. Great song.
@mikedebenham Feb 2022
Already a strong song, but Teresa hiding in that bridge section really unlocks the song for me. The little insight that changes the whole context. Unexpected but feels so human.
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
Confession: I saw this right after it posted and I made myself wait to listen to it so that I'd have something to look forward to. Reminds me of when I'd get a new album when I was in high school . . . Anyway, this is a great song with all the Erin hallmarks: specific details of a story that make it feel real (and told so naturally), and then plot development that makes it more than just a sketch (and gets me in the feels; here you do that twice -- both the ducking behind the counter, and then the final development that brings the narrator back to that time and reason for the song existing); plus a great chorus that's singable and distinct from the verse. I love the use of the name (and especially like how the "cool" could attach to different words in the first iteration -- you were cool, but also "cool Teresa."
@liz561 Feb 2022
Yes-I remember your Hilary song from last year and how good it was. Shows how friendships at that age come and go.
@truetone Feb 2022
Nicely done! This captures a time and that awkward phase when friendships shift. I love the verse about hiding behind the counter.
@maesparrow Feb 2022
ooohh your voice is so lovely!! one of a kind. Beautiful harmonies and beautifully written.
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice write: deft portrait of an awkward, painful, but still important relationship. The turn in the last verse caps it perfectly, especially the face on the real estate sign. That suspension in the guitar is just enough unsettling: it fits the song like a glove.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
I keep saying it , yup a name and for me seems better a female name! I think it personalises a song makes it more real! This is very nice, the lyrics flow through the music really well. Nice song
@jennakole Feb 2022
Welp. Teresa sounds like a douche.
This song, however, is great and makes me think of eddie from ohio for some reason.
Nicely done again!
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
Wonderful storytelling here. I love how you take a tough time and got something great out of it. Great harmonies too!
@leslie333 Feb 2022
Oooh another great story song. Great story and I like the use of the name Teresa and the clues to her personality.