Feb 2022 collab guy-with-guitar
Alex: This song came from a choice turn of phrase Kelly said in the car. I urged her to write a lyric about it. So she did.
Kelly: I was in the midst of a great big vent about something that was frustratingly stupid. Writing a lyric about how frustrated one can get about stupidity, and urging people to take precautions against it, inevitably gives rise to self-reminders about not falling into exactly what is being criticized, which in fact we all do. I like the line "it brushes us broadly and blue." "Painting with a broad brush" being sometimes a logical fallacy; the painting/colors image reflecting the idea of spectrum which is also "broad"; and "blue" additionally indicating how sad the stupid can make us.
Vocal, guitar: Alex
Lyric: Kelly
The Elaborate Spectrum of Stupid
************
We know how it is, the maddening ways
That the stupid takes hold all around.
You can’t stamp it out or contain its malaise;
It will still find a way to abound.
The painful truth is, no matter how wise,
You and I have our place in this maze.
We all have our blinders and faltering eyes;
It will dog us the rest of our days.
You can’t run away, no you can’t run and hide
But to see it is half the fight through.
The elaborate spectrum of stupid...
It brushes us broadly and blue.
Is it human or less-than, the mindlessly sinking,
The ditching of logical rule?
I only know this– there’s a danger in thinking
You’re more human than any fool.
So help us all out; double-check, take a pause,
And don’t be a knee-jerk in the crowd.
One by one, we can make a less half-witted world
Just by being a little less loud.
You can’t run away, no you can’t run and hide
But to see it is half the fight through.
The elaborate spectrum of stupid...
It brushes us broadly and blue.
@andygetch Feb 2022
Great message and a pleasant re-curvature of the lyric.
@liz561 Feb 2022
What a wonderful collab! @metalfoot you are so lucky to have an in-house lyrisist and one who is so good. Kudos to @kellyk
@frozenlonesome Feb 2022
Great song. Lyrics are really good and so true. The spectrum of stupid is always on display. More so lately or perhaps I just being nostalgic.
Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot.
@timfatchen Feb 2022
I try, really I do, and everything in this lyric and swinging song is true and gives that important warning but, dear God, it is so hard not to dismiss the stupidity as "something less". Yes, that way lies madness, and a diminution of one's own imperfect humanity. I know, i know, but it is still so hard, and increasingly so. Perhaps I should give up reading current affairs. Apart from this (FAWM) I'm almost invisible in social media other than fun things. [EDIT did I say how good the song is? Take all that preceding rant as evidence!]
@moonraccoon Feb 2022
This is a romp of solid observation. Kelly wrote so many great couplets, it's hard to choose a favourite.
"I only know this– there’s a danger in thinking
You’re more human than any fool"
Yeahhh *sigh* So much foolishness—including my own—could be managed with just a liiiittle perspective.
Musically, I think my favorite moment is when Alex bends "blue" down to that blue note. Such a great choice!
@stephenwordsmith Feb 2022
Impressed by the jolly delivery. Quite a toe-tapper for such serious life lessons. And the rhythm is inherent in the words; very well-phrased indeed. I like it when the words have a skip in their step, such as in the phrase 'human or less-than'.
Interesting subject, and a little confrontational. It's easy to laugh at stupid people, and write songs about them, but harder to admit that oneself *is* stupid people.
And especially to write a song about it.
@andrea Feb 2022
Love these lyrics! I like the flow and vibe of the music and melodies. Fits the lyrics nicely. Cool song. Nice collab!
@tuneslayer Feb 2022
This afternoon for the wellness improvement skirmish I started a song about "I'm going to avoid stupid people (to improve my mental wellness)". It's still over here in a text window; I might finish it later on.
I like you guys' take on it!
@hummingbear Feb 2022
Well done and relatable.
Way to throw some shade at Smurfs, 'cause neither people nor bears would every say stupid things. Oh wait...maybe I should listen to the song again.
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
Great lyrics @kellyk! And this is classic @metalfoot singing and playing, with as much cheekiness as you can deliver and still be Canadian.
@mikeskliar Feb 2022
really nicely done! what an interesting and great message there, all done in a great rhyme scheme and with a nice amount of wit. (But as a new yorker, what is this 'a little less loud'- does that exist? :) :) :) )
@cindyrella Feb 2022
This is fantastic! I'm so happy the two of you are working together! Very good!