I was driving and trying to think of something to write a song about and randomly thought of "Bartleby's Blues" and it sounded like a good title. When I got home I just wrote down some words fast and came up with a guitar part and recorded it in one-take on my phone.
I'm usually happy with phone recordings as-is but since it all went so quick I just felt like messing around with some eq and reverb, etc. nothing too heavy, more like just hearing how different settings change the sound.
I never followed my true calling
maybe that’s why I ended up here
I felt the weight of the sky falling
felt the clutch-slip on the hemisphere
When you asked me to make copies
I just said I would prefer not to
When the gang asked me to happy hour
I just said I would prefer not to
Sisyphus put in another long day
but he never even gets a day off
At least I’m free to go on my way
while he just rocks and rock and rocks
When you asked me to make copies
I just said I would prefer not to
When the gang asked me to happy hour
I just said I would prefer not to
I may present myself as dimly neat
and of course incurably forlorn
but I’m not going to leave this seat
but one more request for copies and I’m outta here
When you asked me to make copies
I just said I would prefer not to
When the gang asked me to happy hour
I just said I would prefer not to
@tspoon Feb 2022
I love your creativity and inclusion of these fable stories and tying them in with modern issues. like your disdain for making copies! I also love the guitar sound you captured which feels different from your norm. Also very clever verse about sisyphus. i wish i could make the cell phone recordings sound this good...
@toddnorem Feb 2022
I haven't thought of that short story in forever. Fun song. I like the aggressive guitar playing. Sounds distorted too, which is cool. Man the line "I felt the weight of the sky falling/felt the clutch-slip on the hemisphere" is so great. How do you just randomly come up with stuff like this? Cool tune and infectious guitar hook. Moonbeams...what happened? Heard that one a couple of days ago...wanted to go back and comment and now it's gone. That one sounded great too.
@analogj Feb 2022
This is wry, and very appropriate for this FAWM month. I like the guitar riff and playing, too.