And now for something completely different.

I wrote a song last week and spent the better part of the weekend recording and tweaking it. Everything about it screams “amateur” which is true. But I like it and I wanted to share it anyway. I also feel like if I don’t just put it out there then I’ll keep tweaking it forever and I’ve got more important things I need to be doing! It’s the second song I’ve written since I started playing and the first full-length one. (Here’s my first.)

Now that I’m done making excuses, have a listen. There is some PG-13 language and a flippant attitude about suicide, so if that bothers you then please skip it:

<a href="/images/uploads/2009/02/i_died_three_years_ago_john_watson.mp3’>I Died Three Years Ago, mp3, 3.6MB

It’s sort of a love song. Here’s the back story: the husband of a young, childless couple dies. Let’s say they’re newlyweds. The particulars of his death aren’t important—just that it was unexpected, quiet, and meaningless. You know, tragic. It’s taken the wife three years to mourn and finally get on with her life. She’s dating again. But the dead husband has not moved on… won’t move on.

I wrote poetry like this for a few weeks in a college writing class once upon a time. This is what comes out of me when I write fiction.

Chords and lyrics:

E E7 Amaj7 Am7 (capo on 4)

I wrote my name in the steam
on your bathroom mirror
sorry that freaked you out
it was a bad idea in hindsight
I can see that now
not even sure how I did it
I don't have any hands

I hate your brand new boyfriend
I think that he's an ass
I don't see why you like him
I guess he's got nice hair
don't have much use for products
no gel for ectoplasm
being disembodied sucks

He said he saw me in the hall
making scary faces
strange demonic noises
but it really wasn't me
well maybe just that one time
he's such a little bitch
I know you could do better

I died three years ago
but for me
it is always yesterday

Yes that was me who moved your keys
it's the only way I have
left to show I care
it was just a coincidence
it made you late for that jerk hole
I've always had bad timing...

I heard he finally left you
ran screaming from the house
like a giant crying baby
can't say that I'll miss him
he wasn't right for you
I guess I'm sorry you're depressed
FYI I'm still dead

I died three years ago
but for me
it is always yesterday

The kitchen knives are sharp
and there's rope in the garage
I don't recommend the Drano
any of these things
would bring you back to me
pick something quick and painless
I'll be waiting here for you

If you’re interested in the technical details… I recorded all of the vocals and instruments separately (using a Samson C01 condenser microphone into a Xenyx 802 mixer) and put the song together with Ardour. There are three guitar tracks, three vocal tracks, and I used Hydrogen to create the drum loop in the chorus. Ardour is amazing by the way. It’s a superb—and completely free—tool for post-processing multi-track audio. Hydrogen: also awesome.

Comments

1. s’mee on 2009-02-23 18:29:24 wrote: I don’t know what it is about me and the suicide love songs, but I love them. My favourite of all time is k.d.lang’s version of “My Old Addiction”. Your’s is fab. The melody sad and alone, the vocal somewhat melancholy…perfect for the words. I say great job!

2. Jacob on 2009-02-24 10:03:27 wrote: Impressive song. You haven’t been playing very long have you? Also excited that you did everything on open source software. This is good fodder for all of the haters out there. :)

3. John on 2009-02-24 10:17:04 wrote: Thanks, guys! Jacob, that’s right, I’ve been playing six months.

4. Sylvia on 2009-02-24 11:29:37 wrote: Love the words; love the music; love the song; love the recording! You will continue to amaze us I suppose, and you’re still just a lad! It’s wonderful! Right up there with one of my alltime favs, Gilbert O’Sullivan, only freakier.

5. Sylvia on 2009-02-24 11:33:42 wrote: In case you’re too young to remember: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_P-v1BVQn8

6. John on 2009-02-25 19:55:27 wrote: Thanks, Sylvia. I’m flattered by the comparison!

7. mc on 2009-02-28 09:12:09 wrote: this is hilarious and awesome. “well maybe just that one time he’s such a little bitch” priceless.

8. Nikolay on 2009-02-28 22:49:57 wrote: Wow, John, that sounds great! My favorite element is the multiple vocals in the chorus.

9. John on 2009-03-01 10:30:45 wrote: Thanks!

10. RuthDeB on 2009-03-09 11:09:51 wrote: Hilarious lyrics John! LOVE IT. “I wrote my name in the steam on your bathroom mirror sorry that freaked you out” Poetry should be hilarious. Read some i

11. RuthDeB on 2009-03-09 13:17:53 wrote: What I meant to say was, Read some Billy Collins if you have a chance. He’s similarly sarcastic and hilarious.

12. John on 2009-03-10 15:01:08 wrote: I sought him out on your recommendation… I like his stuff! Thanks for the pointer.

13. Sylvia on 2009-03-14 06:52:43 wrote: Here’s something pathetic: I have listened to this so many times that I now unconsciously sing it outloud(somewhat under my breath, of course, like normal people)in public places and around the house. I wish you would become famous with this song so that those who overhear me will not debate whether to call suicide help line on my behalf!

14. John on 2009-03-14 11:13:03 wrote: Sylvia, all of your praise can’t be good for my ego. But please don’t stop. :-)

15. Maxine on 2009-03-24 18:01:12 wrote: Love the lyrics, and the instrumentation is really simple and sweet. Maybe you should share this on the creative commons website. What are your feelings on Audacity for sound editing?

16. John on 2009-03-24 19:29:28 wrote: Thanks. I like Audacity and I use it frequently. It’s a good tool to have. It’s noise reduction feature is very nice, for example. And I use it for recording ideas or small, quick editing jobs. Ardour2 is different animal. Audacity is a very good sound editor and Ardour2 is a true DAW.