fundamentals
NEW SONG POST! (Consider that a fair warning: if you're not interested in the following self-absorbed post about a new song just written, save yourself the time, and stop reading here. I won't be offended, I promise.)
Just sketched out (lyrically) what is, I think, one of the most meaningful pieces I've ever written; it was almost a refreshing struggle to get this one on paper - almost the same feeling I had when I was writing my very first song a year and a half ago.
The only way I can put it is....the majority of my songs are of course meaningful, but a lot of the time, the meanings are veiled, and somewhat obscure...they're more Fitzgerald-esque in that they're kind of vague. This piece is very Whitman-esque, which is fitting since Whitman is the backbone of the song, along with T.S Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." So if my songs were literary works, this would be the Whitman among Fitzgeralds. I know this isn't making any sense, but I'm still enveloped in the aftermath of the lyric-writing whirlwind that takes place late at night. So I'm babbling, but only because I'm really excited (and narcissistic).
The title of the song, "Leaves of Grass," was taken from the title of Whitman's book, which includes the poem "Song of Myself." If you've ever read that poem, or Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," you'll probably be able to spot the references throughout the song. Some might call this a reaction piece, which is fine....but...there's a part of my core being in this song, as cheesy as that may sound. So it means a lot to me. Naima, you're probably the only person who has read this far into this extremely narcissistic entry (and if you're not Naima and have read this far, I love you) but I want to tell you so much about this song because ahhh I'm just so excited about this one and I know you're a Whitman fan. And because your feedback means a lot to me (after all, you are my manager).
But really, any feedback from anyone is appreciated, even if it's of the "you suck" genre.
So here are the lyrics to numero 21, "Leaves of Grass"
Just sketched out (lyrically) what is, I think, one of the most meaningful pieces I've ever written; it was almost a refreshing struggle to get this one on paper - almost the same feeling I had when I was writing my very first song a year and a half ago.
The only way I can put it is....the majority of my songs are of course meaningful, but a lot of the time, the meanings are veiled, and somewhat obscure...they're more Fitzgerald-esque in that they're kind of vague. This piece is very Whitman-esque, which is fitting since Whitman is the backbone of the song, along with T.S Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." So if my songs were literary works, this would be the Whitman among Fitzgeralds. I know this isn't making any sense, but I'm still enveloped in the aftermath of the lyric-writing whirlwind that takes place late at night. So I'm babbling, but only because I'm really excited (and narcissistic).
The title of the song, "Leaves of Grass," was taken from the title of Whitman's book, which includes the poem "Song of Myself." If you've ever read that poem, or Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," you'll probably be able to spot the references throughout the song. Some might call this a reaction piece, which is fine....but...there's a part of my core being in this song, as cheesy as that may sound. So it means a lot to me. Naima, you're probably the only person who has read this far into this extremely narcissistic entry (and if you're not Naima and have read this far, I love you) but I want to tell you so much about this song because ahhh I'm just so excited about this one and I know you're a Whitman fan. And because your feedback means a lot to me (after all, you are my manager).
But really, any feedback from anyone is appreciated, even if it's of the "you suck" genre.
So here are the lyrics to numero 21, "Leaves of Grass"
posted by Deb Oh at 4:07 AM
1 Comments:
feedback of the "you suck" variety sucks balls. and oh yes, i am a whitman fan. song of myself was great--- my first a- english paper at yale.
eliot's love song is great. and so is your song...
actually all of your songs read very musically... you can tell they were meant to be sung, performed, etc. but this song... it has rhythm and i'm sure it's beautiful when set to the piano, but it reads to me like a poem--- a wonderful poem. you are a poet, deb. i probably read it as a poem, mostly because i admire your writing so much [even your writing of the narcissistic blog spot persuasion]
i love the theme of time in this piece and how we seem to pass it so meaninglessly, leaving the world and ourselves unchanged. that's why i love 'somewhere a clock is ticking' by snow patrol. life is floating fast away...
i don't know exactly what inspired this piece, maybe it was something 'specific' but to me it seems like that general life piece, that piece that tackles humanity in general and what it means to be human, and the problems we all face. know what i mean? it's not a "my boyfriend dumped me, i'm going to listen to it" song or a "i feel like i can't do anything right" song. i mean all of those kinds of songs have their own merit and far-reaching appeal, but this is the kind of song without any experience-specific boundaries. you know what i mean? even if the roots of the piece are very specific, it reads with universal appeal, and that's an amazing feat. a 'bittersweet' symphony, a 'yesterday', a 'stairway to heaven'. you know what i mean? the kind of song that can move anyone. you're going to touch so many people and that's what art is all about. as you already do. and by people i mean me. observe how 'comatose' is on my SADDEST PLAYLIST EVER, with my 77 favorite pity pary songs.
chaos and fear have been ritualized. good use of the cigar image which makes me wonder... is this piece vaguely political? or blatantly political? lol. i feel like u should perform it for W, save the union and this globe... esp. since 'leaves of grass' is all about democracy.
i hope my managerial duties have been fulfilled. i'd really love to hear it.
sorry for the long incoherent mensaje.
see you on friday for our date with johnny. and next week en el parque we can watch the cosmos spin, humming a hymn a la walt.
<3 tu manajer
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