#186 - Well, this is kind of a surprise.

[reileen]

While plunking around on the ivories, I ended up playing out the threads of a potentially workable melody. Out of curiosity, I flipped through my lyrics notebook, selected one that looked simple and mostly complete, did some revisions, combined lyrics and melody, and ended up with this:

birthday

one year more
one year passed
memories that slip through my hands
when did i last cry for confetti and cake?

one year more
one year arrives
i stand at the corners knowing
i am square in a round world

and i tick off the days
and i continue the chase
for the day i can claim
as my soul and my pride
the gods help me, i've tried
to never suffer the fate of the same

one year runs
one year drags
feels like i never didn't exist
but i know someday i'll be dust in the attic

one year lives
one year dies
brings an undeserved prize
perhaps i'll let myself feel the warmth this time

and i tick off the days
and i continue the chase
for the day i can claim
as my soul and my pride
the gods help me, i've tried
to never suffer the fate of the same

Yes, I'm aware of the irony of suddenly working on this song so soon after my birthday. Incidentally, I believe I came up with the first version around my birthday last year, while pondering the loss of joy over such an occasion.

The music's in the key of A-minor, and has a pseudo-Spanish sound to it, especially the chorus, WTF. It's the second of my songs to have that sort of sound (the first being "Triskaidekaphobia"). Dammit, I need to stop writing in minor keys. I think the only song I have right now in a major key is "Between the Lines", which is in E-major.

-Reileen
no one knows the truth, there is no future here