1. |
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There was a time
Not too long ago
When every guy you knew w was named Steve
or Matt or Mike or Scott
Every class had a Kevin
And everyone knew someone named Todd
It was predictable Somehow comfortable
no better or worse; It’s just how it was
Do you also recall
When every girl you knew was named Lisa?
Like, half of your class
Jennifer and Julie
Michelle or Christina
It seemed like there were only ten names
Driving up on a Saturday Night
There’s a keg over at Heather’s and we’re feeling alright
If you shout out Mark or Lisa, every head turns around
That would never happen now
Whatever happened to Todd?
He went away and it’s the last time we’ll see him
And now it won’t be long
No no no
He had to go away his name was out of season
There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or a reason
But he has left us and he’s gone away for good
Now there is no more Todd
Do you remember
all of the high school couples
Chris and Kelly,
also Laura and Keith
The word around school was that
Jason and Amy got together but then broke up last week
I heard Melissa says she’s going out with Rick
And now Cyndi and Rebecca say it’s making them sick
These are all the names that we grew up with it’s true
And we’ll be the last ones who do
Whatever happened to Todd?
He went away and it’s the last time we’ll see him
And now it won’t be long
No no no
He had to go away we all know the reason
There’s just a bunch different names now in season
None these names are inherently bad
But Henry, Zeke, Beau, and Thad
Just sound like somebody’s dad
Whatever happened to Todd?
He went away and it’s the last time we’ll see him
And now it won’t be long
I guess there really doesn’t have to be a reason
Our generation’s names have fallen out of season
There are no more kids with our names in the neighborhood
And there is no more Todd
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2. |
Karen's Lament
02:55
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She would like to speak to the manager
About the service in this place
Or lack of service, probably more like
She’s been coming here for three years now
And this is unacceptable
She knows the city council
So you’d better get your act together
Are you listening to her?
Oh no, she will not be quiet and
If anything she’ll raise her voice
It’s her god given right to speak up
Yeah, go ahead and film her, she says
Put her on your social media
That’s right, let’s let everybody see
Just what kind of business they’re running here
Listen to me
Cause she’s entitled to what she paid for
And it’s a matter of what’s right furthermore
Do you know who you’re talking to
No, I don’t think you do
Well, it’s been two years since the chemo
and they think got it all
Her son finally called to say hello
And if she’s honest she would rather be
At home and watching Hulu
There’s a show about a woman she relates to a lot
Though the plot’s kind of hard to follow
But she’s entitled to what she paid for
And it’s a matter of what’s right furthermore
You should keep in mind that you work for her
And not the other way around
Now everybody’s quiet as she goes back to her
table to grab her purse before flouncing out
And she says this is not the end of this
No, this is not the end of this
Outside she hears the manager say something about her
Then laughter, and the sound of applause
She starts her car
She starts to cry
She hates herself
She doesn’t know why
But she’s entitled to what she paid for
And it’s a matter of what’s right furthermore
Do you know who you’re talking to
No, I don’t think you do
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3. |
How to Write a Song
02:48
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You say you want to write a song
Well, just start with an opening verse
That establishes your theme
For example: how to write a song
(Like we’re doing right now)
Kick the bass in here
To keep things moving along
You can expand on your theme
Maybe add harmony
and also some backups
(These are the backups)
This part is called the pre-chorus
And it’s the transition between verse and chorus
And it sometimes ends with
the tiniest pause to build up tension
We’re talking about
INTRO VERSE VERSE
CHORUS VERSE
CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS
OUT
Now it’s time for your second verse
And it’s a good idea to change things up
Rhythmically or
Melodically
To keep it sounding fresh
(To keep the listener interested)
The difference between
The verse and the chorus is
The verse is usually specific
Whereas the chorus is
A general declaration of your theme
Which in this case is
INTRO VERSE VERSE
CHORUS VERSE
CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS
OUT
Try to vary things a bit on the second chorus
CHORUS BRIDGE CHORUS
OUT
And finally we come to the bridge
It’s a variation on the verse and the chorus
The human mind will grab onto patterns
And you simultaneously want to reward that and
Thwart that
Reward that
Thwart that
Reward that with an
INTRO VERSE VERSE
CHORUS VERSE
(I’m sure you see what I just did right there)
Finally don’t be afraid to alter the structure with
One more chorus at the end
INTRO VERSE VERSE CHORUS VERSE
Except now it’s
CHORUS BRIDGE
CHORUS CHORUS
OUT
Now you can fade out
Or you can end on a single note that you hold
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Stephan Cox Issaquah, Washington
Stephan Cox is a member of Generation X and is currently enduring middle age.
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