CW77
Everybody’s experienced real feelings revealed through “joking.” An ironic interest in something is often the first blush of falling in love.
Negative or positive, shifting emotions are a shambolic business, and if we’re not ready to acknowledge them, they find unofficial channels.
Like many songwriters, a lot of my material starts as a joke, something tossed off in a funny voice. Once you realize Wait, this is actually good, it’s a balancing act. You have to keep not caring, but care enough to finish what you started. Working quickly, and right away, helps. (It can also help if there’s someone with you in the room and you’re trying to make them laugh.)
Once the song is getting recorded, you have a choice. It can be interesting to sing it straight—that can create a nice tension. Or you can keep the funny voice you used to reel the idea in. (“Rocky Raccoon” (which has always had my number (it being enchanted, circular, (relatively) marginal, and very sad)) is an interesting case: Paul begins with his terrible American accent, but it melts off quick.) For “All The Spirits Among Us Are Very Old,” from Bentonia (2011), I kept the voice. 💕
“All The Spirits Among Us Are Very Old” Send me no flame That you don’t intend to keep Send me no name Send me on a whirl with a country beat Send me no crane Send me no philosofeats Send me no drain I’m gonna need the rain coming at my feet Send me no heaven I’m above Send me on a tulip to a dove Hey diddle diddle with the kitty in the middle And the riddle of the scene says five I’m gonna get you alive Send me no grade I don’t wanna know the score Send me no raves I don’t even know what this music’s for Send me no trade When you just intend to freak Send me no blade I don’t like the blank moving on my cheek Send me no heaven I’m above Send me on a tulip to a dove Hey diddle diddle with the kitty in the middle And the riddle of the scene says five I’m gonna get you alive Send me no Hey diddle diddle with the kitty in the middle And the riddle of the scene says six I’m gonna teach you a trick