Dodgeblogium » Me & J.B.

Dec 24

Me & J.B.

Category: Music

One day my cousin showed up with these lyrics about DamnYoko™ and wanted some help putting them to music. So I said sure, went off somewhere and returned a few days later with the body of the song. (I believe we both worked on the bridge.)

Although my cousin was much more proficient than me in almost any aspect of music, he was just starting to write his own songs. I’d been doing it from the start. I suppose it is somewhat a matter of focus; a songwriter sees the song as the target and the music as part of the puzzle getting there; a good musician is more interested in the journey, and the nuts and bolts of the jalopy we’re riding in. If I may mangle a metaphor or two.

My cousin wasn’t exactly Noel Coward when it came to writing lyrics, but no nevermind. Obviously a good song with good lyrics is preferable to a good song with bad lyrics (or — and I know, having written many examples of the genre — a bad song with bad lyrics), but I’ve never considered lyrics as a pivotal element of the song; rather as a framework to hang the vocals (which I do consider essential) on.

This was the first time my cousin added backing vocals. Also a few ad-libs aimed at cracking me up.

Note: I usually keep the volume of my computer speakers low, and listen to these (or anything else) with headphones. If you can, I’d recommend doing the same for this song, at least. There’s a truism that you should listen to music at around the same level that it was recorded at. As this would be inconvenient for most rock music (not to mention for your neighbors), producers use compression and equalization to make the record sound smoother at lower volumes. In part because we still hadn’t figured out how to record acoustic guitars, they sound jumbled and undifferentiated unless you crank up the sound somewhat. If the boss starts bitchin’, you can point out this highly scientific explanation.

Since I’ll be busy for the next few days, I’ll just take this occasion to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’ll try to be back by next week, but I’m not promisin’ nuttin’.

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[Verse]

Together you and me
Can reach the sky and see
The things we believe
But torment and frustration
Can break the concentration
Then we grieve

————————————————-

[Chorus ]

But it’s you and me
Me and you
Just us two
Together
J.B.

[rpt.]
————————————————-

[Verse]

The colors on the wall
Seem to give us the call
The forces are there
The final judgement can wait
‘Til we secure our fate
The loving we share

——————————————————

[Bridge]

Forgetting the bad times we had
To make room for more of the good
Will keep us together
Forever

Will keep us together
Forever

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[rpt. 1st verse, chorus]

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