FAWM: "A Man I Don't Know"

A Man I Don't Know

1 week ago by @sheslin · @greengrassgirl

A Man I Don't Know

sheslin +1

00:00

Liner Notes

#girlwithguitar #singersongwriter #alternatetuning

These beautifully written lyrics really spoke to me and I heard music in her words right from the start. Thank you Patty for working with me and for helping so much musically along the way - including writing the music for the bridge!

Update: So many people are enjoying the bar scene noises at the beginning and ending of the track. That was all Patty's @greengrassgirl idea - I just shopped around for some tracks and she picked the one she liked best. It was also her idea to differentiate the chorus from the verses with a far away kind of sound. What a gift it is to have a lyricist who helps with creating a complete song, and also it's a lot of fun!

Patty says:
What woman hasn’t been transported by a musician on the stage who she would never have been attracted to just seeing him on the street? (Who, me?) It was a ton of fun “working” with Susan on this collab. She is marvelous and so gracious and talented.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Patty Lakamp © Copyright 2025

V1
Run into friends, go for a drink
Grab a table in the bar
Darkened room, music at eight
Normal evening, at least so far

V2
A man shows up, walks to the stage
Adjusts the mic, sets out his jar
Frumpy clothes, forgettable face
He reaches down, picks up his guitar

Ch1
And his voice wraps around me
Just two of us alone
I’m swept up in his music
The way he moves me so
Can he sing a little longer?
I don’t want him to go
I’m under the spell
Of a man I don’t know

V3
See him in town at the hardware store
Nothing clicks, it’s so bizarre
Yet I’m all undone by this stranger
When he picks up his magic guitar

Ch1
And his voice wraps around me
Just two of us alone
I’m swept up in his music
The way he moves me so
Can he sing a little longer?
I don’t want him to go
I’m under the spell
Of a man I don’t know

Br
It’s just a illusion
But I can’t let go
I want a man who makes me feel
Like this man I don’t know

Ch2
When his voice wraps around me
Just two of us alone
I’m swept up in his music
The way he moves me so
Can he sing a little longer?
I don’t want him to go
I’m under the spell
Of a man I don’t know

Under the spell
Of a man I don’t know

Comments

@daveyboy103 1d

Lovely collab and a story well told. The reverb in the chorus lifts it up nicely.

@riverman 5d

I love these evocative and descriptive lyrics that put you into the scenes. And, the music is perfect for the story telling. I really like the contrast between the verse and reverb-soaked chorus; nice technique. Great collaboration!

@bethkille 1w

Lovely collab! Such great imagery and I love the “don’t judge a book by its cover” message here. Love the subtle increase in reverb in the chorus too-it’s like being transported away-just like the main character in this song.

@philmcmill 1w

Very strong title/hook! The idea reminds me of "Killing Me Softly With His Song". Lovely music and vocals (I also like the bar noise). Excellent collab!

@rogerhammond 1w

Absorbing story told visually and compellingly. Very well written and beautifully sung. I like the brevity and alliteration in "Frumpy clothes, forgettable face" and the concise scene-setting of the first verse. And I can relate to the strange sense of feeling connected to others through the ephemeral space of musical consciousness. Lovely.

@blainev83 1w

Beautiful. Perfect meeting of lyrics and melody. It has a great story telling feel. Almost a Billy Joel quality to it. Fantastic.

@resonut123 1w

Nice Collab about the Power of music.
Nice singing and guitar playing as usual from Susan and wonderful lyric by Patty too. Enjoyed the listen.

@newukenewyork 1w

That's fun, with the background noise on the track! This collab came together nicely -- the melody and musical treatment suits the lyric well. It's sort of like a "sister" to "Killing Me Softly," thematically, but not a copycat at all. i like the detail of seeing him off the stage and nothing happening. ;)

@sycophant 1w

I love the atmospheric background noises at the beginning. Really adds to the sentiment of the piece… great narrative in the lyrics, delivered by the perfect voice for the song… “his voice wraps around me” is a great line. Awesome stuff team!

@gwynjones 1w

What a collab!
Gorgeous vocals and music by @sheslin complete with scene setting audio fx on another wonderful lyric by @greengrassgirl .
Such an original and well written take on how music can lure you in like little else...

@nuj4x 1w

This was a beautiful song and a passionate performance. I’m in awe of these lyrics and this incredible lyrical idea. The movement in the song and the story it told really moved me. I feel almost speechless like I don’t really know what to say. So, *applause*. Even though you can’t see me, and it seems silly to type, but I put my phone down and started clapping.

@andygetch 1w

Well told, sung, and played!

@tseaver 1w

Good collab! A clever and craft-full lyric well served by the melody and arrangement.

Love how the change in feel of the chorus captures the sense of being drawn into a different place / state.

@andrea 1w

I love how you show both sides of the coin. I do believe it is easy to be attracted to talent. Looks are not that important, in the deeper sense. Very nice performance. I get that lovely, dreamy feel. Nice collab!

@n24 1w

Oh I love the ambient room tone on the outro and intro! It really makes it cinematic! There are loads of lovely touches here, the reverb in the chorus again conjures up such rich visual imagery for me! And the song itself, Susan as always you've nailed the emotive tone in delivery, you always sing and play so beautifully. I love the story setup of just hanging at a bar, a real cross section moment and that particular magic of how his musicianship affects the narrator, not necessarily the man himself. I love that line 'when his voice wraps around me' the lyrics are really spellbinding. Great collab from two awesome musicians!

@eargoggle 1w

Nice one, love your guitar playing here, whatever tuning this is sounds so nice and full, at least how you play it! And what good lyrics these are with some great lines, see him in town at the hardware store, nothing clicks, so bizarre...this is great!

@paulharrison 1w

Great merging of talents, Susan and Patty! The lyrics are a wonderful depiction of the allure (even if fleeting) of a performing musician. (Believe it or not, this can happen to guys, too...who would have guessed?). I do like the honest and accurate contrast to seeing the person in a different setting. The music supports the story well, too. I always like hearing collabs between two of my FAWM friends...excellent work!

@ayeahmur 1w

Ah lovely. A pretty universal experience, soooo relatable. Love the contrast between the outside/onstage version of this man, and the chorus is magical. Wonderful songwriting, well done both!

@jinx 1w

I relate to this lyric so hard, haha. And the melody is gorgeous!

@casijohnson 1w

I LOVE this collaboration! This happens so many times..people can surprise us in the most beautiful ways.

@dhiatt 1w

What a lovely song. It evokes such specific feeling of setting and character, it feels like it could be in a musical. I love how the textures thin out a bit for the chorus vocals, making it feel very intimate and special.

@katestantonsings 1w

This is just all-around lovely. The extra special touches and care that went into this production and lyric doesn't go unnoticed. I really enjoyed my listen!

@jerrypettit 1w

A @sheslin AND @greengrassgirl collaboration for me to listen to early on a Monday morning? SOLD! And I wasn't disappointed--until it glitched at the 57 second mark. I've had that happen before. Hopefully things will shake out. Trying to restart and...nothing. ❤️OK, got it going again and it worked. Great song!

@billwhite51 1w

excellent depiction of the emotional state of certain audience members, but what really tugged at my heart was the social contradiction experienced by the guy who is so charismatic on stage but off stage he is just another guy that nobody notices. another excellent lyric from patty and amazing music and voice from susan,

@tamsnumber4 1w

The lyric is so well written, great descriptors and story telling, brings us right in. The production with the background sounds at the beginning/end is great to immerse the listener. Sweet melody and vocal. Great collab!

@dr_griff 1w

I love the lyrics, and I love your melody and chords. In fact, I love everything about this song. I would like an album with this song on it, please.

@coolparadisoMod 1w

This is a great lyric! In that piano man ilk, real people doing real things! Dare I say many made music this way when they were young to get this attention! Great description and you nailed it Susan, your timing is spot on and really makes lt!