FAWM: "kid, it's bittersweet"

kid, it's bittersweet

1 week ago by @musicbykatie

kid, it's bittersweet

musicbykatie

00:00

Liner Notes

Wrote these lyrics into my phone last night.

i was in a poppy mood this morning. It could have sounded all sad, but i think this works better, honestly.

I keep doing this thing, where musically i don't know what to start with, so I end up just finding a comfortable tempo in my DAW and singing the song to the click, or at least the first verse and chorus sections. Then I map the rest of the song out, find the key, and start adding instrumentation. I almost left this as just electric piano and vocal, but made myself keep building it.

#pop #indiepop #electropop #singersongwriter #momrock

Lyrics

Kid, I wanna let you do what you want
Even if that means that I'm not
Invited to come with you
Kid, I wanna make sure that you know
That I'll support you wherever you go
No matter what you choose

And I might be a bit nervous
I might say, "Be careful,"
I might hug you a little too long
Try to keep your patience
With my actions toward you
While you're here where you belong

I know this is not forever
Let me soak up this moment with you
I know this is temporary
And there is nothing that I can do
Except love the time I still have with you

I admit it's bittersweet
Growing up right in front of me
Right around the corner we will see
Freedom for you and freedom for me
It's ok to feel multiple things
The joy of it all right there with the grief
Chapters open and close, ever evolving
Seasons coming and going
but never pausing for me

I know this is not forever
Let me soak up this moment with you
I know this is temporary
And there is nothing that I can do
Except love the time I still have with you

Comments

@musicsongwriter 4d

Came for another listen
So moving and beautiful. By the way, we were paired for round 3 random collaboration. I tried to reach you via Bandcamp. I hope to hear from you.

@davidtaro 5d

Ok, as a fellow parent, this really hit me in the feels. All of them. You've totally nailed the internal struggle between wanting to hold onto your children forever and wanting to let them go and live their lives. The pop treatment definitely works. I mean it's not an entirely sad message, ultimately there's "freedom for you and freedom for me". Really interesting to read about your process in the notes, thanks for sharing. I love that you start with a melody and build the track around it because, well, the melody is the heart of the song and it makes sense to make it so central. Loved this track :)

@musicsongwriter 1w

Gorgeous moving and loving lyrics and music. Amazing, instantly likable vocals. So pure, strikingly beautiful and warm, and loving. The situation is not forever, but i feel whoever will her your song, will love it forever ❤️ 🎵🎶💕✨️

@bijou 1w

I am drawn in right away. Your vocals move around the music seamlessly. Great job!

@wrenarcher 1w

I've been terrible about commenting on your songs despite listening to all of them. They're just wonderful Katie. Good lord and I just adore your voice.
But this one... ugh. This one hit me direct in the heart because I have a 30yr old daughter who has been doing her own thing a few hours away from me.

This is so beautifully done. I love the lyrics and your singing is gorgeous as usual. Okay... I need to go get some tissue now.

@ggallagher 1w

this is so pretty! I love the conversation quality of it and it was cool knowing about your process of starting with the melody. Also that ear candy synth in the back is doing. the. wooooork.

@daveescoffery 1w

Wow! Considering my oldest step-kiddo left yesterday for a 10-month stint with AmeriCorps, this song hits home. Beautiful and so relatable. I love the melody, and I’m glad you kept building the arrangement.

@debs 1w

I absolutely love this - the lyrics are wonderful and the poppier elements are so uplifting and really make this song sparkle. I think that was such a great choice! What a neat approach, too, to start by singing into the DAW and going from there.

@quoththellama 1w

I love this. Made me want to hug my own kid real bad 😭. I also like that you went with a more poppy vibe. It feels right.

@philnorman 1w

What a gorgeous lyric, lovingly expressing what it means to be a parent. My youngest recently turned 20. I don't even have teenagers anymore, and aside from semester breaks, my nest is empty. But I get to savor the time that the kids are home all the more, and remind myself I want them to outgrow me.

The synth arpeggios are placed perfectly in the mix, as is your voice. The harmonies put a cherry on top of the chorus, as is the patient way you let the hook line unfold. It feels very appropriate that the second verse has a more rapid cadence, like the way time seems to speed up as we (and our kids) age.

This is a winner. Great song.

@rubberbandage 1w

wow I love this so much, especially as someone with an 11-going-on-13-year-old daughter. Delightful arpeggiated synth ear candy too! Great job building this up, the extra drive from the instrumentation and drum track helps keep momentum for what could otherwise be a pretty melancholy song. ❤️