FAWM: "How Does It Feel to Be So Ordinary?"

How Does It Feel to Be So Ordinary?

1 week ago by @joefahey

Liner Notes

FAWM isn't over till it's over, it's been a slow start this year but I don't want to miss an opportunity to get some songs written.

Since I'm having a hard time trying to find stuff to write about, I've been working more on producing the music first and hoping some lyrics find their way in. I've had 3 songs going for a few days that are developing musically but aren't ready for lyrics yet, so tonight I just felt like getting a song done and posted fast.

I've had this title in my head for a while and don't remember the origin of it but I hadn't written anything for it or even given it much thought until tonight. It took less than an hour to write and then record live to a mic for the vocal and direct for my acoustic guitar (instead of getting another mic set up).

I messed up on the Ambrosia Salad section but it was close enough, it's not like it's that linear of a story, added a bass quick, then I just started overdubbing and experimenting with a couple different electric guitar parts. I know it's dark but tried to throw in a few laughs too.

#psychedelic #psych-folk #acoustic #minor-key #blues

Lyrics

Does it hurt?
I want to know
When you blurt
Does it ease the pain?
Are you inert?
Are you cold?
Are you alive?
Do you fit the mold?

Not once were you forced to throw a Hail Mary
Never saw the inside of a public library
Never cracked a smile when you read Doonesbury
How does it feel to be so ordinary?

Oh that’s different
I heard you squawking
Or are you just indifferent?
Are you just mocking?
Why so vociferant?
Was it the Ambrosia salad
Doing all that loud talking?

Not once were you forced to throw a Hail Mary
Never saw the inside of a public library
You didn't understand when your cousin called you a dingleberry
How does it feel to be so ordinary?

Glistening in the fluorescent rays
Of this church basement sorieé
A rainbow collection of jiggling neon jellos
Surrounded by bowls of mini marshmallows
And those pineapple yellows
Mandarin oranges and whipping cream
Coconuts shredding like Yngwie Malmsteen

Not once were you forced to throw a Hail Mary
Never saw the inside of a public library
Never cracked a smile when you read Doonesbury
How does it feel to be so ordinary?

Does it hurt?
I want to know
When you blurt
Does it ease the pain?
Are you inert?
Are you cold?
Are you alive?
Do you fit the mold?

Comments

@ductapeguyMod 5d

Serious use of repetitive rhyme all the time, unless you're a mime. Great song in the folk tradition.

@toddnorem 1w

Oh, man I love the sound of this. The chorus is so strong. Just love the words you chose for it. And the ambrosia salad reference and then how you later break down the ingredients and where you'd find such a thing. Totally uniquely you. Love how your sense of humor really comes out even in a dark song. It really is a tragic story, a man so cold and ordinary he can't even experience life. So he has to make it miserable for the rest of us. Can you feel this? Can you feel anything? Of course now I feel bad for the rest of ordinaries having to count this asshat among themselves. Congrats on this one.

Interesting how you usually write lyrics first and then the music. I'm the opposite, but I carry these romantic notions of writing a whole album out in lyric form...a real tight narrative piece...and then setting it to music. Maybe someday. I've struggled with what to write about this year as well. This is a great take on a difficult subject.

@tspoon 1w

This is the best Psychedelic Folk tune I’ve heard maybe ever. I loved Doonesbury as a young man. Even had the full compilation books. The mix of guitars is mysterious and cool and all the jello fruit bowls evoke church basement funeral lunches perfectly. You have a great gift for creative rhymes. Left me smiling 🙂 excellent work Joe.

@moonraccoon 1w

Not once were you forced to throw a Hail Mary
Never saw the inside of a public library
Never cracked a smile when you read Doonesbury
How does it feel to be so ordinary?

Brilliant. As if those people are in charge.
Rhyming Malmsteen to whipping cream? Niiice!