Thursday
Aug022007
I wish I could bottle it
Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 02:52AM
I would bottle it and keep it on tap in a handy little basement keg-erator if I could. But I can't.
It just comes in waves.
I read Jerry talking about it tonight. He can't bottle it either.
------
You think it's left you. Or sometimes you're just so busy you forget about it. Sometimes you're so busy, and SO CLOSE TO IT that you can't even see it.
And then it hits you. But those words are tired, and it's more than that.
It jumps out in front of you, punches you twice in the nose, three times in the jaw and once more, just for fun, in the gut. You start to feel for the loose tooth, then you realize you've got it. It just showed up in your hand!
Grab a pen!
Some paper!
A guitar! or a banjo or a piano! A keytar!! Anything!!
THE SONG IS HERE!!
-----
Now, there it is. Scrawled on that paper. Scratches and doctor's handwriting. What's that word right there?? You know, the one that I JUST WROTE?? The melody is ringing through your brain. You hear a crowd singing along and you feel their energy. You've got to be careful not to jump and lead them in another chorus.
Because it's 2 am and you're in your boxer shorts in the living room. You have a bandage on the side of your neck that looks like a very awkward lobotomy.
But you got the song. It surprised you again. Like it has since high school.
You're more ready for it this time, though. You've started to learn some tricks. You know when to dodge, when to dive. (and when to dip, duck and yes, dodge again...)
You know which chords work in the key, not that you think about it. You know not to cram too many thoughts in that verse, not that you think about that anymore either.
You're an athlete waiting for the ball. You've done the drills enough that you do it by instinct.
------
A teacher in high school told you "poetry is the simplest way to say something."
He was right.
He said "Show, don't tell."
Again, correct.
He said "Don't give me a cliche. It's lost its meaning."
Dang, he was good. Glad you didn't skip class that day.
Cause you keep finding these SONGS! (You should send him a note and thank him...)
------
So you wind back down and get ready to slide in bed. You're not going to get enough sleep tonight, but it was worth it.
And then you feel it. Creeping around again. It's not done with you. That melody's good and you know it. And it even came with the words.
It's going to be a long night.
It just comes in waves.
I read Jerry talking about it tonight. He can't bottle it either.
------
You think it's left you. Or sometimes you're just so busy you forget about it. Sometimes you're so busy, and SO CLOSE TO IT that you can't even see it.
And then it hits you. But those words are tired, and it's more than that.
It jumps out in front of you, punches you twice in the nose, three times in the jaw and once more, just for fun, in the gut. You start to feel for the loose tooth, then you realize you've got it. It just showed up in your hand!
Grab a pen!
Some paper!
A guitar! or a banjo or a piano! A keytar!! Anything!!
THE SONG IS HERE!!
-----
Now, there it is. Scrawled on that paper. Scratches and doctor's handwriting. What's that word right there?? You know, the one that I JUST WROTE?? The melody is ringing through your brain. You hear a crowd singing along and you feel their energy. You've got to be careful not to jump and lead them in another chorus.
Because it's 2 am and you're in your boxer shorts in the living room. You have a bandage on the side of your neck that looks like a very awkward lobotomy.
But you got the song. It surprised you again. Like it has since high school.
You're more ready for it this time, though. You've started to learn some tricks. You know when to dodge, when to dive. (and when to dip, duck and yes, dodge again...)
You know which chords work in the key, not that you think about it. You know not to cram too many thoughts in that verse, not that you think about that anymore either.
You're an athlete waiting for the ball. You've done the drills enough that you do it by instinct.
------
A teacher in high school told you "poetry is the simplest way to say something."
He was right.
He said "Show, don't tell."
Again, correct.
He said "Don't give me a cliche. It's lost its meaning."
Dang, he was good. Glad you didn't skip class that day.
Cause you keep finding these SONGS! (You should send him a note and thank him...)
------
So you wind back down and get ready to slide in bed. You're not going to get enough sleep tonight, but it was worth it.
And then you feel it. Creeping around again. It's not done with you. That melody's good and you know it. And it even came with the words.
It's going to be a long night.
Reader Comments (13)
Ah man! So good! So good! I wish we could hang dude.
Man, you're narrative about writing a song is even lyrical. You're THAT GOOD!
I think the rapper Little John bottles that. It's called "crunk juice."
I await the announcement of a new album release date with bated breath . . .
WOW. Thanks for that. I wish I could "bottle it and keep it on tap in a handy little basement keg-erator" too.
if i could bottle andy's sweat, i'd drink it...wait...what are we talking about?
"who's got a song?
andy, andy does.
tell me who's got a song?
andy, andy does.
yes he, yes he does
andy does..."
(w/ all due apologies to mr goodgame...)
Ok, that post was so awesome that I think you could (should) come up with a tune to go with it and make it a song...a rather epic song...it's that cool. I was almost singing it as I was reading it... but I can't sing, so it was only in my head.
i sure wish i had that gift. i've always wanted to have that experience. never have. at the same time, it's a good reminder to me to be thankful for all those people like you who do have the gift. praise God for His grace in making you special!
The Dodgeball reference was fantastic. And again I would like to state the superbness of the downloadable song.
Thanks for sharing this experience, Andy. I've been there a few times and it is the best experience in the world. I even wrote a song called "Glory" that described the a-ha moment I had writing it!
What a gift it is for us that you are willing to share these moments that take us out of ordinary time and into God time.
Shane: Nice.
andy stager: you're welcome...