3 Missed Calls
A song from the AYFB days that never got beyond the demo stage
I forgot about this one. The music came from sometime in 2006 or 2007 and was originally a song called Triunglar Syntax. It was written by Blake Mills for a potential Simon Dawes cut. Our band broke up before we could come up with a version of it but as Blake and I stayed close friends it wasn’t uncommon to reach back into the discarded material from those days to see what could be repurposed. That’s what happened here.
When I revisited this musical idea, the lyric I wrote felt like a bit of an outlier. I liked the idea - 3 verses, each one imagined as a voicemail, the singer perhaps a bit obsessive(?) also seemingly defeated. Anyway, it didn’t feel like I hit the mark exactly. Some lines are downright headscratchers for me at this point, if I’m being honest. But some were mined for later ideas. (Good reminder for songwriters: every song you write can be important, if only to offer you a few images or lines for a later idea in which it fits a little better). I also believe the musical foundation Blake wrote deserves a better life so maybe it’s something I’ll take another swing at down the road.
Here’s the lyric:
I had the idea The first time I was near ya While the mysteries of bacteria Spoke in languages of light I saw when I saw you The way a man’s supposed to The power of a statue Once it’s left alone at night I wouldn’t hurt you I won’t desert you But I don’t expect a call I expect nothing at all Infinite creatures Comparing earthly features Like a man does with his future Or a woman with her past But I don’t need to know you Just to get to see the world through The way you bring your lips to The contents of your glass I wouldn’t hurt you I won’t desert you But I don’t expect a call I expect nothing at all Even a mystic Who knows all his statistics Should see something fantastic Sometimes needs a little help Like a captain commanding Or the whole arena standing Or the way that you were laughing While I realized how I felt I wouldn’t hurt you I won’t desert you But I’d settle for a call Or any short response at all
The audio is below the paywall for all you subscribers. I hope you enjoy! And I got the next post already all tee’d up so I’ll see you guys here again in just a few short days. Talk back soon.
Taylor