(Lyrics at bottom)
I still freshly remember where I was and how I felt when I came up with the lyrics to the chorus of The Fall Song. It was one of those pretty fall days, clinging desperately to the summer. I was walking from downtown Bellingham back to my apartment on the hill, utterly taken at the simple understanding of all this beauty we experience on Earth; this peaceful subjective beauty of an early fall walk was juxtaposed to the significant awe one feels when they trend closer to a comprehension of the vastness of space. I already had the vocal melody for the chorus, just not the words, then it came to me: "the world spins" would fit perfectly into the chorus. Yes, the world does spin. Amazing. lol
The Fall Song is a blend of the following ideas: It's how there is beauty in everything, even when the weather is horrible and soggy and cold—we shouldn't fail to see the beauty in each moment, 2) it's about having a good time with the one's you love (in this case it was my dog Girl playing in the wet leaves) and 3) it's about the idea that if God is in everything, then everything is necessarily divine, even soggy days
The Fall Song (lyrics)
“The air is sweet this time of year” you say, but its another rainy day.
We're just walking down the street—a whirl of wind-blown leaves dances in our wake.
What is this up in my pocket?—its my hand and yours upon it. I don't ever want to stop it, this beautiful day.
Won't you come on over here? I want you closer but I fear, I'll make my move, and of what you might say.
This first stanza appears to be about walking with a loved-one on a soggy fall day, but it is actually about walking alone with nothing but the understanding that this existence is beautiful, even when it is terrible out. Imagine that it is a cold and rainy day and you see me walking down the street with a goofy smile on my face, seemingly enjoying the elements. Well, that is because God is with me; because I am feeling, smelling, tasting the divinity of each moment; the leaves whirling, the smell of autumn, the warmth of a hand in a pocket.
My faith is slipping lately
I don't think that you would understand
Just let me show you my love
Show me yours, show me yours again.
Show me yours, show me yours my friend.
This second stanza (the prechorus) is me singing to God. I am telling God that it is hard being human and feeling like everything is blessed and beautiful. I then request that God show me this love of which his followers often speak. Some questions: God themself wouldn't understand having a lack of faith, right? I mean, God is omniscient, so they must understand the idea of faith, or do they? Is a matter of faith in God something only humans can grasp? Is this our advantage over God? This is a plea for feeling the love of God that so many young Christians seem to have on command. I just want to feel the divine love! Please show me the love! (fun fact: I get extra joy from singing "my friend" when there is a girl friend in the crowd that I have a crush on. I make sure to look right at them when I sing this line.)
I'm climbing up into my tree you say “careful dear” and kiss my face.
You turn back and smile at me and disappear in your same old way.
Oh yes, the stormy season's here. Oh no, my darlin' have no fear. A thing of beauty to revere. I see it just that way.
Look at that, there's some pumpkins and some trick-or-treaters coming, don't you think that is something I might say?
I've always loved climbing trees, so that's why I put this line in there. Further, it is an ode to Dave Matthews' writing about humans being apes, living in their trees (lookup Proudest Monkey by Dave Matthews Band). It is supposed to signify, to me at least, a going-back to a simpler time, being more in-touch with the truth of being before all of these cultural constructs got in the way of divinity. So, when I'm in my tree, God appears, kisses my cheek, but then disappears again, as always. (God eludes me a lot of the time). Next, who doesn't love a good storm!?!? They're such a beautiful force of nature, especially here in the PNW where they're so scarce. (note: the pumpkins/trick-or-treaters line is my least favorite line in the song. If I ever care to come up with something better, then I'll change it, but its what I've got for now :/ ).
Do you think its necessary:
Fumbling with these words this who damn day?
Just let me show you my love
Show me yours, show me yours again
Show me yours, I'll take it in stride
Show me glory and I'll break it off—break it—
This prechorus is a kind of way to break the fourth wall in that I am singing about writing lyrics to find myself closer to God. It is also supposed to allude to the idea that I am singing to a woman, fumbling with my words, trying to say the right thing to her. Then begins the plea again, "just show me your [love!]"!
—again!
The world spins
Let me take you to my room x2
I can smell the autumn moon—
The chorus is pretty simple—the magnitude of the universe (world) combined with the idea of going to someone's room to make love—this makes someone feel big and small at the same time what a feeling! Smelling the autumn moon is just something I thought was beautiful. I think we all have those crisp autumn nights, warning of a coming winter, where we see the full moon and it feels as though we could just reach out and touch it. Don't we?.. or is that just me?
The squirrels are bouncing—dear are skipping—winter's coming and they're on their way.
Leaves are yellow—trees are mellow—evergreens decide to stay away.
Sheet of clouds sliding by—the sky gets sad and starts to cry—don't you ever wonder why it rains?
Mother earth and father sun, they bicker 'bout the days to come—cold shoulder—father's done. Just that way
This part is supposed to connect our rational understanding of nature and how the wild animals engage with the changing of seasons, but then it goes into the romantic explanation of why it rains being that almost of mythology. So, when we see ourselves in nature, the biosphere, we should not forget that we also have our own faculties to make stories about nature that are more fun than the scientific explanation.
Show me yours—I'll take it in stride.
Show me glory—and I'll break it off—break it—
The glory of God of course. This is to consider the tumult of trying to have faith in God.
—again!
The world spins
Let me take you to my room x2
I can smell the autumn moon—
again.
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