Practicing Dying
Liner Notes
“Practicing Dying” - #fawm 50/90 2024 original song 1
I have a pile of lyrical drafts written around skirmish prompts during last summer’s 50/90, so my goal for this summer is to get through setting the remaining 30 or so to music.
Here, I wrote the verse and chorus melodies in an airport yesterday and finished the bridge this morning. This is also probably a good first song for me to share, as it’s pretty indicative of several common themes of my songwriting (not that I can’t be silly at times).
I tried a lot of different versions of the final line in the chorus because the original line didn’t sit right with me, and I currently like this one best.
All my originals: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6mTUlPL-MmAm45IMVgat1necrh2mGnT6&si=sAdXP581ZNU__9rn
#fuc #acoustic #acousticonetake #ukulele #personwithukulele #onetake #girlwithukulele #singersongwriter #mortality #midemfoke #americanasati
Lyrics
God is a sparrow
The Devil is a storm
We’re learning to be delicate
In the calm before we’re born
I’m born and born and born again
I keep on getting to Begin.
Practicing dying
And failing and trying
Not always believing
But I just keep on living,
Turned inside and outside and through
I’d like to keep practicing dying with you
I am an infant
I am an endless crone
We’re mastering our magic
In the space ‘tween dusk and dawn
Who wound the braid we twist into,
The grass that burns and brews?
CHORUS
BRIDGE
For me, you’re a crash pad of clover and hay
A bed for the night and hammock for day
And it’s not a long journey from cradle to grave
But it’s longer than I’ve ever made
CHORUS
Comments
Wonderful use of airport time: hope you were sitting in lounge with uke, entertaining! 🙂
Interesting how the feel of the song is comfortable even while discussing god, the devil, and death. It's as if the singer has enough wisdom to take all things in stride.