Song Writing

Did anybody see the movie "Garden State" a couple of years ago? My company recently had trivia question that asked which song was playing in the Natalie Portman character's headphones. I remembered it because not only was it a nice song but she handed the main character her headphones (as if she were handing him his soul) and said "this song will change your life". It was the Shins song "New Slang".

The lyrics are sad, multi-layered and beautifully written. It's about being old enough to not be pleased by simple things anymore, about living in a boring town with nothing to do but dwell on past loves (I'll reprint the lyrics below).

I find myself inspired and coincidentally have lately been spending more time in the home studio just picking on my acoustic guitar (of which I'm NOT a great player). But pretty and introspective things have been coming out off my fingers, lyrics and harmonies developing in my mind. Strange that I haven't been writing or producing much but I think I should take advantage of this creative energy while I have it...

"New Slang" by the Shins

Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth.
Only, I don't know how they got out, dear.
Turn me back into the pet that I was when we met.
I was happier then with no mind-set.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the king of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries.
Hope it's right when you die, old and bony.
Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall,
Never should have called
But my head's to the wall and I'm lonely.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the kind of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

God speed all the bakers at dawn may they all cut their thumbs,
And bleed into their buns 'till they melt away.

I'm looking in on the good life I might be doomed never to find.
Without a trust or flaming fields am I too dumb to refine?
And if you'd 'a took to me like
Well I'd a danced like the queen of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.