Today's tune was inspired possibly by murder and most definitely insanity. Maybe you read about this woman who buried her husband in the flower garden? Read about it here. Once in a while I get inspired by a headline. My trick is to NOT read the article completely. Actually, in this case I simply read the headline and had what I thought was a strong idea for a chorus. I skimmed over a couple more lines and the rest of the verses came. I find this method, of not thoroughly digging into a story, helps me keep things fictional and possibly more original. After I'm close to having a complete song, I'll read the complete piece and sometimes that will help finish it up. Another fun trick is to completely immerse yourself into a character who is totally unlike, ... you. Singing this from the female's point of view most certainly did that for me. Try it.
Grow Up (june 27 2011)
(c)2011 by Todd Burge Bunj Jam BMI
Taken from a write up about a woman who buried her husband in her flower garden.
Taken from a write up about a woman who buried her husband in her flower garden.
The headline read
Raleigh
By RENEE ELDER Associated Press The Associated Press
Monday, June 27, 2011 8:05 AM EDT
For 35 years we were married me and he
But he never seemed to need to add to his family tree
We traveled all around like two wide eyed hippies
But I had to let go of always thinking so retro … and say
Grow up, sprout out of the ground
Let your colors shine like the springtime
As the sunshine dances on my weathered brow
All you’ve got to do for now
Is grow up
Is it wrong for a woman to want a better life?
With a man who’s kept at bay by his ways so childlike?
He could bring home the bacon ‘stead of actin’ like a swine
Put away the pop and have a little sip of wine
And
Grow up, sprout out of the ground
Let your colors shine like the springtime
As the sunshine dances on my weathered brow
All you’ve got to do for now
Is grow up
Now I’m handy with a shovel and I’m handy with a spade
And when he wasn’t lookin’ I was handy with a blade
Now he’s in my garden, pushin’ up my daisy
And some may think I’m crazy
But now my love must do what I say
As I say
Grow up, sprout out of the ground
Let your colors shine like the springtime
As the sunshine dances on my weathered brow
All you’ve got to do for now
Is grow up
2 comments:
howdy todd burge,
i've been reading & enjoying your blog & wanted to suggest this as 'song fodder' earlier, but it seems like the time is right for this one. a couple of books have been written about "the great circus train wreck", but no songs that i could find.
i know there's a song in there somewhere: 'circus of horrors', 'showman's rest', 'the Flying Wards', a headstone that just reads 'Baldy' (for a clown? whoa) - the elephant statues (that graveyard is supposedly close enough to a zoo that you can sometimes hear the elephants roar!)
On a slightly less morose note, i'm gratified to find that such a place as a 'showman's rest' exists to provide a dignified burial for the ever-traveling circus-type folk. Also Buffalo Bill Cody is somehow involved...amiright?no? what?
anyway, thanks for the musics & the blog posts & the inspiration & the support of wv musicians - peace
http://www.hammondindiana.com/history/circus.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammond_Circus_Train_Wreck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showmen's_Rest
J,
Thanks for the kind words and comments! This is one interesting idea.... I'd like to approach possibly. There certainly is a lot there to chew on. I live close to the City Park in Parkersburg WV were each year 'round this time there is a carnival. They've had one each year for at least 50 years I'm thinking. My father in law told me, that as a boy he would be a bit scared of the carnies. They can be a rough looking bunch. I always wonder what they did before traveling with the circus. I was messing with a song called The Carnies are Coming... but didn't work.. the circus is a close relation in my mind for some reason.. more song fuel possibly,... thanks to you. Jump in songwriters... anyone else wanna take a stab at either idea?
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