FAWM: "Things I'd Tell The Girl I Used To Be"

Things I'd Tell The Girl I Used To Be

1 week ago by @troubadette

Things I'd Tell The Girl I Used To Be

troubadette

00:00

Liner Notes

This is my 20th FAWM, and I'm having some big emotions about it. This is a song for Rose Deschamps in 2007, and for everyone who made her feel so welcome and so loved that she got to grow up into award-winning musical comedian Troubadette who lives a beautiful, creative life that is difficult to explain to Uber drivers.

My guitar playing hasn't really improved in 20 years, but it felt important that I record this one old school style.

#acousticonetake

Lyrics

There’s a 20 year old girl sitting in her bedroom Who can’t help wearing her heart on her sleeve And she’s fumbling with guitar strings and a paper and a pen Writing music’s her new game of make-believe

Outside her room, she’s big and weird and awkward And she laughs too loud and talks too much, she knows And she’s got a lot to say but feels like no one wants to hear it She’s got no idea how far her story goes

I would tell her first of all, God doesn’t hate her I would tell her she should practice her guitar I would tell her that she shouldn’t dim her light for anyone She’s bright enough to be her own North Star I would tell her she is weird but that’s a good thing And she’s strong enough to live through her mistakes And she won’t believe the beauty of the things she can create From the pieces of her heart each time it breaks

There’s a 20 year old girl sitting in her bedroom Who is desperate for a place she could belong And she talks so quickly people can’t always catch all her words But they might hear them if they’re in a song

I would tell her that this life has different seasons And she’ll struggle but she’ll always muddle through I would tell her that she’ll always find her people She might lose them, but she’ll live through that part, too I would tell her - some of your problems are your fault But not all of them, so take it case by case And you’ll do things you regret and you’ll be sorry, but it won’t change any consequences you then have to face

I would tell her she is loved, and she’s worth loving And that losing love doesn’t mean it wasn’t real And you shouldn’t be afraid of big emotions But you can’t let yourself be controlled by everything you feel I would tell her that most things will work out okay Though I wish she’d done a few things differently And I had some of the best times of my life when I was her Those are things I’d tell the girl I used to be

There’s a 20 year old girl who found a website Where she posted songs with badly played guitar And there’s so much life ahead of her Still waiting to be lived And I know that she’d be proud she’s come this far

Comments

@nadine 15h

I never heard a song about an alter ego and this is lovely. I wish I could look back to my past like that. This is strength. It's also that kind of message I needed today, after spending my whole weekend with terrible thoughts.

@froggymagee 1d

Just listened to so many of your tunes but this one really spoke to me to most, it’s absolutely gorgeous and your singing and playing are just fabulous, so happy your here doing fawm :)

@troubadette 22h

Thank you so much! This song's the one that really got me this year. I love this community so much - it's wonderful to have you joining us!

@wynia 2d

Awe I had to listen twice 🥹you had me already with my heart turned over at “first of all God doesn’t hate her” and over and over more time it flipped over at “ And she won’t believe the beauty of the things she can create/From the pieces of her heart each time it breaks”. This is beautiful and you are beautiful 💚 thanks for this song

@mikegtz 2d

I would switch the last two stanzas. It would work very well to end on the line "those are things I'd tell the girl I used to be." I haven't come across too many songs so far that are poignant and touching but this is most certainly both and good work on a great idea, Rose.

@troubadette 2d

Thanks for your lovely feedback. It's entirely possible I won't do the last verse if I ever perform it, given how specific it is - the website I'm referring to is, of course, this one!

@mikehambag 4d

Powerful stuff - I envy your talent!

@csecooney 4d

How beautiful. How… HUGGABLE!

@nfshakespeare 4d

let's see, singer songwriter, check, comedian, check, fringe performer, check, everything you wrote above, check. Are we the same person? I identify completely. Who knew it was okay to be me? Those years were crushing and I'm so glad you made it out to the other side. My mom taught me this "Be kind to other people, and if that's not enough give them the finger" and that is what helped me through.

@burrMod 4d

i queued this up to listen/comment a few days back but somehow lost track of it, so i chased links to get back here… is… someone shopping onions?

wow, rose… it’s a joy to hear more of your story, and an honor to have indirectly played a role in it. i don’t know what more to say… this is a lovely love letter to yourself, and it feels like quite a few of us from those early FAWM years are in the throes of (re?)parenting ourselves, reflecting over these last couple of decades. i’m so glad you’re part of the fawmily. ❤️🤘

@troubadette 4d

I wouldn’t be who I am without this place. Thanks for changing my life and bringing us all together, Burr!

@bobjestes 5d

Wonderful! It actually brought tears to my eyes. I could totally relate to everything in this song... we have traversed a very similar path. Very simple, but uplifting presentation.

@troubadette 4d

Thank you for your lovely kind words. Let’s keep making cool things, yeah?

@stevenwesleyguiles 5d

I'm not crying, YOU'RE CRYING. No wait, WE'RE CRYING! Jeez. This hits, Rose. I hear you start to lose it on the last verse. That's me too. I'm so proud of you and how far you've come!! I'm proud of me too. This song just reaches a really deep place. Thank you so much for sharing it and being so vulnerable.

@troubadette 4d

I’m proud of us too! Thank you for your lovely words, my friend.

@daveescoffery 1w

So beautiful! Somebody must be chopping onions right next to me...I love the melody you have and the way it shifts in subtle ways by the end of each verse. I can't add much to what everyone else has said, but know that you have a new fan in Philly!

@troubadette 4d

Thank you for your kind words! I had fun the one time I visited Philly - it’s a cool city 💙

@bradbrubaker 1w

What. a. song! Great lyrics throughout, from the word placement to the tight vocal to the touching message. Especially blown away by these lines: "she won’t believe the beauty of the things she can create / From the pieces of her heart each time it breaks." Would download if the button were there.

@troubadette 4d

Thank you for your kind words! This one meant a lot to me 💙

@jennakole 1w

what a delight to hear the tender, earnest, tribute to growth and development. I am so grateful to have found FAWM in my mid-30s when I started during covid; someone casually mentioned during a zoom open mic I made a habit of attending for the sake of sanity during lockdown. I can't imagine having 20 years of it under my belt. It has definitely opened me up as a songwriter and a person and I'm so grateful to get to bask in the experience of others with more tenure here. well done <3

@troubadette 4d

There’s something really special about this place! I’m glad we both found it and get to make cool music!

@songmistress 1w

The song we all needed to hear at 20... and need to be reminded of at 52. Beautifully done.

"And she won’t believe the beauty of the things she can create From the pieces of her heart each time it breaks"

This!

@troubadette 4d

Thank you so much for your lovely kind words 💙

@stephenwordsmith 1w

I have met this 20-year-old girl. And, yes, she laughed and talked a lot. And had a tendency to end up in a wheelchair, even when she was only supposed to be playing a wheelchair user on stage. And she was bright and colourful in a world that proudly wasn't. And made me quietly think that there would be a lot less conflict in the world if the human race felt a little more safe to fail.

Something that has come with time has been the knowledge that we only ever see the surface of some people, even the ones we call friend, and who we see and help in the weaker moments of our lives. Or sometimes we see a glimpse of it, but don't know how or why to have the necessary difficult talks. When it comes to learning to love oneself, it is always, always better late than never.

I love the effortless phrasing and gorgeous chord progression in this song - but complimenting the technical aspects of this one feels like praising the font on an epitaph. So, let me just say, I was very happy to hear this song.

@prsongsmith 1w

Oh, my. I'm speechless. This is so beautifully written, and honest, and full of love and grace. I was moved to tears both for you and for myself and for every one of us who's ever felt any (or all!) of these things about themselves. This one song embodies everything that keeps me coming back to this beautiful community. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

@troubadette 1w

Massive hugs to you - thanks for your lovely words <3

@laurenoxford 1w

“And she won’t believe the beauty of the things she can create From the pieces of her heart each time it breaks” is so achingly lovely, and loving. what a sweet and tender song to write for your younger self—it made me a little emotional too as someone who found fawm when she was 19/20 and kind of has it to thank for becoming a songwriter. 🥹

thank you for writing and sharing this. i hope it was as healing to you as it was to me 💙

@troubadette 1w

Giving a big hug to you as someone else who gets it <3

@sapient 1w

Imagine you could go back in time and play her this... It would make it all worthwile 😀

@troubadette 4d

It really does make me emotional to realise just how shocked my younger self would be by the life she’s gonna build. Though I don’t think she was expecting so many dick jokes.

@elltarune 1w

this is such an adorable song! The lyrics and vocals remind me of Rose Betts and I love the encouraging and loving message.

@chill4matt 1w

I love this letter! The back and forth, and the optimism! I think we should all write a letter to our younger selves. Beautiful.

@troubadette 4d

Thank you so much 💙

@alyxanderjames 1w

Oh, this is gorgeous. Such a tender, heartfelt, compassionate tribute to your younger self. Cheers to 20 years of growth to get you here, and to the next 20 bringing their own wisdom and perspective!

@troubadette 4d

Thank you so much xx

@edwinb 1w

A lovely message. Heartfelt and thoughtful, and even a little chuckle or two on the way. And I can imagine a comedy show where this comes out of nowhere and suddenly everyone has something in their eye. I might now, actually.