FAWM: "If Everybody Had a Jerry McGuire Moment"

If Everybody Had a Jerry McGuire Moment

1 week ago by @joefahey

NSFW

Liner Notes

There was a fragment of this song recorded on my phone at some point, just the first couple lines but it stuck in my head. I wasn't sure where to take it lyrically, how to flesh it out without turning it into a full-on tribute to a popular movie I saw 30 years ago, with "show me the money" backup choruses with a Gospel choir and a horn section. I wanted it to be more about this idea where everybody in the world has a revelatory idea at the same exact second, an idea that was for goodness and better ways. Would the Earth start spinning better? Or, would it just blow up? These are just some of the questions that remain unanswered in this song because I didn't know the answers, just more questions.

I spent all week on a nice, full production of this song with drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitar, plus some keyboards but no lyrics to speak of. I'd just ran a couple vocal takes of improv stuff then used that to pull any parts to use but I took my time. The production sounded better every day, I took my time and kept at it but at some point, I felt like none of the drum options felt right and I felt like it wasn't the best key to sing this song in for me. So, I scrapped the whole thing and recorded this live this morning in a different key with a ribbon mic and the pickup on my acoustic guitar.

Lyrics

If everybody had a Jerry McGuire moment Up at 3am trying to make a difference Trying to make things better for humanity

Are you on fire? Are you admired? Is it love that you require? Until the end, until the end

If everybody had a very admirable moment And saw it all through to the end The universe would gladly accept it

Are you on fire? Are you admired? Is it love that you require? Until the end, until the end

You have your manifesto In the middle of the night You have no one around you to tell you if you’re right

You don’t even know why you can’t even take it Your're tired of the bullshit you know you can’t fake it

Are you on fire? Are you admired? Is it love that you require? Until the end, until the end

Comments

@toddnorem 1w

This is great, Joe. I like the simple recording. Sometimes those big more produced demos with all the necessary parts backfire. I can relate with my first song this year. I love the repetition you use. The way it seems to grow in meaning and depth the more it’s repeated over the course of the song. You say a lot without saying a lot. This also sounds like it could be a nice album closer. A question that could linger long after the song/album is over.

@tspoon 1w

Wow Joe. I’d say you are on fire. Love this chorus. It leaves me wondering what the full band sound would’ve been like. But the live take has a lot of emotion and depth that would be hard to replicate. Jerry McGuire moment is a great reference. I remember it well. Nicely done