False Advertising
by @debs
Skirmish: That doesn't rhyme (@200ghosts)Liner Notes
The first thing I thought of when I saw the "don't rhyme" prompt was how uncomfortable it can be to listen to something that doesn't rhyme. Rhymes are nice and neat and predictable. The song is tied up in a nice little bow, usually with an even number of lines.
That took me to an experience I've wanted to songify for a while - how similarly uncomfortable it can be for the people around you when you did everything right to try and get somewhere...and it just didn't work. I mean, all we're ever told us to work hard and you can get what you want, right?
I did this whole skirmish in bed.
Lyrics
Hey it’s me I’d tell you what I’m feeling how all my dreams have crushed around me
The thing is it’s not a type of grief you talk about out loud
So I guess I’ll just walk this world so unseen and lonely
With the ghosts of everything I wanted holding my secrets
Chorus: They tell you it will end well If you only put the work in If at first you don’t succeed Try, try, try, it a second time
The outcome is causation Good people deserve Deserve everything they get I call false advertising
Yeah I see it You’re not comfy I’m not great inside me either
Look at me I’m a walking reminder that brings up awkward thoughts
Yeah I get it why you don’t call me anymore you’re so happy and it’s frightening
To know that a good thing can break so so bad
Comments
This is incredible! Love the minimalist approach too as someone said below. I can also envision a smash hit band arrangement for this. I love that you were challenged to not rhyme and it evoked something personal and narrative and got you creative with your cadence. Also, you often really admire when someone doesn’t rhyme something. I guess that doesn’t mean it’s not uncomfortable still.
These lyrics flow quite well. I guess its your phrasing that really sells it. The sparse accompaniment is really cool too and fits great.
I'm such a fan of your voice, this minimalist instrumentation really leaves room for your interpretation, it's a sweet blend, delicious!
Really difficult note changes in this and you sing every note perfectly! Lovely jazzy chords, too.
This is fantastic! Excellent premise, well executed, lovely performance, surprisingly earworm-ish for a song without rhymes. I absolutely love this.
Fully agree! Often the hardest workers get the least. And who wants to be around a reminder of awkward thoughts?
This is amazing. I don't think a non-rhyming songs are so bad. And this one is absolutely cracker-jack. The lyrics and melody are fantastic!
I like how this flows — a lot of internal “eeee” sound keeps it moving but also it is more opened up. I think it is subtle about how it doesn’t rhyme, rather than slamming that around. I like the lyrics, too, how they get at an imbalance between two people. The melody in the chorus is also really strong.
Wow, the pulse of this is so strong and the words are so conversational that I don't think I would have even noticed that it didn't rhyme if I wasn't looking for how you dealt with the prompt (or read your liner notes first :-). This has a great, personal feel; I particularly liked the punch packed by lines like "I'm not great inside me either" and "that a good thing / can break so bad."
grieving the fact that this world is not fair, and good things don't always happen to good people (meritocracy is an illusion). love it. thanks for going there with the lyrics.
Fantastic take on the challenge. So wonderful to listen to your song. It totally works. You sound natural and meaningful. Beautiful singing and playing.