FAWM: "A Small Thing"

A Small Thing

3 days ago by @berni1954

Skirmish: A SMALL THING (@corinnecurcio)

A Small Thing

berni1954

00:00

Liner Notes

Another one in C F & G but this time recorded on an "Alto Guitar" (basically a Tenor Ukulele from Hora in Romania, strung with Steel Strings and tuned like a Mandola)

I bet I am not the only one who approached the prompt in this way.

#fuc #folk #baritone #steelstrings

Lyrics

"It's such a small thing!" he said. She didn't think so. It stayed in her thoughts throughout the day Eating her up with jealousy and hatred How could he have hurt her that way

A small thing, a thing of no importance Forgotten the next day because it didn't mean a thing A small thing but with massive consequences Before the year was over she had hocked her wedding ring

"It's such a small thing!" he never understood it Why'd she throw it all away over such a trivial affair A small thing! Her name he had forgotten It meant next to nothing, just a business meeting fling

A small thing, he tried to make her see it Their love was more important, didn't she see that? But that small thing could never be forgiven She got the house and now he's in a one bedroom flat

Comments

@jem 2d

What a great mix of humor and seriousness here. Perfect storytelling . Melody and delivery are great too and I was singing along and could imagine this with a great harmony line.

@berni1954 2d

Ooh that'd be fun to hear. Hint hint!

@jem 2d

Can you send me the mp3? I sent you an email you can reply to,

@joeycyclone 2d

He definitely got what he deserved! I love the idea of repurposing a less favoured instrument as something not quite the same and making it unique but not obscure. It sounds great

@berni1954 2d

Yes, I was so glad it worked. I had to change the tuning from DGBE to Mandola tuning and learn some new chords, but it was worth it. I do a great spooky ghost story for Halloween on this instrument.

@namey 2d

Fabulous! This works so well with how the story unfolds - the timing is great. Also, trying to pinpoint your accent. Singing with an American accent, but the one bedroom flat tells a different story...

@berni1954 2d

I am Irish, but I was born in Liverpool and spent my childhood in Lagos, Nigeria where I went to an American school.. I have lived 40 years of my life in Catalunya. No wonder you found it hard to place me 😉

@namey 2d

I thought I detected some scouse! I know a little about Lagos because one of the books we read at school (primary, I'm a teacher) is set there and one of my colleagues was born there. Amazing place by all accounts.

@berni1954 2d

It was a paradise in 1959 when we first got there. The population was only 300,000. By the time we left in 1973 it was three million. Today no one is sure, but estimates run between nine and twelve million in Greater Lagos. The lagoon where we used to sail our dinghy is now a stilt city with no sanitation. Part of me would like to go back. But the sensible part forbids it. Anyway, you can't go back in the past.

PS where are you from, yourself?

@namey 2d

Just England. Very boring. I live in the peculiar city of Milton Keynes. Been here 40 odd years!

@gordon 2d

A lovely slice of life examined in song. Lovely the way the story develops and almost contrasts with the jaunty uke backing. Love those dark lyrics too. Good take on the skirmish

@berni1954 2d

Thanks Gordon.

@coolparadisoMod 2d

Pretty melody! against a darker backdrop Good story im not sure exactly if something is a trivial affair or if it was over a trivial affair - maybe he just forgot her name! Always nice to ponder when listening to a nice song!

@berni1954 2d

I wonder if she had laid down ground rules and that was why she was so angry. Or did she just trust him without ever letting him know her thoughts on infidelity? Then felt betrayed when she found out. How did she find out? The song also deals with the general response of men to a fling. It really didn't mean anything to him other than a bonk. But was this something he did on every business trip?

I had planned a third verse that fleshed that out, but running out of time I just cut it and added that final line. Reading the comments, that was obviously the best ending. It didn't need the explanations.

@raspberry33 3d

Wonderful song! I could envision a pub crowd grooving to this as they sink a drink. Most relatable! Nice vocals and alto guitar.

@berni1954 2d

Thanks. Yes joining in on the "small thing" bit. With a few of the men praying their "Mrs" never found out about.....

@trashmilk 3d

I know it’s not a laughable matter to cheat on your SO or Spouse, but the way it’s presented is hilarious because the man in the situation is proudly and staunchly dense about it given the tune that carries the words. It’s like watching it as a fly on the wall with popcorn in a romcom setting. Marvelous skirmish!

@berni1954 2d

You got this 100% Although the victim is her, he is also a victim of his toxic masculinity. He will be alone now in his bedsit cursing her, rather than examining his behaviour and attitudes.

@jwhanberry 3d

Good concise story telling. That uke sounds wonderful.

@berni1954 2d

It was a nylon strung tenor uke built by HORA of Romania. Before they joined the EU their instruments were incredibly cheap. It cost the equivalent today of €30! It was OK. But nothing special. I got another tenor that had a richer tone and it gathered dust.

One day, I tried putting some old mandolin strings on it when restringing a mandolin I have. I thought the extra tension might rip the bridge off or bend the neck. Luckily, neither happened. The result puts it in an Alto range and picked it sounds sweet to me.

Ten years on and no obvious problems. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

@tjeff 3d

Clever! A real story that has probably happened. And I like how you build into it and we don't get the gist of what happened until later in the lyric. Lots of humor makes the song fun despite the happening. Good skirmish!

@berni1954 2d

Glad you liked it. For more read my response to Coolparadiso.

@musicsongwriter 3d

Very good story and delivery. Truthfully described and performed. Very relatable.

@berni1954 3d

Thanks. I was pleased with this one. Though it took about 15 takes to get one line right. That is usually a sign that the line needs changing,. but skirmish deadlines mean you edit at your leisure later. 😀

@sheslin 3d

Oh I really like the trajectory of this story, and how you increase the intensity as you progress. You highlight so well how some "small things" can never be forgotten, and all that goes along with that. I really like the upbeat kind of folksy musical treatment for telling this story - it has a wonderful flow and feels very matter of fact - like you asked for it, you got it! We know who is the villain in this story. Great take on the prompt and I really enjoyed your uke playing and your lovely vocals. Great skirmish!!

@berni1954 3d

Yes! You really got this one. Thanks for your detailed review.

@markg 3d

I guess they had a difference of opinion over what constitutes a "small thing." I enjoyed the way the arc of the story slowly dawned on me. I love the way you tell the little details: He's already forgotten her name (so what's the big deal?) and now he's in a one room flat. Well done.

@berni1954 3d

I was pleased with this one, I must admit. I had outlined three verses, but in the end I synthesised the third down to that last single line.

@sherrycanary 3d

Really good song using the prompt. A small thing, indeed! Great storytelling. No such thing as a trivial affair. Well sung and good music to back it up Enjoyed!

@berni1954 3d

Thanks. I don't use that "Alto Guitar" enough. Though I have written some good songs on it over the years.