"Sweet and Wrong" : FAWM

Sweet and Wrong

Liner Notes

Demo 1 of September 2026 Song Sprint

I have something like 50 lyrical drafts left over from July's 5/9, so I hope to complete some of those here. This is one -- written during the "fragments" skirmish.

Instrument: concert ukulele, low GCEA tuning #ukulele #uke #girlwithukulele #personwithukulele #songsforcarnies #acousticonetake #fuc #Americanasati #summer #midemfoke

Lyrics

Listen, the trampoline springs But you had suspicions of carnival swings That summer put your hand in a stove One night there was drinking but nobody drove You worry it like terriers It digs at you like spades Consider your chest, how it thumps away What does it say?

Take good dogs and tablecloths Make picnics on the lawn Kiss behind the ring toss Hold your breaths too long There’s something sweet and wrong Are you watching closely? Are your headphones on?

Run hard with your hope round the park Feel yourself chased by the day into dark Find a somewhere to lay yourself down A someone wondering when they’ll be found You flip it like a record It picks at you and frays Consider your chest, how it thumps away What does it say?

Take good dogs and tablecloths Make picnics on the lawn Kiss behind the ring toss Hold your breaths too long There’s something sweet and wrong Are you watching closely? Are your headphones on?

Just pause Just note the questions floating by Just fill your Nalgene up Just stay hydrated when you cry

Take good dogs and tablecloths Make picnics on the lawn Kiss behind the ring toss Hold your breaths too long There’s something sweet and wrong Are you watching closely? Are your headphones on?

Comments

@chill4matt 6h

Imagery. And lots of it. I sometimes forget imagery in my music. So, this is quite refreshing.

@newukenewyork 5h

Thanks a lot! I go back and forth on the spectrum from zero imagery to too much imagery. 😉 I like it all.

@willlll 6h

This sounds fantastic. I don't understand what's going on in the lyric though - am I meant to?

@newukenewyork 5h

Nah. I don’t know what is happening either. But I’m okay with that, in this song. It was for a “fragments” skirmish, so it’s a bunch of bits coming together. Thanks for listening! 😄

@disarming 1d

I love a good #girlwithukulele song! Makes me feel like im going to have a great day. Im listening to this at 8 am on Saturday so its the perfect vibe to go enjoy one of the last "summer" weekends.

Lovely lyrics with so many good lines. I really like "consider your chest how it thumps away" I often think about our hearts just pumping nonstop since they formed. Cool cool.

@newukenewyork 17h

Thank you ver much for checking out "Sweet and Wrong." I appreciate you letting me know the lyric that hit you. :)

@ttg105 3d

Lovely vocals and creative, quasi-surreal lyrics. So many good lines, but my favorite is "Run hard with your hope round the park." Had to look up Nalgene!

@newukenewyork 1d

Several people were stumped by Nalgene, I've noted. Thank you for listening and leaving such a nice comment. :)

@robinleaf 4d

OMG...so many WONDERFUL lines here. Really hard to pick! I remember when you posted in July this because I had to look up what a Nalgene was. The music fits so well, feels like they were written together. Beautiful work, it sounds so lived-in and sincere. I'm glad you finished it!

I think this is my favorite bit of lyrics (not sure if I chose the same as last time or not haha):

You worry it like terriers It digs at you like spades Consider your chest, how it thumps away What does it say?

@newukenewyork 3d

Hi, thanks so much for revisiting "Sweet and Wrong" now that I have a demo. I appreciate your letting me know some lines that spoke to you.

@gm7 4d

I was so immersed in the song when by so quickly .beautiful melody and very nice lyrics

@newukenewyork 4d

Thank you so much -- I appreciate you listening!

@wynia 5d

This is so easy to listen to, love the chords, love your vocal stylings! I love the admonition to “hold your breaths too long” - just do some of the things you want and then just a little bit more. Lovely listen.

@newukenewyork 5d

Hi! Thanks for stopping by and checking out this song. I wasn't sure this song would hold together, but am pleased with the draft. I'm sure I'll fiddle with it more. :)

@jerrypettit 6d

You rascal! I've watched so many of your videos that you are one of the most recommended folks on YouTube--which I find myself spending more and more time on. (Not TikTok--YOUTUBE!! Education videos only, of course!) You know I'm a Big Fan--always perfect vocals, great writing, and I have a lot of respect for your prolificity. ❤️

@newukenewyork 5d

Thanks so much for the very generous words, Jerry. I really appreciate it!

@frankb 6d

"You worry it like terriers" - I don't know what that means, but it grabbed me! Good job on this.

@newukenewyork 6d

Thanks for the comment! From the Merriam-Webster dictionary entry on "worry" as a verb: a : to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat b : to shake or pull at with the teeth a terrier worrying a rat

but I'm using it figuratively, not literally.

@kahlo2013 6d

This is such a lovely end of summer social commentary song. I love all of the images that paint a wonderfully vivid picture and share wonderfully insightful perspectives and thought provoking questions. Really lovely melody and sound as well. Brilliant song.

@newukenewyork 6d

Thank you kindly!