"This is How We Cope" : FAWM

This is How We Cope

23 hours ago by @alyxanderjames

Skirmish: How to Cope (@alyxanderjames)

This is How We Cope

alyxanderjames

00:00

Liner Notes

I had the idea a couple of days ago of "How to Cope" as an EP title, and I thought it would make a good skirmish. I started writing earlier than the skirmish start time I'd picked, because I started having ideas and didn't want to cheat too much by writing more than an hour. I think this will end up being what I bring to songwriting class this week, as I pulled on the lyrical parallelism prompt again.

Guitar is once again in DADAAD.

#SingerSongwriter #folk #AcousticOneTake #PersonWithGuitar #AlternateTuning

Lyrics

Lean into the things that remind you that you're human Drink the coffee, pet the dog, these can be the cues that Remind you on the days when nothing feels right That there are still some things that can make it worth the fight

Take the walk that you don't want to for the sake of mental health It might not make a difference, but the dog will think it's swell When the sadness won't let go This is how we cope

Lean into the things that help you to stay grounded The rituals of life that remind you you're surrounded By tools that you've developed and worked hard to employ So you can keep on living when it's hard to find the joy

Take the time you need to pay attention to your thoughts It might be overwhelming, but even if it feels fraught When the sadness won't let go This is how we cope

Lean into the things that remind you that you're loved The voice notes and the letters friends have sent you just because Reciprocate and care, remember everyone is hurting What we carry may be heavy, but no one is a burden

Take the time to listen to what is and isn't said It might be how you learn to show up for your friends When the sadness won't let go When the sadness won't let go This is how we cope

Comments

@frenchcricket 3h

The mantra format works really well here. Those droning open tuned strings reinforce it as well, in a way. They’re keeping on. It is beautifully done.

@coolparadisoTEAM 15h

Excellent advice delivered in a believable way, with real feeling. A soft anthem. This is really good, a fav so far.

@jem 19h

I agree with what others have said about the lovely gentle melancholy of this and the thoughtful wistful delivery. I like how you paint the details for us to see and reflect on and the space you leave for the guitar strums between the lyrics underscores the message of taking the time. Nice chord progression choices too. A keeper.

@roundahouse 20h

Wonderful! Very strong lyric and message, and beautifully set to music and performed with your guitar and voice. These lines particularly stood out to me: "What we carry may be heavy, but no one is a burden

Take the time to listen to what is and isn't said It might be how you learn to show up for your friends"

@willow1 20h

Wow what a tender and impactful song. I’m now closer to taking that walk that I was planning to do this morning! Absolutely beautiful.

@hmstreetteam 22h

I love the gentleness in the musical tone and the advice. That’s maybe the overarching message in the song, to move from harshness toward gentleness.

@alyxanderjames 22h

I really appreciate this comment -- leaving my corner of the world a gentler place than I found it is what I keep coming back to as a sort of mission statement for my life, so I'm glad that's coming through here!

@kahlo2013 22h

This is absolutely gorgeous! I love how we both leaned into it! Wonderful perspective and advice. This is a prompt and a song that I really needed to hear today.

@gordon 23h

This is so beautiful Alyx. The fragile vocal delivery together with the stellar advice works so well with that melody. Really emotional and enjoyable lyric. Excellent stuff!