Artist FavoriteLiner Notes
This was for the random Wikipedia challenge. This is my second time doing the random Wikipedia challenge and both times I got a geographic place, which is neat. I really love this challenge; it speaks to my nerd and librarian nature, because it gives me an excuse to do a deep dive into something until I find some little detail that I can seize on. I think it's definitely a song-writing/inspiration tool I'll use more outside of FAWM.
This time, it was just looking at the map of where Wolf Creek, MT is that inspired me, which is where two Missouri River tributaries meet, the Wolf Creek and Little Prickly Pear Creek. Someone deep in my past used to actually call me "Little Prickly Pear" and for the reason state in the song, so that seemed somewhat fated, and the narrative kind of fell into place from there. Wolf Creek is where Jessie Burns is from in "A River Runs Through It," too, so something about fishing had to also make it in of course.
This was a really fun one to sing, and I'm quite happy with the lyrics, and the *idea* of the rhythmic minimal picking, though the execution in the recording and my not-that-great-at-this-style playing don't fully do it justice, perhaps. I might re-record this with some harmonica from my dad when I see him in a week or so (he would LOVE that), but until the if of that, for now it's an acoustic one-take that I feel does the song itself good enough justice, which is what this whole crazy FAWM this is all about anyway, right?
Lyrics
My old man used to call me
His Little Prickly Pear
After the creek that runs through town
And a ‘cause of my temper
Lord he used to piss me off
But he used to say,
“A man could lose a lot of blood
A lot of blood
On that spiky nature of yours
Tryna to get to that purdy flower
But, Lord knows it’s worth it.”
And I would smile and soften my edges every time
If only all that fish you caught
Were enough to sustain us
Cool cans of Coors
A couple of coolers
Our whole lives ahead of us
With no real ambition
Because who needs ambition?
When you’re already in paradise
Protected by Wolf Creek Canyon
Oh but soon you were looking for something more than fish
Down in that river
And the early mornings stretched on out
Into late nights
When you started tiptoeing out of bed
When you’d leave at sunrise
I regretted all those times
I complained about you
Waking me up with those sweet kisses goodbye
A man can choose to drown himself
In a body of water
Or at the bottom of a bottle
Or he can decide he doesn’t have to choose
But I didn’t wait around to see
Which one would kill you first
And I was miles away
And hours behind
When my sister called with the news
I’m not ready to go yet or any time soon
But when I do
Drive my ashes up Recreation Rd
Til you get to the big bend where the Wolf Creek
Meets the Little Prickly Pear
And scatter me there
@cnidaria Feb 17
Great story telling. At first glance it seems ramble-y and all over the place, but it really leaves you with a strong sense of this place and this character telling the story. I loved that "Lord he used to piss me off" line. Brilliant delivery.
@auditasum Feb 12
The rhythmic guitar makes this kind of hypnotic. Your lyrics combine geography and storytelling beautifully.
@sheilerk Feb 12
I can’t edit my original comment, but I wanted to add, I think your playing, and that picking style totally does it justice. I was aware throughout the song of how that rhythmic background affected me and it drove the song forward to that sad and poignant conclusion. Really well done!
@sheilerk Feb 12
That was wonderful! The title drew me, because I grew up in Montana, and miss it sometimes. Your lyrics were vivid and your voice and word choices/accent put me right there. The story held me captivated and the whole thing will stay with me for a long time. Excellent songwriting!!
@meatcoup85 Feb 12
The picking style works so well for this one, the bare ness really sets the tone for the story you are telling here. Beautiful and unusual hooks too. Really enjoyed this.
@jsini Feb 12
Great write. I really like your phrasing. I always read the lyrics first, though in my head I develop my own melody and phrasing. Your way was much better than mine. You have a unique tone in your voice, sounds awesome. I enjoyed listening.
@thelowestbitter Feb 12
Love your playing here, that fingerpicking sounds wonderful. Great lyrics here and another brilliant vocal - the melodies you come up with are always really catchy - the "when I doOoOo" in particular. Also, you've got lucky with your random wikipedia articles, the one time I tried it I had to attempt to write a song called "Magnocellular neurosecretory cell"!