A Hero’s Lament
I wrote a song on Friday last week a few hours before a gig in Grand Blanc. I was contemplating my anger at being taking for a ride on a business agreement recently, having someone take advantage of my trusting nature. I was strumming an interesting chord progression including an E minor major 7th chord (021000) to E chord (022100) change, and the first verse wrote itself:
“I might be a little too trusting
My troubles always start with a smile
My head might need some examining
‘Cos my heart always wins out but loses the trial
I attribute my tribulations
To being a hero who never could fly
I’ve never learned a lesson that’s let my heart get by…”
Three hours later and the song had taken form with a demo recorded on my iPhone. Letting one heart’s get by… Easier said then done, right?
I don’t know if you are like me, but I’ve always been the type of person who dwells on problems, rethinking the situation in my head for hours and discussing ad nauseum with close friends. Fortunately, Natalie, my girlfriend, is not only a good listener, but patient person! I need to talk in circles before clarity is found, the important themes are hard to see even if obvious. I hadn’t found that clarity of the situation until Natalie reminded me, “Mike, it’s good to be a trusting person, to be honest and expect that honesty from others. Money is simply another way humans interact and show their true colors.”
Natalie’s logical thoughts helped reenforce what I was trying to say to myself in my writing, especially in the song’s bridge:
“It’s true that the best lessons are learned
When we are young enough to earn
Some saving grace, and clean the egg off our face.”
I guess that is true lament of the song: Making mistakes is about learning from them, not dwelling over them.
- Photo credits: David Armano 2007
