Very February

My thesis advisor says that I have great potential–if only I would just put down my guitar and focus on my book. Having uncovered so many beautiful stories and shocking facts, I have more than enough of everything–except time–to write my thesis into a book on human displacement.

But, putting down my guitar will most likely not happen any time soon. Music is a way of retaining some semblance of sanity, and this is February, afterall. It is time for FAWM, February Album Writing Month, wherein 7,000+ of us musical people worldwide attempt to write 14 songs in the 28 days of this month. Since it is the leap year, I suppose we will all be writing an additional half of a song.

Having arrived home recently, my mind is spinning. There are also few difficulties presenting themselves, so it is good spending some time with music. As a departure from my older songwriting habits, I am trying to write more uplifting music. Instead of dumping raw, unencrypted emotions into song, I am trying to write more positive music. The song is such a powerful and underestimated tool. I am trying to write positively, just in case people ever hear my songs.

The other day, I cracked myself up when I came up with the phrase “concave-man,” which sounds like caveman, which makes me happy.

There I was, thinking too hard about how to fit my new postmordial humanoid into a fawm song, all the while staring at the doorknob. Then, it hit me. I recorded this rough demo, which you can listen to and read along, if you’d like.

“Upon Staring at a Doorknob”

I’m trapped inside,
Inside myself,
Staring at me,
I don’t look right.

Pinched in the middle,
Hanging upside down,
The world seems strangely round.

I’m trying to remember,
This is not how it’s always been.
This is not how it will always be.

I’m trying to remember
That my eyes play tricks on me.

If the whole world turns around,
Then I would just sit still.
This concave man,
This picture of me
Is forever frozen in metallic thrill

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