I’ll start with the disclaimers:
1) I have neither musical talent nor aspirations, although I can do some things with words.
2) I’ve never actually dated anyone (though I’ve tried); therefore, I haven’t really broken up with anyone.
The inspiration for this came from an episode of This American Life, in which reporter Starlee Kine recounted a post break-up experience where she decided that in order to move on from the relationship, she needed to write a break-up song. Starlee has about as much musical talent as I do, so she enlisted the help of some musician/songwriter friends for the project. And since this is This American Life, she interviewed Phil Collins, as well. Collins wrote “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now),” Starlee’s favorite break-up song.
Starlee wrote several potential songs, and she discovered that the songs were worse when she tried to make them smart and sophisticated. Trying to be clever ended up burying the emotions she wanted to express. The direct, simple, heartfelt lyrics were the best. Some people think this kind of writing is the easiest kind to do. These people are not writers and have probably never tried to be.
As I listened to Starlee’s story, I started thinking about what kind of break-up song I would write, if I ever had occasion to do so. Seemingly out of nowhere (translation: I knew exactly where it came from, but didn’t want to admit it, even to myself), the concept for my break-up formed in my head. It got the point where I stopped Starlee’s story before it was over because I had to write my song, which still was officially ex nihilo. (Remember that bit about hiding behind cleverness? Me too.)
The concept behind the song—or the lyrics, since it’s not really a song unless it’s sung (again with the clever)—was this: I would rather be hated than forgotten. Given my personality, though, it’s more likely that the opposite would occur. You know, were some hypothetical girl ever to actually break up with me, I assume that’s how it would turn out.
You probably want to see the lyrics, right? I mean, that’s what I would expect from a title like the one I used. Maybe you have even scrolled down to find them, skipping all my procrastinatory (That is so a word! Take that, spell-check!) blathering where I seem to be establishing context but am really just delaying the inevitable moment where I finally decide to post the lyrics or not. Shame on you. I’m good at blathering. It’s probably the best part of this whole post. Maybe I shouldn’t post them at all, just to teach you a lesson, imaginary reader. (You do not want to know how long I could go on like this.)
But I won’t do that. I’m a nice guy. So maybe I don’t really want to be hated. Or something like that. I think it worked for the song, anyway. Let’s see what you think:
Too Much to Ask
You watch me through the window
Both of you
Laughing while I’m crying
Because it’s something to do
You call me on the telephone
While I’m staring at the receiver
We sit there breathing in silence
Two of you, one of me
Until you just can’t keep it in
(Chorus)
Is that too much to ask
To know that you still hate me
To know I’m on your mind
To know you won’t forget
You’ll run into me
Pretend it was an accident
I’ll smile when you introduce us
Like it’s no big deal
Since we’ve both moved on
Your happiness hurts more than my pain
And you know it
(Chorus)
You’ll send me an invitation
Because it’s the right thing to do
We can both agree to that
You’ll ask me for my blessing
Say it like you mean it
As if it really matters
What I think about you
(Chorus)
And I can see you when you hear this
When you know just who you are
When you hear me saying thank you
Like this:
Tags: aspirations, Break-up songs, cleverness, imaginary reader, Phil Collins, song lyrics, Starlee Kine, This American Life
