Em D Bm G
When something’s dark, lemme shed a little light on it
When something’s cold, lemme put a little fire on it
If something’s old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When something’s gone, I wanna fight to get it back again
Em D G
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah — fight to get it back again.
Em D
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah.
When something’s broke, I wanna put a bit of fixing on it
If something’s bored, I wanna put a little exciting on it
When something’s low, I wanna put a little high on it
When something’s lost, I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah — fight to get it back again.
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah.
When signals cross, I wanna put a little straight on it
If there’s no love… I wanna try to love again.
C Eb Bm
I’ll say your prayers; I’ll take your side.
Bm A
I’ll find us a way to make light.
I’ll dig your grave; we’ll dance and sing.
What say, could be our last lifetime!
(Repeat INTRO)
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah — fight to get it back again.
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah — fight to get it back again.
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Fight to get it back again… (yeah’s & fadeout)
** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **
The best part about contributing to this blog is that, every so often, all the pieces fall together at just the right time. For example, I still have the remnants of a cough that just doesn’t seem to want to leave me entirely, yet I really wanted to record a new video for tonight. Meanwhile, over the weekend, I was listening to Jack Johnson on shuffle when this song — “Broken” from his Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies from Curious George soundtrack CD — and immediately felt the urge to learn and record it.
Fortunately, the register is fairly low and the chords are very simple, so this was a joy to lay down as a session.
Of course, every cover song music video is not without its challenges when it involves me…
The only difficult aspect of this song is that, although I’ve heard it dozens of times and could sing along to the chorus in my sleep, I really don’t know the verse. Thus, I put “Broken” on repeat in my car on the way home. After listening to it seven or eight times straight, I didn’t seem to be much closer to nailing the lyrics. Still, I soldiered on — I typed up the lyrics from the booklet and practiced a few times to the music. Finally, I practiced a few times on my own before I hit the “record” button.
And, a few takes later, you have a session to watch!
The reason I was listening to Jack Johnson in the first place was that Mike showed Jim and I his copy of En Concert, the new live CD/DVD, this past Thursday at wrestling. Based on my disappointment at his last record, I hadn’t purchased the CD myself, but Mike had nothing but great things to say about it, so it’s only a matter of time before I find my way back to the “J” section of my local Newbury Comics store…
Speaking of new music, I am wildly curious about tomorrow’s new Weezer release. The title alone has caused some controversy. Based on a recommendation from The Office actor Rainn Wilson (who plays Dwight Schrute), Rivers Cuomo and company titled their latest studio album Raditude. I’ve heard the first track, “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” and it may be cheesy, but it sounds great and it’s fun to listen to. That being said, the other titles on the album alone are enough to make one question what Raditude will be like — tracks like “I’m Your Daddy” and “Girl Got Hot.”
All I will say for now is that TheRed Album seemed very weird at first, and it quickly grew on me. I was just listening to it this weekend, in fact, and realizing that it is truly one of my favorite Weezer releases. I can’t imagine that this new album will be up to that level, but I have promised myself that I will reserve judgment until after I’ve heard it a few times. Based on their incredible catalog alone, Weezer really does deserve the benefit of the doubt.
More on that next time…
And that about does it for me, at least for now. This week is crazy for me, as my grades are due this Friday. In addition, I have meetings today and now Thursday, a full day of professional development (i.e. no time to grade) tomorrow, and I’m monitoring the selling of tickets at the drama production on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Add in some wrestling on Thursday night and a whole lot a gradin’ goin’ on, and I’ve got one busy week! I am looking forward to the weekend, as I’ll be completing a swap with my former student Geoff — some Ben Folds for some Tom Waits. It’s bound to give me some more interesting listening and perhaps some more interesting Laptop Sessions songs…
To see how it’s played in the cover song music video, CLICK HERE!
“Younger Generation”
The Lovin’ Spoonful
Cmaj7 Dm7
Why must every generation think their folks are square?
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
And no matter where their heads are, they know Mom’s ain’t there…
‘Cause I swore when I was small that I’d remember when
I knew what’s wrong with them that I was smaller then.
Cmaj7 Dm7
Determined to remember all the cardinal rules,
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
Like sun showers are legal grounds for cutting school.
Cmaj7 Dm7
I know I have forgotten maybe one or two,
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
And I hope that I recall them all before the baby’s due
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
And I know he’ll have a question or two.
Cmaj7 F G C Am
Like, “Hey, Pop, can I go ride my zoom?
Am F G7 C Am
It goes two hundred miles an hour suspended on balloons.
Am F G C Am
And can I put a droplet of this new stuff on my tongue,
Am Dm D7
And imagine frothing dragons while you sit and wreck your lungs?”
C Am G
And I must be permissive, understanding of the younger generation
Cmaj7 Dm7
Then I’ll know that all I’ve learned my kid assumes,
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
And all my deepest worries must be his cartoons.
Cmaj7 Dm7
And still I’ll try to tell him all the things I’ve done
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
Related to what he can do when he becomes a man,
Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
And still he’ll stick his fingers in the fan.
And, “Hey, Pop, my girlfriend’s only three.
She’s got her own videophone and she’s taking L.S.D.,
And now that we’re best friends she wants to give a bit to me.
But what’s the matter, Daddy? How come you’re turning green?
F G
Can it be that you can’t live up to your dreams?
** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **
Hello and welcome to the second installment of a double header here at the Laptop Sessions, two sessions in honor of Marcy Playground singles, both past and present. Tonight I’m standing in for Jim, who’s away for one more week on his honeymoon. I can only imagine what kinds of photos and songs he’ll bring back with him from his exotic — yet domestic — locale for next week’s Jim Fusco Tuesday. Don’t miss it!
My cover song music video tonight is from Marcy Playground’s latest album, Leaving Wonderland… in a fit of rage, just released last month. “Good Times” is a song about accepting whatever difficulty or hardship you may face and moving on from there. He invokes the classic phrases, “It’s all right” and “This too shall pass,” and although the lyrics are extremely simple, “Good Times” has a Jack Johnson-esque feel-good vibe to it and I enjoyed playing it.
My one hesitation in endorsing this as a great track is that lead singer John Wozniak refers to himself twice in the song. (I tried inserting my name into my version, but it just didn’t feel right…) In the first bridge, he refers to himself both as “Woz” and “John.” Initially, this was distracting for me. Then I realized, after playing it over and over again before recording my session today, that his personal reference works in the context of the song as a whole. In the first half of the song, he’s essentially singing a song about and for himself. By the end of the song, however, he refers much more generally and universally, inviting all people to join him in appreciating the “good times” and dealing positively with the bad.
Right about now, I think all three core members of the Laptop Sessions are enjoying the good times. After all, Jim is on his honeymoon and Jeff and I are on summer break from school. Sure, life is always going to be busy for guys like ourselves who are constantly working and writing and playing, but that only makes our leisure time all the more enjoyable and relaxing.
Speaking of free time, I’m off to do laundry and vacuum!
Seriously, though, I hope you’ll come back soon for all-new sessions, starting with Jeff’s “Thumpin’ Thursday.” As for me, I’m picking up some real creative steam now that the moving process is complete and the summer is in full swing. I’m working on finishing my third poetry book (FINALLY!), a couple novels (which translates to a lot of writing, jumping back and forth, and thus a very slow process), and songwriting for my next album (I’ve written eight songs in the past three weeks that I’m very proud of — I think some of these are the best songs I’ve ever written, and I’m anxious to find a way to translate them to tape or, in this day and age, to computer).
This all adds up to some great new updates by the fall and some new Original Wednesdays for me in the near future. For now, though, if you’re interested in hearing what my new material sounds like, you can check out a file that I “tweeted” a few weeks ago: CLICK HERE. The song is called “Work Time, Get In Line,” and it’s a taste of what it sounds like when I tinker around with GarageBand, my MacBook’s built-in mic, and my Fender acoustic guitar.
