rock'n'rill

Do You Remember Bobby Fischer?

I recently saw an immensely moving portrait of chess genius Bobby Fischer, his ascend to the world championship in the 1972 match with Boris Spassky and the decline of his mental health in the years after. It was so moving, I immediately wanted to write a song about this fascinating man and his journey.
I sat down and out came those four lines that are now the first verse of the song below.
Somehow, though, it seemed those four lines wanted to belong to a different kind of song than the one I had envisioned. Maybe I have written enough biography-type songs in the last few years (Sarah Stein, Natascha, Kid From Tupelo, Girl Of Many Secrets and a brand new one about Townes van Zandt).
So I followed the direction these words pointed me to. I wrote a few more verses than ended up in the song. Some characters, it turned out, didn’t belong into the song once it revealed what it wanted to be about.
It’s often a fine line between being too obscure in your song and being too obvious. I think the first time you listen to this song, it seems like little more than a list of names of famous people and kind of a trite middle part/bridge.
However, if I listen to it a few times in a row (and, yes, I’m embarrassed to admit I do that with my own songs), it seems to be just right. Very simple, surely, but just right.

I do have one hangup, though. I’m not sure I can keep the van Gogh verse. I think he really only became famous posthumously. Which means he doesn’t entirely fit the bill. Must research.

I hope you enjoy the song.

Do you remember Bobby Fischer?
He was the champion of the world
Do you remember Bobby Fischer?
a brilliant mind once upon a time

Do you remember Vincent van Gogh?
Sunflowers on the easel
Do you remember Vincent van Gogh?
one of a kind once upon a time

Do you still recall Bill Haley?
the first king of rock’n’roll
Do you still recall Bill Haley?
a comet so bright once upon a time

Fame and wealth they don’t mean nothing
I guess they only fade away
Me, I keep doing what I’m doing
and take it day by day, day after day

Do you remember Ernest Hemingway?
He was a man amongst men
Do you remember Ernest Hemingway?
so strong and alive once upon a time

Fame and wealth they don’t mean nothing
can’t take ‘em with you when you go
can’t all of us be lucky
I know, I know

Do you remember Bobby Fischer?
A brilliant mind once upon a time

The usual disclaimer: It’s just a home demo with the guitar & me. No fancy arrangement tricks, just the bare bones skeleton of a song.

Looking forward to hearing your feedback and thoughts on this.
Thanks for listening,
Markus

21 December 2011 ·