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 ·

• Tags
• demo
• folk
• song
• acoustic
• Americana
• Bobby Fischer
• Ernest Hemingway
• Bill Haley
• van Gogh

Home demo: The Edge Of Nothin’

my home recording setup. good enough for these simple demos.

Hey guys,

been on a songwriting roll lately. I got another new one and while it may not be the world’s smartest business decision, I still feel like sharing it with you.
Who knows if we’ll ever record it with the band and, if so, it can’t possibly see the light of day sooner than in a year and a half or so.

I’ve often admired James McMurtry for writing kickass songs from the perspective of totally unlikable characters. For the first time now I found a voice in that vein that I could use that would still ring true, at least that’s what it feels like today.
The character was inspired by a scene in this Larry Brown novel I’m currently reading, “The Rabbit Factory”.

Here it is:

The Edge Of Nothin’ by markusrill

And here’s the lyric:

I stepped hard on the brake
spilled the beer in my lap
must’ve been a black cat crossing my path
or somethin’ just like that

I know just what she’s gonna say
when I get home tonight
“boy, ain’t you got any sense
you don’t need another DUI”

Livin’ on the edge of nothin’
running hard and out of luck
livin’ on the edge of nothin’
and nothin’ ain’t enough

I been out driving around
lookin’ for a job
the only thing that I found
was just a little bit of pot

A man needs to be free
our little girl needs some new shoes
Baby used to be so cool
these days she’s got a real short fuse

Livin’ on the edge of nothin’
running hard and out of luck
livin’ on the edge of nothin’
and nothin’ ain’t enough

Maybe I can borrow some money
buy a pack of smokes
pick up a carton of milk
and make my way back home

Livin’ on the edge of nothin’
running hard and out of luck
livin’ on the edge of nothin’
and nothin’ ain’t enough

Hope you like the tune.
What do you think is the better, more intriguing title “The Edge Of Nothing” or “Nothing Ain’t Enough”?

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Markus

10 September 2010 ·

• Tags
• folk
• song
• songwriting
• home recording
• demo