Lyrics: 'Reasonable Guy'

Introduction by the Author

The following lyric is a good sample of my approach to songwriting. I was very influenced by a subject I did in my MA on the way the wave of singer/songwriters in the 70's were able to play with their own identity as the "I" in their songs. This is a thing I love doing in my songwriting, but I think I run into the same problem Randy Newman does (see Short People). After one of my gigs this old barfly was getting enthusiastic, as they do, about classic artists... You know the kind, real authentic genuine artists... Unlike the one he'd just been witness to before he started hounding me about Paul Simon (who I love, incidentally. If you don't like him, you might be swayed by the (dickily titled) pre-moustache album There Goes Rhymin' Simon, which, though it doesn't contain the jingoistic cultural imperialism of his more famous solo work (see Graceland for African music and Paul Simon for reggae), Rhymin' Simon contains such maturity and beauty its an album to take with you, for as long as you both shall live.

Reasonable Guy
(20.5.06 )

I don’t mean to entertain you
Its a happy accident
I mean to shout and spit
And run very fast in quiet places
I’ve kicked so many asses
My legs are different lengths
I’ve loaned my character out so much
I introduced myself to him
I’ve leaned out over ledges
And trusted way too much
Don't I deserve
As much?

CHORUS:

Why, I’m a reasonable guy
Except that one time I told you to die
But hey! People can change
I swear I’ll never swear at you again

I’ll be clever at least twice
Then shut the hell up
I’ll trust my instincts only once
Then trust everyone else

I’ll say only six unique things
The rest’ll be a mess
I’ll go on a genius binge
Then take an IQ test

I wouldn’t say I’m dangerous
My head is full of bread
I eat glass for breakfast
And clean my teeth with lead

Still, I’m a likeable guy,
Except that one time I told you to die
But hey! People can change
I swear I’ll never swear at you again

My bedroom is a maze
Full of things I hate
I waste half my life each on
Collecting and navigating

I go loud unexpectedly
Go quiet when I’m mad
Even I wouldn’t trust me
To sound like who I am

My levels need adjusting
Could you monitor them?
While I skip out for a bit
I’ve got some errands to run

CHORUS