Parameter: Sorry, hipsters, but for the purposes of this exercise, it should be a mainstream superhero; one that I will know about instantly. Unless, of course, in your answer you provide a brief bio of the superhero (self-written or Wikipedia only, please).
Expected response time: I will respond to the best (totally subjective) valid answer I see after work tomorrow.
So, here is my song in response to the answer superlestine provided: “SUPERMAN.” She didn’t answer the why part of my question, but a look at her tumblr. was all the why I needed. I read her response at about 5 pm today, and finished writing and recording the song by 7 pm. A dinner engagement kept me from posting it until now. The lyrics are below. Enjoy.
Average guy
Superman—do you ever wonder
about the life that could have been?
Superman—do you ever wish
you were just like every other man?
Kal-El—do you ever tire of wearing all that red a blue?
I bet it would be nice to wear a white lab coat like your father used to.
Have a steady Kryptonian job and two very normal Kryptonian kids,
and all your friends would say, “What an average guy Kal-El is.”
They’d say: “He’s as fast as the others, no stronger than the rest,
and only able to leap short distances.”
Is the Daily Planet your cover job,
or a short description of your life?
You work daily to protect our whole planet,
but what do you want to do?
Maybe drive a Kryptonian car, play Kryptonian golf,
and have a group of poker buddies,
and they’d say, “What an average guy Kal-El is.”
They’d say: “He’s as fast as the others, no stronger than the rest,
and only able to leap short distances.”
And instead of that love life of lies with Ms. Lane,
you could of had truth.
Trying to be two men at once will only make you blue.
You could of had a nice Kryptonian girl
who cooked you Kryptonian food.
And she would of loved you even though
You’re just as fast as the others, no stronger than the rest,
and only able to leap short distances.
Parameters: One sentence max, though you may semicolon your heart out. And be honest with the details; I can’t be the only person who had a clumsy/awkward first kiss.
Expected response time: By Monday morning.
The other night I was tapping my finger and started singing:
Well, I could never love a woman as cruel as you. ( X 2 )
You’re mean to my mother, and you’re worse with my friends.
I could never love a woman as cruel as you.
Well, you say such awful things to wilt my pride.
You say such awful things to make me feel dead inside.
I could never love a woman as cruel as you. ( X 2 )
Parameters: How would you describe a cruel lover? Give me a line or two. The lyric can be simple—in fact, should be. This recording will be very bluesy/jazzy. I may not even have my guitar.
Expected response time: Sunday night.
Finally got this recorded. Again, no response, but I made up the rest. Time to move on. I really liked the way this turned out; it has so much room to grow. It sounded very different every time I tried recording it. I can imagine a muted trumpet crying in the background or some harmony with a female vocalist, especially on the final verse.
Well, I could never love a woman as cruel as you. ( X 2 )
You’re mean to my mother, and you’re worse with my friends.
I could never love a woman as cruel as you.
Well, you say such awful things to wilt my pride.
You say such awful things to make me feel dead inside.
I could never love a woman as cruel as you. ( X 2 )
You got poison in those veins, and you beg me to drink;
You got ice in that heart, and you want me to freeze.
I could never love a woman as cruel as you. ( X 3 )
If you had to choose deafness or blindness, which would you choose and why? Your responses will help me shape my lyrics.
Expected response time: End of the weekend.
First, I made a list of what I would miss most if I became deaf or blind. Then, I remembered the phrase dumb, deaf, and blind. Made the “and” an “or,” imagined I had a choice between the three, and created a song debating the options. Enjoy!
Dumb, deaf, or blind
If I was struck with a curse to be
dumb, deaf, or blind.
I’d choose to be dumb
and have a damn good time.
Cause the blind never see the autumn leaves.
They can’t see it coming, whatever it is.
No playing catch with their brothers in the yard.
They can’t see a woman’s hair bounce in the wind.
CHORUS
The deaf, they never hear any laughs or cries.
They don’t have baseball on the radio to help pass the time.
And I would never trade my lady’s heavy moan—
the sound she makes when I do something just right.
CHORUS
The blind never see the flush in people’s cheeks
or their rolling eyes.
The deaf don’t get the Star Spangled Banner
or the cannon fire.
The dumb drink all they want
and holler when a girl is fine.
They ain’t got much upstairs,
but they still have their ears and eyes.
CHORUS
Beautiful woman
I won’t deny that you are the most
beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
But unlike all those other boys
I won’t go wobbly at the knees.
Just accept that I’m a man
you can’t defeat.
If you swallow some of that pride
and stop looking down at me.
I can promise you, darling,
I’ll give you something you need.
Chorus
I ain’t a stallion you can break,
but I can be ridden hard.
Give me my due respect,
and I’ll take you far!
Chorus
You hang the pelts of strong men
on your mental walls.
Well, that ain’t no skin off my back;
I’ve tricked hunters like you before.
Chorus
Little fox
Oh, I bet you think you are pretty
sly, my little fox.
Slinking out the den at night
silent as a knife.
Oh, where do you go my little fox?
I’ll find that den and smoke you out.
That other man is gonna pay with fire
for breaking up my house.
What am I supposed to think
when the bed sheets are cold?
Ever morning I wake up
with no one to hold.
Oh, where do you go my little fox?
I’ll find that den and smoke you out.
That other man is gonna pay with fire
for breaking up my house.
Oh, little fox,
I was good to you.
Oh, little fox,
you cheat.
You ain’t welcome back no more—
see how sly you are without me!
Spare some love
I never thought I’d fall for someone like you,
someone cold, but looking for some room
to grow, and you can grow in my arms.
But in return, I need you to spare me some of your love.
Your love is all I need in my dreams.
You forget how you bled on this floor,
this killing floor, and how I mopped up your hurt.
And you always laugh when I return,
but I ain’t going anywhere until you spare me some of your love.
Your love is all I need in my dreams.
We’re riding down the river of give and take,
and you’ve made sure the current only flows one way.
Tear down your dams and all those bitter walls.
Like a beggar, I’m begging for you to spare me your love.
Your love is all I need in my dreams.
What does it mean to love a woman like a man (as opposed to loving like a boy)? There’s inherent confusion in this question. I do NOT mean how does one love a woman by treating her like she’s a man. I mean, how does one love a woman as a man—after one stops behaving like a boy? What bad habits as boyish lovers do we drop as we become men? What does it mean to love a woman with maturity? There are obvious benefits to this emotional aging, but is there also something lost?
I’ve already started writing the song, but I’d love to hear some strangers’ experiences. Will help with writing some of the verses.
Thanks to falling-anthem for a couple key words here: biology and manners.
Love you like a man
I ain’t a boy looking for someone to mother me;
I can stand on my own.
Ours will not be a romance of needs;
Trust me, what I want is all biology.
CHORUS:
Baby, I will love you like a man
Baby, I will treat you the best I can
Darlin’, why don’t you give me your hand?
And I will love you like a man.
I can be strong; I’ll build us a home,
And you’ll be my cornerstone.
When we’re safe and settled,
I’ll love you like I’ve got nothing to lose (cause I don’t).
CHORUS
We can write the constitution to our love,
Set up all the ground rules.
I’ll give you manners and deep respect;
Just take away my blues!
BRIDGE:
Baby, I know you don’t need me,
But need, it ain’t what I want.
Just grow old with me and be my best friend;
I’ll pave us a road you’re proud to walk on.
CHORUS
