What's my song mean?

[stonepiano]

Ok, Garry. You tugged my sleeve and I'm offering. This is a song I'm currently writing and have some ideas for a chorus but won't offer them here yet. it's a serious tune. Very simon & garfunkel-ly.
The lyrics are about something very concrete but kept vague enough to apply to anyone with emotional baggage. Can anyone guess what the concrete topic is?

it's called

A Simple Life
Words and music by Miles Maxwell (c) 2002
Capo fifth fret

Am/D - F – C – G
All I ever wanted was a simple life
Am/D - F – C – D
Never asked for nothing more
Am/D - F – C
Don’t want no money or diamond rings
G
Just the simple things
Bb/D F
With a mind clear and free
C G7
But you took that away from me

Yeah you, since you…
Life will never be that easy again, old friend
You took what you could and left me complicated
Well, now I never forgive and I never forget
I never forget

But that’s the one thing you taught me, isn’t it, dear

Chorus without words (currently)

Am/D - F – C – G
Some people build walls to simplify their future lives
Some build walls to hide what remains
But me, I’m tired of my walls
And I’m tired of feeling so ashamed

All I ever wanted was a simple life
Never asked for nothing more
Don’t want no money or diamond rings
Just the simple things
With my mind clear and free
But you took that away from me

chorus without words repeated.

so there it is.... I'm waiting for the feedback to roll in!. Also, I'll throw a ROUGH mp3 on my nowhere page. Try to read the lyrics first, if you can, though. I'd appreciate it.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/milesmaxwell/singles

miles

 

[Garry Sharp]

Sleeve tugger's back

Great song, hard to get it all without the chorus lyric. Presumably destined for a female lead vox with the diamond rings reference.

I'm getting a (God that sounds pretentious) strong whiff of revenge coming - seems that the key lines are

"Well, now I never forgive and I never forget
I never forget

But that’s the one thing you taught me, isn’t it, dear "

Reminds me in that sense of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" or The Pretenders "Thin Line" - real malice hidden in a velvet glove (in this case the sugar coating of a Simon & Garfunkel-y musical treatment). Maggie May is of course an easier comparison in terms of theme. Perhaps.

That's enough bollocks from me so I'll shut up.

 

[yiordanaki]

hey
is it about a woman who married a rich guy who gave her everything she ever wanted materially - and even stuff she didnt - and then he cheated and ruined everything - mucked up her life and now theyre divorced and shes bitter.........????????

even close?



btw. i like the verse about the walls.


y

 

[badgas]

I agree with Gary. Sounds like a womans song.

Really good lyrics Stone.

First thing I thought of was a creditor found the singer.
Sorry.

 

[joro]

Labas Drow-gas
Kay-Viskus?
Kept-Towhl-Waynus?


Very cool man...

I can relate............

(This Post edited to obscure the heart that I wear on my sleeve )






Rock on man,
Joe

 

[stonepiano]

answers to the test

alright. I've come back to peel back the wrapping. You all made great observations and I really appreciate the close reading each of you did. As for my intentions, I was basically trying to imagine the victim of child abuse's psyche. I, luckily, grew up in a stable, happy family situation but have friends who were not as lucky. I'll also repost the lyrics with the chorus to see what you guys think.

Thanks again, guys.

I look forward to repaying the favor!

Garry:
It is indeed intended to be performed by a female from a female's perspective. Revenge would have been a little too Alanis Morrisette for this one so it's really more a shattered "woe is me" lyric. For better or worse, the song is about her trying to shed her emotional baggage, but isn't completely successful by the end of it. More of a glimpse at the healing process.

Yiord:
Your reading is very interesting. It's not at all what intended, with the rich husband bit, but from what I gave you, it's certainly as valid as what I was thinking. And thanks for the walls comment. I just sat there imagining seemingly inescapable imagery and the verse popped up in one shot. Pen didn't leave the paper before it was out. I appreciate the kind words.

badgas:
I also appreciate your words, considering the respect you get from me. as for the creditor, were you thinking she was a shop-a-holic or something? If you were, that's a riot.

Joe:
Labas Dienas!
sepilinai, taip, niet, alus...that's all my lithuanian. Hello, meat pocket, yes, no and beer)

Man, I read your comment before you edited it and all I can say is I'm sorry. No one deserves such abuse and I've been involved with some vexing women. How's getting spat upon in public, pushed in front of a bus in Times Square, and thrown out of her apartment at 2am in Manhattan on my vacation to see her because I left the phone off the hook during "whoopie?" I took it all because I loved her (and she was super hot) but she kept dishing it out. The only thing I couldn't take was her cheating on me. When I found that out, I split. It's a shame about your story but I won't go into it if you don't want it online. Anyway, Thanks also for the read. I appreciate what you shared (for a time, anyway.)

 

[joro]

Hey SP.........

La-buy Ger-rye Drow-gas

My Litzki is really rusty....

I hung out with a bunch of Lithuanian kids in my younger days.....

sorta picked up on the lingo a bit....

and the Punas...........

(it means girls you dirty minded bastards )

Yeah man...I am sure us guys do it to them all the time too though...ya know?

Sorry to hear what happened to you too man....

Sucks for sure...

Rock on bro
Joe

 

[hixmix]

I see the lyric as the point of view of a woman who feels she's been trapped by the institution of marriage. She bought into it with all the trappings: everlasting love, emotional security, diamond ring, money. The husband loves his wife, believes in her and hasn't cheated. The wife loves her husband, believes in him and hasn't cheated, but, none the less, feels like she's in a prison. She feels like she's comprimising her character as an individual and will never be the free spirit she longs to be, as long as she remains married.

 

[Garry Sharp]

If you excluded the reference to wearing diamonds, it would be a stunning song about somebody who is gay being forced to confront his (or her, I guess) sexuality before he was ready.

And Miles, I seek permission to disagree but the revenge theme is clearly stronger than you intended. There's real malice lurking in some of those lines.

This much debate reflects the strength of the words - good on you.