I used to have this friend named Tyler. Hell, he’s still my friend – I just haven’t talked to him in years. Life gets weird. It got a little weird. But – at this point – I can’t remember why.
Water under the bridge…
Anyway…
This guy drank more coffee, per capita, than anyone I’ve ever met – and it fueled his creativity. Not that he needed it, he was naturally talented. Pick a medium – he could impress you with what he came up with.
One night, we were having some oat sodas and he asked me to listen to a song he’d been tracking. So we go up into his studio of sorts and he plays this song for me. It was all him – every instrument, the mixing, the final mixing – all Tyler.
I’m fairly certain our friend Scott was there too – Ghosty 2 Dope – haha. I’ve known that dude since we were three. We don’t much talk anymore either. That’s more political though. He knows where I am if he needs me. I love that guy like a brother.
Anyway…
The song had a dark feeling. It might have even been raining outside. November. Lots of drama. The pacing of the drums foretold the struggle ahead. The pairing of guitars..
All of it was thick as a brick; it got in your head.
Then he asked me to lay down some vocals for him.
Now, I have written plenty of lyrics over the years. For myself. For other bands. It’s a fun exercise. Especially when you’ve got something dramatic that you need to get out of your system.
Unfortunately, at the time I didn’t have much of anything dramatic going on in my life. This predates the eventual downfall of my marriage by almost a decade..
But I had a friend who was. I won’t get too deep into the story – but his old lady turned out to be a real trip. She was a double agent; a hot mess – the whole thing.
So I channeled the stories he was telling me…
Shut my eyes…
And sang…
We hit it all in one take. I listened to it once and then, once I plugged in, it all came pouring out of me. Then we sat back and let the chills run through us. I don’t remember much of it – even in the moment.
I think I just let go and let the spirit take me…
A few days later, when Tyler sent me the track, there were plans to make more music. I coined our little outfit “The Nevermore”. But as I said earlier – life gets weird.
Anyway, I haven’t listened to this song in ten years. Everyone involved in the song is now divorced and properly reinvented.
The guy who I wrote the song about makes bread; has a beautiful family. I actually need to give him a call – I had a crazy dream about him and his brothers the other day.
Tyler has become an insanely talented tattoo artist – and I still keep tabs on him. If there’s anyone who deserves the good things in life; he’s one of them.
Me? Yeah. I’m good. Haha. I’m the best version of me that I’ve ever been.
From the ashes and all.
P.S. I needed some kind of image to go along with this, so I let AI figure it all out for me. I threw some of the lyrics into the bot and let it mull everything over.
Not bad, AI. Not bad at all.
Tribe Of Flannel 