04 take me to the big chief

cause i'm in trouble here ...

if i've learned anything, i've learned this circus ain't fair
i thought i was a clown but baby i'm just square
threw myself in the lion's cage and they roared themselves to sleep
ran away to the business school but tuition was too steep
take me to the big chief cause i'm in trouble here
got too much money for the shelter and not enough for beer
take me to the big chief cause i'm running dry
everyone just hates me here and i don't know why

if i've seen anything, i've seen right up to the top
i sat upon the pole and that blue sky wouldn't stop
i crawled along the midway, i broke bread with the freaks
slept in my convertable only to learn that it leaks

• play
• pause
• min volume
• max volume

posted by pyramid termite (3 comments total)

This is the closest I've ever heard you come to 1980's pop. I say that in a good way. Still, you have a very distinct and earnest voice (as an author has a voice, not necessarily your singing voice, which is also distinct and earnest) which remains constant (through at least these past four songs and probably your whole output); nobody else sounds quite like you, but you always sound like you, no matter what weird corner or hallway you're exploring. I like strange unsettling music, what can I say.
posted by not_on_display at 10:54 PM on December 9, 2016

thanks a lot for that - however questionable my abilities might be, i've always known that whatever i do ends up sounding like no one else but me, even when it's obviously influenced by someone else

someday, once i actually learn enough about composing and arranging, i'm going to come out with the 60s pop album that's in me somewhere - 80s pop is fine, at times, but i grew up on late 60s pop
posted by pyramid termite at 7:21 PM on December 10, 2016

Sleek and glossy, but still splintered at the edges, just like a fading midway with cracked neon and faded tents and a wobbly calliope. The lyrics really resonate for me, they progress in intensity and have strong imagery and emotion.

Chorus is a great shift of mood and nicely ear-wormy. I like the mystery-building and exploratory long outro too.
posted by BlackPebble at 12:10 PM on December 18, 2016