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A Tree Falls

Music and Lyric by David W. Jacobsen
Copyright 2023 - 2024. All Rights Reserved.

A Melody

F Melody

A Melody

B
All of my faded dreams
That haunt me on days
When good fortune smiles on me
With time to appraise
The life I've led

All of my vanities
That were on display
For any who'd come to see
The few who would stay
A silver thread

C
And If I say I don't care
It's pretty clear that I care
And If I say I don't mind
It's pretty clear that I mind
And If I say I'm OK
It's pretty clear that I'm not OK

But I persist
Through every fist
That does blockade
As spirits degrade

B
Paths of least resistance
The roads where I stay
And just where you make your bed
That's where you will lay
There in slumber

And there's no mystery
Why I never went far
You won't get anywhere
If you stay where you are
As fears encumber

C
I offered all I had to share
The world said clearly that it did not care
I know getting heard is a lot of luck
The world said clearly it did not give a fuck
One needs more than talent and wit
The world said clearly it did not give a shit

And though I heard the world
Loud and clear
I just decided not to listen
Though rest assured I did hear

D
You can stand up high
Bragging about what you do
But come Monday
You'll be at a day job too

You can put on airs
For the kudos you accrue
But just like me
You've got a day job too

But I'm really, really, really, really happy for you
Yeah I'm really, really, really, really happy for you

I read all about
Your new record review
How you put it out
While working a day job too

I heard how you opened
For you know who
Though you won't be quitting
Your day job too

And I'm really, really, really, really happy for you
Yes I'm really, really, really, really happy for you

I saw your show at that
Great venue
But the next you went to
Your day job too

When I think of how little
I get to do
I remember that you've
Got a day job too

But I'm really, really, really, really happy for you
Yes I'm really, really, really, really happy for you
Oh I'm really, really, really, really happy
So really, really, really, really happy
Oh really, really, really, really happy for you

A Melody

B
I should just look ahead
Not dwell on regret
Choice I could have made
Before the course had been set
The chances lost

Roads that I could have tread
They wound, I went straight
I couldn't see where they would lead
And I didn't trust in fate
To risk the cost

E
All the world's a stage
We perform with no introduction
I've just a walk on part
In a poorly attended, community theater production

Everyone has a story
Though some might be quite grand
Most of them are snoozers
And very bland

Through dreams you can fly through the air
Like a bird, yes you can win
Sure through dreams you can fly through the air like a bird
If that bird's a penguin

No one was really listening
As a tree in the forest fell
And it didn't make a difference
No one could even tell

And if this song promotes your hostility
For being too direct with no poetry
I'll take that above the apathy
Nothing's louder than indifference

A
I'm still trying
I'm still trying
But I don't know why

I'm still singing
I'm still singing
Willing to defy

F
The life I wanted?
Now really how should I know?
Maybe I used to
But now it's only where the wind will blow

The life I wanted
I mean who really cares
I'm too busy
To remember my old prayers

A
I'm still trying
I'm still trying
Claiming I won't cease

I'm still singing
I'm still singing
Hoping I'll find peace

F
The Life I wanted
Such things they're luxury
I'm not so privileged
To be thinking of only me

The life I wanted
I mean what do you know
Those in my shoes
Shouldn't stare where they cannot go

A in 5
I will earn some praise
You know I will amaze
Through my tunes I'll thrive
Cause I can play in five

A in 7
They'll show me some respect
I finally will connect
I'll get closer to Kevin
Cause I can … play in odd meter

E
Drowned out by indifference
So loud you can't hear your voice
And though you keep on singing
You question that choice

Still if your song can captivate
A crowd for a minute or two
Even if they don't remember
For a moment they knew of you

Yes when your words can catch an ear
With a story that you tell
For a little while you had them
There within your spell

Will you lose that craving
To be in golden lights?
Is it worth the cost
Of all those lonely nights?

You wonder should you pack it in
Warn out by competition?
Knowing you gave it a go
Who needs the repetition?

A solo

A
I'm still trying
While complying
As the years go by

Barely buying
Clearly lying
To myself deny

I'm still singing
Hopes still stringing
Of who I'll never be

Come out swinging
Failures stinging
Pretend apathy

I'm still trying
Fortifying
Ramparts for my pride

Arrows flying
Pacifying
Something lost inside

I'm still playing
Hopes betraying
But I will not cease

I'll stay singing
With mud-flinging
Till I find some peace

Notes:

This is a song for anyone whose artistic aspirations are unrecognized, unfulfilled, and likely to remain so. There are a number of inspirations for this song, but a major one was Harry Chapin's 13 minute epic, "There was Only one Choice." Chapin's song reflects on his success contrasted with an unknown young musician and the state of America during his day. My song is from the perspective of the unknown musician who never got to be known. Many of the different parts developed separately, but they all came from the same place and address the same themes, although there is some shifting perspectives, moving from first to second person in different places. The fleeting moments of recognition are outweighed by the crushing indifference the world has for your art along with the barely veiled jealousy you feel towards those doing marginally better than you.

The silver thread references the Silver Chord. The 5/4 and 7/4 sections reference a misguided belief that proficiency and technical skills are key to getting anywhere in the music industry. The rest is pretty self explanatory.

From the album A Tree Falls
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