FAWM: "Snake Oil"

Snake Oil

2025 by @stewdean

Liner Notes

This song was written on my old acoustic guitar (you can hear it from start to finish).

This song is about wanting to change and become better but lacking the energy or ability to do so. It is also about the fear of falling for bad advice or some fad that turns out to be bogus.

Lots of things in the mix here, some real, some fake.

#alternative #laidback #acousticguitar

Lyrics

[Verse 1] I strip back There’s nothing left, I can’t give, any more

Something, I can’t get to. Like an itch, In a bone

[chorus] I want to be authentic, I want to be spiritual, I want to be realistic, But I don't want to change at all

[verse 2] Sometimes I catch my shadow, running away, From me,

Leave the house, I spend my time, Counting leaves, In a tree,

[chorus] I want to be authentic, I want to be spiritual, I want to be realistic, But I don't want to change at all

[bridge] Don’t want to lose, Don’t want to think,
Don’t want to drink, Any snake oil

[verse 3] Those I know, Are darker souls, The kind Often lost,

Open mind, Made of Stolen thoughts, Fuses blown Wires crossed,

[chorus] I want to be authentic, I want to be spiritual, I want to be realistic, But I don't want to change at all

[outro] I don't want to drink, Snake oil I don't want to drink, Snake oil

Comments

@greengrassgirl 2025

Fabulous chorus lyrics! Made me chuckle...so perfect!

@mtmelodie 2025

Nice moody tune, has a late 90’s early 00’s trip hop alt pop vibe, well arranged, nice clear production especially like the acoustic guitars. While i instantly recognise the artefacts and generic sound of the AI vocals, and I try to imagine it with your vocals, I don’t really pay attention to i it beyond the first verse

@odilongreen 2025

I really enjoyed the spare beauty of this; the minimalism of the lyrics and instrumentation is rather striking. I was just checking out your FAWM landing page, and saw your aspirational self-description there: "Atmospheric, emotional, alternative, and hopefully meaningful." I think you've fully succeeded in all those goals here.