FAWM: "Fairy Tales"

Fairy Tales

2025 by @jeff9

Liner Notes

#murder #acousticonetake Just saw @roblyon5150's skirmish prompt this morning and couldn't resist. I think I got it done in pretty close to an hour but I'm not exactly sure what time I started on it. Also, the prompt this week for the song circle @unknownbecky hosts every Friday is for a lyric in iambic pentameter. I'm not going to be able to attend this week but thought I'd put something together to that one anyway and do it in a single live take the way we do on the song circle. I couldn't remember if the prompt allowed deviations from IP for certain sections or whether it was supposed to be for every section (even though sweet Becky is not remotely a stickler about the prompt guidelines) so I kept it straight IP from start to finish. That worked pretty nicely for telling a story like in a murder ballad.

Lyrics

Fairy Tales

Reports that he was missing set it off The wife said he’d been on a business trip They checked the house for prints and and found the blood Kept at her til the mask began to slip

She finally confessed she took him down But claimed that it was all in self-defense Then showed them all the scars he’d gifted her She’d known she’d have to do it ever since

Outside the girls were playing hide and seek The boy was carving circles in the dirt A kid who’s on the spectrum disappears Into another world to soothe a hurt

Then one of the detectives noticed him His mother’s look of panic said it all Somebody else had killed the monster dad To save him she had vowed to take the fall

They searched the woods and then they dragged the lake And finally the sheriffs found a corpse A Sesame Street pencil through his neck Awarded him the ultimate divorce

They never let the story come to light Claimed misadventure was the cause of death Nobody goes to jail in fairy tales So happy ever after’s all that’s left

Comments

@gb9 2025

Such a wonderful bit of story telling, so engaging and completely draws one in. Absolutely loving this.. please make it downloadable if possible..

@williamjames 2025

Oh wow. Another stellar one. Could slide straight into murder folk genre. You have the strumming and the lyrical meter down to a T. I love the story and how you ended it. Just incredible all around. Can't believe this is a one take too. Really good.

@wylddandelyon 2025

Oh, wow. Very well done! I like the twists at the end, though that’s probably not what would happen in real life. There’s way too many battered women in jail. But we can have proper justice in our songs, at least. #tit4tat If you’re doing that. But no pressure.

@b3nut 2025

What a marvelous work of storytelling with a twist! This is a masterful write, beautifully played and sung. You feel for the poor boy in this story especially. Stellar song!

@crisp1 2025

Such great writing, Jeff, and the music is so, so good. The last two lines are amazing.

@lbrewington 2025

Another one, so buttery smooth. The story that unfolds is just so good and delivered so expertly. "Nobody goes to jail in fairy tales, so happy ever after's all that's left". From the jump I'm thinking fairy tale?, and then that line hits and boom! Perfection. Also thought the line "a kid who's on the spectrum disappears / into another world to soothe a hurt" is fantastic. Great job as always, really like this one.

@ayeahmur 2025

A Sesame Street pencil! I never saw that coming. :) Really effective story, with a nice twist. I love the last line, I think we're all dubious about that happy ever after but at least they have a chance. Great melody too.

@mikeb 2025

Wow, now this is what I'm talking about! The song doesn't need more than your voice and guitar. Surprising and meaningful tale.

@jerrypettit 2025

I don't think I've ever done a murder ballad myself--but I always enjoy hearing them. This should be a classic! Great job! ❤️

@roblyon5150 2025

last two lines. wow!

@katannette 2025

Storytelling like this eludes me but it's so impressive. It all sounds so natural; I was on the edge of my seat.

@josie_allen 2025

I like how the last two lines make it clear that mostly and probably that is not what happens.

@billwhite51 2025

perfect music and guitar arrangement for a murder mystery. your storytelling and vocal delivery is excellent. the story reminds me of the hitchcock film Marnie in which a young girl kills the homicidal customer who is beating her prostitute mother, and the mother takes the rap for the murder.