Deep Cuts

by @berni1954

Skirmish: Sharp Objects (@robinleaf)

Liner Notes

I always liked that Dylan song on "Planet Waves" in which he bemoans: "I hate myself for loving you And the weakness that it shows"

My narrator here is in sympathy with Mr Zimmerman. Though he may have it even worse than Bob. I think another influence on this one is probably listening to all the songs in the Murder Ballad category / skirmish.

I hasten to add this is NOT a description of my home life 😁

Instrument: Baton Rouge Parlour Guitar Capoed at third fret.

#acoustic #parlourguitar #sharpobjects

Lyrics

Intro: (Em) (D) (C) (Em) (Capo 3)

(Em) A scalpel or a (D) razor may (C) be the sharpest (Em) knives But the sharpest object (D) that I know Is the (C) tongue of my dear (Em) wife

I (G) don't know why I (D) love her She always (C) cuts me down to (G) size And she loves doing it in (D) public (Em) While I agonize (G) Nothing I do will (D) please her She's (C) always finding (G) fault She makes some wounding (D) comment (Em) Then pours on the salt

CHORUS

(G) We used to have such (D) passion Now she (C) always turns a(G)way If I could live with(D)out her I'd have (C) hit the high(Em)way I (G) hate being so dep(D)endent I (C) hate being so (G) weak I hate it when she (D) laughs at me And (Em) says I am just a freak

CHORUS

(G) I cannot live with(D)out her Now (C) what's that say 'bout (G) me? I must be some twisted (D) masochist To (C) not wish to be (Em) free Or (G) am I stuck in a (D) pattern Like that (C) guy in Groundhog (G) Day Being a toady to this (D) demon Who (Em) sucks my life away

BRIDGE (Am) Maybe one day I'll have the guts To (Em) pack my case and go But (Am) what I'd do and where I'd go I (C) really do not (D) know

CHORUS

Comments

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Ha! As you mentioned a great way to flesh out that Dylan line in “Dirge” “I hate myself for loving you” — this is effective and fun - also reminds me a little bit of some Richard Thompson songs. Great stuff.!

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@haim

my favorite song in fawm so far. I absolutely enjoyed every second of it thank you so much for writing it and sharing it. And realizing now that it's only a one hour skirmish, this is an incredible work. Genius lyrics, I read and laughed and was also sympathizing and even relating. Really good song, and everything about is is superb. Your singing, the way you sing, the phrasing of the words and the guitar and sound. really good, really enjoyed. saved it on my favorites. love it.

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@owling

Such a sad story delivered with humor. I specially like the line about the salt. It sounds casual, they may have lunch together, but knowing her tongue is like a knife, it rather sounds painful

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I really love the empathy and compassion you bring to this lyric. Such a compelling lyric. He needs to move on… but the fact that he still says dear wife and the fact he hasn’t left yet suggests he will be singing this song for years to come! Great delivery!

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@tjeff

Great title! Your guitar sounds fantastic. Cool take on the prompt, and very clever. Good use of metaphor, and I also liked the bit about Groundhog Day. I can see this relationship in my mind very clearly - good song!

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Yes maybe the tongue is sharper than the sword or pen, Sad when any relationship of any kind deteriorates into this!m. Well said and done

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Glad this isn’t your real home life! As you said, we definitely interpreted the prompt similarly. You had a lot of good images and rhymes and I loved your playing. Great job!

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@sbs

Ouch! Wonder if Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You” was based on that, too. Love the idea of it. So relatable. Nice strumming/vocal delivery. So high energy!

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Very Dylanesque, both the strumming pattern and the lyrics. (And thanks for not doing a nasal parody, even though I could hear Bob doing it that way!). Was there a Groundhog Day skirmish this year? Great take on the skirmish prompt.

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@gordon

Great opening line you have there. And as a Dylan fan, I really appreciate this! Really good skirmish, and a fine song to listen to.

[FAWM]