FAWM: "(Every Story Is a) World We're Building"

(Every Story Is a) World We're Building

2025 by @johncrossman

Liner Notes

Sometimes I say, this is my usual schtick, but this time I mean it. I probably wrote this exact chorus once but if I don't remember, you probably won't either. Thanks for your eartime!

Borrowed some thoughts from some folks: A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead. ― Graham Greene Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form. ― Jean Luc Godard Story is a yearning meeting an obstacle. --Robert Olen Butler, author Once upon a time there was what there was, and if nothing had happened there would be nothing to tell. Charles de Lint, writer If every event which occurred could be given a name, there would be no need for stories. ― John Berger, art critic, novelist, painter and poet Kurt Vonnegut Jr’s rules for writing 5. Start as close to the end as possible.

Lyrics

Every story is a world we’re building Every highway is a lie that we told And like all good things, well ev’ry little thing We’re destined to run out of road

Every friend is a gift we’re given Even though there’re some we want to give back If I’m not so good at the outs and the ins Well it’s only cuz I mostly react

We start close to the end cuz that’s where we are We begin, and begin again Look ahead, look back, but don’t get stuck We keep asking ourselves what’s next

Every action is a word we send out In a world that’s brimming over with noise Either gets to you or it gets through If it helps, you can buy some more toys

When you tell this, try to nail the details how yearning met obstacle and how once up on a time, there was what was Something happened so there’s something to tell

We start close to the end cuz that’s where we are We begin, and begin again Look ahead, look back, maybe don’t get far Keep asking ourselves what’s next

Bridge: Reality bites and complexity thrives If the universe cares, I’m surprised If every event that occurred had a name Every story would be the same, there’d be no need to tell the tale

Every song is a kind of love song Said a folksinger I barely new Every verse is a crisis of conscience Every chorus, a faith renewed

We’ll start close
Where we are We begin Look ahead What’s next

Comments

@nancyrostMod 2025

Nodding at so many of these lines! This is catnip for us introverted English major types. I could imagine this as a set-opener where subsequent songs are introduced with reference to it. Lots of food for thought.

@tcelliott 2025

Another lovely message in song form. And so beautifully rendered. Your harmonies are always great and especially effective here. The bridge melody (and harmonies) are delicious. I love the ending, with the short lines held beautifully and the guitar lines to punctuate them.

@crisp1 2025

You sound so good when you sing with yourself. In this song, you very deftly incorporate a bunch of disparate thoughts, and you make them cohere. Very impressive and very enjoyable!

@bradbrubaker 2025

You got yourself a keeper in this one. Despite your saying you're not sure what you're doin this year, this comes off effortlessly well-crafted. Lying highways, unwanted friends, actions/noise, unknown folksingers. Yes.

@hbusse 2025

The easy-breezy-ness of this provides a neat contrast with the densely packed lyrics. Always love the sound of a doubled John Crossman vocal. And I'm a big fan of that unresolved, fade-out ending... mirrors your topic well!