FAWM: "Here Comes the Life Style"

Here Comes the Life Style

2025 by @jinx

Liner Notes

Okay, it seems I'm getting a last-minute wave of inspiration. I had this title saved for a long time and randomly picked it up today. Thought it might turn into something silly, but then it got more serious/poignant than I'd expected.

I have been noticing that a lot of queer youth don't know much about our community's history – and also that they often frown upon intergenerational friendships. Both these things lead to division and infighting instead of the solidarity we desperately need. I believe that in every marginalized community, it is vitally important to be friends with those much older and much younger than you. There is a lot of important information to be passed on, and we can't count on "mainstream society" to teach it to the young'uns.

So here's the story in my mind for this song: In a small town in the middle of nowhere, a kid grows up with no community, no way to even really understand his own identity, no idea that he's not alone and broken and wrong. But his next-door neighbor, unbeknownst to the town, is a queer elder whose personal passion project involves archiving LGBTQ+ history by preserving documentary film footage that might otherwise be lost in the mists of time forever. The bored kid is curious about his mysterious neighbor and wanders over there one day, like "What are you always working on back there anyhow?" – and his eyes are opened. He sees footage from throughout queer history, all the bright and vibrant and diverse kinds of people out there fiercely living their authentic lives, all the battles they fought (and are still fighting) for their rights... and he realizes he's not alone. THIS is his community.

The title is obviously a tongue-in-cheek pun referring to how people often call queer identity a "lifestyle". I split that word in two to put more emphasis on each separate half as a stand-alone thing.

#QueerHistory #community #AcousticOneTake #guitar

Lyrics

You know the boy next door Gets into trouble when he’s bored Now he’s finished all his chores And he wants more

So he came over to see you Wondering if the rumor’s true Can I stay and watch? Promise I won’t talk I could even help you to do Whatever it is you do all day in here

Here comes the life style Here comes the life style

He never saw nothing like this As clichéd as love’s first kiss There’s a whole long hidden history Full of mystery Bright and shiny new Things that you could do People just like you In ways you never knew And yes, the rumor’s true It’s all true, oh

He goes home again that night To the land of tears and fights But they can’t snuff out this brand new light And he knows everything is gonna be all right It's gonna be all right someday

(Call it life style Your life will smile Your life will smile Hold on, hold on)

Comments

@philnorman 2025

Love love love the first two lines.

What a gift it is to be seen, to know you are not alone. I love the backstory, and I wonder how you might be able to incorporate some images about/from the film project to make that part come to life in the song. Or maybe it's just right to leave the "whatever it is you do all day in there" a little ambiguous.

I think your observation about being unaware / losing community history is astute even beyond LGBTQ communities, though as a cishet man raised by the Indigo Girls, I've witnessed the generational divide there for sure. But I think that feeling of disconnection and isolation is harming a lot of people and communities. But that leads me to mumbling about capitalism and that's not the point of this song...

@squirrelhavenstudios 2025

I love the progression here (or maybe it's more accurate to say I love the way you played it). This song rocks and grooves, and given that's it's just a guitar and a vocal, it's clear that's down to the passion with which you perform it. And the lyrics are great. Definitely one of the best and most important messages I've heard in a song in a long time. Excellent, excellent work!

@tan482 2025

Your vocal delivery and energy is so compelling! I love the sentiment and lyrics too. Great song!

@frenchcricket 2025

This is fantastic. There’s such beauty in inter generational sharing of knowledge and history. That chord change on mystery was a cool touch. Great performance as well.

@wynia 2025

The liner notes provide a great context, I was able to enter the song more because the picture was already painted. I like the intentionality at “life style”. I love the vocals and the hopeful tone. Enjoyed this 💚

@chipwithrow 2025

What a powerful song - you sing and play it so wonderfully and exuberantly!

@memeworrywort 2025

A great concept for a song. This track reminds me of Sarah McLachlan. Good stuff!

@morti 2025

Agreed! It's a lovely story about a lovely ideal. Sweet song too. Very warm. I like it.

@lyonsmusic 2025

I think in general a lot of people don't know their local history. Its so important to share! I love the melody and the vocals are beautiful!

@bijou 2025

Wonderfully driven guitar and strong beautiful vocals. I feel the passion in the song for what you said in the liner notes. A beautiful balad for all those young and old in the LGBTQ+ community.