I’m very rarely proud of my songwriting, but I am proud of getting the words “demagnetized” and “database” into this, and having it all make sense (well, you can be the judge of that).
I wrote this after spontaneously remembering Richard Feynman’s letter to his dead wife, with the heart-rending quote: “You, dead, are so much better than anyone else alive.”
Along the way, it turned out a little less sophisticated, and a little more emo, but I think the point is the same.
Lyrics
I shouldn’t feel this way missing you, that’s how I know it’s not Right
back where I started, same old story, but it feels different Tonight
I’m counting the hours, hoping it clears, hoping to see the morning light
Seems like with you I’m always struggling to do what I Should
I keep track of the times she didn’t hurt me like I know you Could
you be the one for me, or do I have you misunderstood?
You’re like a tape, demagnetized; a painter painting without eyes
a CD player skipping tracks; a database that someone hacked
a Stenograph for broken fingers; a phonograph where static lingers
a mural viewed from above; a bad copy of her love
The only time you want with me is when I’m at my level Best
if I don’t ask her how she picked me from the gutter from all the Rest
assured I’m keeping score; you’re failing badly at these tests
Even though she isn’t here, all alone somehow I feel no Pain
is what I feel when I’m with you and sunny skies turn into Rain
will wash away my memories of you until you’re just a name
You’re like a tape, demagnetized; a painter painting without eyes
a CD player skipping tracks; a database that someone hacked
a Stenograph for broken fingers; a phonograph where static lingers
a mural viewed from above; a bad copy of her love