If The Supper Club was a love letter to Song Fight!, this one’s a Dear John.

In 2024, Song Fight! Live finally came back as an in-person event, after several years away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When I arrived in Denver, though, I felt like I was only there out of obligation, and over the course of the next few days I felt like maybe I was done with Song Fight! for so many reasons. The community was a great way for me to get started as a songwriter, but it was starting to feel like I needed to pull back a bit and not be so emotionally-invested in it.

Over the next few days I had several good conversations with close friends in the community. They didn’t make me feel much better about Song Fight! itself (and in fact helped me to put words to some of the specific things I was feeling particularly bad about), but they did make me feel better about thinking it was time for me to move on.

I so was burned out and so frustrated at this thing that had been so important to me for so long, over half of my life at this point. The other music I’d been doing – small solo performances and scoring for video games and short films – was making me much happier than this ongoing thing, this community that used to bring me such joy.

So for the live fight title of “Valley Highway,” I decided to write a swan song.

But being up on stage, performing with friends, getting the reactions from folks about how much I’ve grown over the years and how much better we’ve all become for having participated in this ridiculous thing for so long? I started to feel a lot better.

I’m still not sure I want to be quite so involved in Song Fight! anymore, but at least I feel good about the time I’ve spent with it, and it’ll probably always be there for me when I need it.

Song Fight! has been so important to me, but it’s okay to move on.

Lyrics: Valley Highway

It is time for me to go Down this newly open road I am grateful for how I have Had some of the best times of my life

Looking to the setting sun Looking out for number one Half a life is better than Having never lived a life at all Stuffed inside a letterbox Regrets and things better left unsaid

Here we are In the valley of my dreams

Time to fly Try to live up to my means

I remain so grateful for some Of the best times of my life

Under stormy desert skies Where my former passion lies Chasing down a memory of Better times and times left yet to come Fix my broken wings right up Because it’s long past time for me to fly

Here we are On the highway to my dreams

Time to fly Try to live up to my means

I remain so grateful for some Of the best times of my life

I remain forever grateful For some of the best times of my life

Originally for Song Fight! Live in Madison, Wisconsin, 2019

Song Fight! is a weekly-ish songwriting contest where a title is provided for everyone to write a song to. People write songs, they’re put up for a vote, somebody wins, and it’s all just a pretty good time overall.

Once a year we try to get together and do a little in-person concert where we get up on stage and perform our songs together. And part of Song Fight! Live involves a “live fight” where we’re given a title to write a song for and debut at the show.

In 2019 we went to Madison, Wisconsin, and the live fight title was The Supper Club. I was having Thoughts about Song Fight! at the time and decided to write a song about how Song Fight! as a community is a place where you should feel comfortable to express yourself in whatever way makes you most comfortable. I don’t know if anyone got that message from the song but it’s something I feel deeply all the same.

Lyrics: The Supper Club

A place where you belong, a place to sing a song Welcome to the supper club Everyone is nice, giving you advice Every night at the supper club

We take you as you are, whether near or far Just come on down on in to the supper club No-one needs your name, we’re always glad you came All are welcome at the supper club

Be the way that you want to be Comfort is what sets you free We’re your friends and your family All night long at the supper club

We’re happy when you’re glad, saddest when you’re sad Please join us at the supper club Precious fish to fry, reminder of days gone by Every Friday at the supper club

We relish when you’re here, love when you drink our beer Please relax at the supper club Have a drink or three, connecting you and me The rest of your life at the supper club

Be the way that you want to be Comfort is what sets us free We’re your friends and your family All night long at the supper club

A place where you belong, a place to sing a song Welcome to the supper club We love you through and through, it’s something old and new Please enjoy the supper club We love you at the supper club

This song was written for Song Fight! Live 2020, and I don’t think people got the joke that it was a song about how 2020 was going to have been so much better than 2019 was.

(For those reading this from the distant future: It very much wasn’t.)

Lyrics: Better Luck Next Year

This year had its challenges All my flowers dead, my pain got worse, my brain got worse, there’s something wrong with my head

What happened to my career, it didn’t go my way Things feel bad, and I’m in fear I won’t live another day

oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better

we see the rise of fascists who think many lives don’t matter a president who’s on the brink, only cares to be flattered

where can our people go from here it all just seems too much famine devastation fear we need a human touch

oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better

but it wasn’t all so bad some of it was swell remember all the good times we had Song Fight! Live went well

We take the hand we have been dealt this year’s problems were a-plenty 2019 really smelt, so here’s to 2020

oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better

Video: Better Luck Next Year

This was the 2016 Live Fight entry for Song Fight! Live! in New York City.

It’s just a happy accident that these two Live Fight entries from the same city happened to go next to each other on this album.

Lyrics: Good Luck Charm

This thing I found lying in the street Don’t know what it is but it’s pretty neat When I picked it up, it filled me with energy

Now everyone’s always lookin’ around Turning their head to see this thing I found Give me a look, I think that it’s jealousy

It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay

Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day

It looks kind of like a rocket ship Keep it on my belt, held it with a clip And suddenly nobody wants to fight

Walking through the village green, Lots of people say “that’s keen!” Some of them even cheer and shout “All right!”

It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay

Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day

A baker must be what I be Because everybody says to me Something about the dough made of dill that I wear

I’m not quite sure what they mean But I don’t want to make a scene Anyway they said to look out for a bear

I walked on by a man in blue He took one look and said “how do you do, I think I’m gonna take you into custody”

I wasn’t sure just what he meant But then it was clear this was heaven-sent Because that bear can never get to me

It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay

Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day

It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay

Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day

This was the 2011 Live Fight entry for Song Fight! Live! in New York City.

Lyrics: Isle Dauphine

My isle dauphine She’ll never come clean What does she mean She’ll never go clean Oh, isle dauphine

She walks down the aisle All of the while I’m thinking I’ll Walk single file Oh, isle dauphine

I heard what she said, and She’s turning all red Might as well be dead for Everything she said Oh, isle dauphine

She’s walking the border with everything in order and takes off the garter and Runs a bit harder Oh, isle dauphine

My isle dauphine She’ll never come clean What does she mean She’ll never go clean Oh, isle dauphine

This song isn’t about Portland, but it also isn’t not about Portland.

It’s also about Seattle.

But also it was just written for the Song Fight! Live Fight in Portland, in 2015.

Lyrics: Don’t Come Here to Live

We’re so happy that you want to stay But our city’s full please go away We don’t want to turn away your kind So come anyway, I guess we won’t mind

We know what you’ve seen on the TV How we live our lives totally fancy free But you really ought to know Portlandia is just a show

We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car

We have hipsters - Silly tricksters We’re ironic - Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR

So you live here now, you want a job? I guess that’s cool - you’re not a slob You could work at a restaurant If that is the kind of job you want

What’s that you say? You have a degree? A master’s in sustainability? That’s really great, but you oughta know I just got mine an hour ago

We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car

We have hipsters - Silly tricksters We’re ironic - Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR

I guess we can’t talk you out of it So welcome to Portland, We Give A Shit™ What’s that you say, you love the sky so blue? Well I guess I’ve got some news for you…

We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car

We have hipsters - Silly tricksters We’re ironic - Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR And there’s always PBR And there’s always PBR

This song was originally written for Song Fight!, as part of the “Live Fight” challenge for Song Fight! Live 2021.

On the blog I have written up a detailed explanation of the lyrics and video.

Lyrics: Behind a Mask

Feeling lost in an elephant’s dream Caught up in the digital stream Cave of shadows, can’t say what I mean A million miles far from home

Best foot forward, take a step back Play defense while on the attack Sowing discord, can’t cut them no slack Everybody so alone

If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise

Making everything great again Forget about your family and friends Looking for a means to an end Just don’t want to be alone

Fragile gem, split in two Internal dialogue of them vs. you Find acceptance with nothing to do The voices there are all your own

If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise

A deeper body ache, and make a bad mistake A million jumping on Sharing a bad take, Nobody can quite shake The feeling that you’re gone

Feeling lost in an elephant’s dream Getting washed away by the digital stream If it feels better to share another meme Doesn’t make you less alone

If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise

If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise

Video: Behind A Mask

Lyrics: All Tan

Why do we all have to be tan? Different shades of a single master plan It is all so boring Baby I am snoring Why do we all have to be tan

Black and white and zebra stripes! Red and green would be so keen! Purple blues and other hues! These shades of tan just will not do!

If I were a genetic engineer I’d do what I could to bring it here Discrimination would be undone If everyone were the only one

Why do we all have to be tan And just a woman or a man Neither both or something in between I think that would be pretty keen but Everyone is just… tan

Paisley plaid and polka dot! Colors patterns are so hot! Sure we could all get tattoos But if I did it why would you?

If my idea were everyday Of course my plea would go away But other creatures can all have it So we’re unique on this planet?

Why do we all have to be tan? Different shades of a single master plan It is all so boring Baby I am snoring, oh Why do we all have to be tan