It was August 2004. I had just moved to New York City in July, and I had dreams of establishing myself as a musician and also finally transitioning and being able to be myself.

Turns out that “myself” is still just super introverted and socially anxious, and places like New York wear me down faster than they build me up.

Anyway the bit about “start a new family” was inspired by a stupid cishet-normative ad for life insurance that was plastered all over the subway at the time, about a mediocre man wanting to start a family and have two kids. In my take on it in the lyrics I never actually specify which part of the family I’d be taking, and I like to think that I’m just some sort of random factor that leads to a family being started without any continuing involvement of my own. Or maybe I’m the family pet. Who knows. This song is about random nerve firings that were going through my brain while sitting lonely on the subway and feeling isolated, and not about my actual aspirations.

This song always sort of felt like it would be the pivotal moment in a semi-fictional musical about my life, and I guess that in the end, that’s kind of what this album as a whole is.

This song would also be the second-to-last Song Fight! song I entered under the “band” name “fluffy porcupine.”

New York was, also, not the place for me, and a few months after first recording Run Faster (which was about my job situation in New York), I would end up moving to Seattle, and it was time to reinvent myself again. I experimented with a few different band names before finally settling on “Sockpuppet,” a reference to how many other names I’d been operating under, and how I am one person presenting myself as an entire ensemble.

In effect, this song marked the ending of one chapter in my life, and the beginning of the next. But my story is still being written, at least for now.

Lyrics: Five Minutes

Just like in a picture show I know where I want to go This is not the place for me And I’m moving on

There are people that I know In the place I want to go I can be what I wanna be I hope I’m not wrong

I think it’s time for me to get my five minutes of fame When I get there everybody will be so glad that I came It won’t be so long before everyone knows my name Without a doubt we’ll talk about the Things I never ever thought I’d Find someone to talk to about

Just like in a picture show I know where I’m gonna go This just seems so right for me It’s like I’m already gone

All the people that I know Tell me where I need to go In a day or two or three Nothing will be wrong

I think it’s time to start again with a brand new life Leave behind some of a past that has been filled with strife Start a new family, two kids, a husband, and a wife I sold my car I’m going far to Start again beginning friendship With five minutes left to the end

Just like in a picture show I know where I’m gonna go This is not the place for me Goodbye, and so long

Originally for Song Fight!, 2010

This was a dumb idea I had right before the deadline and the original recording took me about 5 minutes to do, including composing it and writing the lyrics.

This version took me a little longer to do.

Lyrics: After Hours

Open up your door Open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door

Open up your door Please open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door

Open up your door (Open up!) Open up your door (Please open!) Open up your door (Could you open the door please?) Please open up your door (I know you’re in there!)

Open up your door (I can see the light on through the window) Please open up your door (Could you please open the door?) Open up your door (The door, you should open it!) Please open up your door (I know you’re in there!)

Open up your door Please open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door

Open up your door Please open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door

Open up your door Please open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door

Open up your door Please open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door

Open up your door Please open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door

Open up your door Please open up your door Open up your door Please open up your door I need to use your bathroom

Originally for Circle of Titles, 2020

One of the other Song Fight! traditions is Circle of Titles, where we provide titles for each other to write songs for in a one-on-one way. In 2020 I got this lovely title from T.C. Elliott (known better as Pigfarmer Jr. on Song Fight!) and decided to write a song that was inspired by another friend’s manic episode from their untreated bipolar disorder.

I haven’t spoken to them in a while, and I hope they’re doing okay.

(The bipolar friend, I mean. T.C.’s doing fine.)

Lyrics: Wait Right Here

Wait Wait right here There’s something I have to tell you Wait Wait right here It is a thing I think you know too well Wait Wait right here There’s something I have to show you Wait It’s oh so clear I can’t hear the ringing of the bell

Wait Wait right here There’s something I’ve only realized now Wait It’s so clear I think we all need our own real space, oh Wait Wait right here I’m trying to find a proper way, how Wait It’s so dear The world can be a big beautiful place

I can’t hear the image that you’re saying I can’t hear, I wish I knew you well I can’t hear the image that you’re singing to me I can’t hear, I know you wish me well

Wait Wait right here There’s something I have to show you Wait Wait right here It’s time for me to have my show and tell, oh Wait Wait right here Remember the thing that I tried to tell you Wait Wait right here Of all the people I’m wishing you well, so Wait

Lyrics: Double Take

It’s the last day on Earth I know Everything is coming down We run it to the ground I think we need another take

We didn’t understand the snow Thought our troubles were gone Conclusions were withdrawn Life was just a big mistake

I think we need another take

I think we need some shelter We deserve this weather But we’re flying to the sun Everything’s undone

And we’re lying on the ground Swallowed up in the sound What we get is what we make I think we need another take

It’s the last day on Earth I know Everything is coming down We run it to the ground I think we need another take

Lyrics: Rhymes With Lucia

Standing on a stage where I’m rhyming with Lucia I have to admit that this wasn’t my idea Having too much fun while drinking much tequila I’d rather have coffee though

Watching her go with you, falling on the weekends Buy a new skirt made of edible sequins Wading through the pond, sitting down where it deepens Where do you want to go?

I’m feeling fine Taking time, try to rhyme She used to be trouble-free Can you see?

Standing on a lake is not such a good venue When it is cold food that we have on the menu Everyone tired of doing what we can do Please don’t let her down

When you have a friend, you never want to see them Hanging out to dry in a mausoleum You want them to simply carpe diem It is too late now

She came to me She will be set free What I mean, what I seen She had been in between

I’m feeling fine Taking time, try to rhyme She used to be trouble-free Can you see?

I’m feeling fine Taking time, try to rhyme She used to be trouble-free

Lyrics: I Think It’s Killing Me

There’s something in my eye But I feel like I could fly A bright light came to me in a dream Skies of pink, clouds tangerine

Everything I do or see or think Depends upon the stuff I drink

I think that it is killing me Everytime I take a sip of tea The stuff of dreams it fills in the seams Bright shiny lights inside my dreams

I cannot think without a drink or three But I feel it surrounding me

I could quit but that will not do Another dose for me and you

Lyrics: Run Faster

I’m giving it my all But I’m heading for a fall When all that I can do Is run faster

For something less than I am worth As I tumble down to Earth But all that I can do Is run faster

Please listen to the way I feel I need to get some more time to heal My lungs are getting ready to explode I can’t run any faster

I get the feeling I should leave It’s getting harder to believe You don’t know what it is I’m going through I’m running faster

How can you tell me what to do If I am dead I will not see things through What you want isn’t easy done or said I’d like to see you run faster

I’ve given you my all But I’m ready for a fall When all you let me do Is run faster

I’ve given you my all But I’m ready for a fall When all you let me do Is run faster