Thread: The Lithium Days

I had a lover, we met on a blind date.
We stayed at her place, ‘cause I had a roommate.
We climbed up to the roof, she said she needed some sun.
She lay face-down on Scooby-Doo towel with her top undone.

She’d never tan, though, she was whiter than bone,
She said, I’m happy to see you, better than being alone.
She’d kiss the air, and then walk away.
Yeah, she used to love me, before the lithium days.

(Refrain)

Lithium days — she never laughed and she never cried.
Lithium days — she said she still loved me, but I know she lied.
Lithium days — they told her if she stayed with me she’d never be well.
Lithium days — she said she was happy, but I couldn’t tell.

You know, on her good days, she would beam like a bride,
I’d hold on tight, and go along for the ride.
And on her dark days – sometimes – she wouldn’t be seen.
She’d lie on the floor and read old magazines.

I was scared half to death when she read the Bell Jar,
I drove to her place, and I slept in the car.
And in the morning, she drank coffee bed,
She smiled before pulling the sheets up over her head.

(Refrain)

The day they sent her away, I got drunk with her sister.
She said, it would be alright if I wanted kiss her.
She put out her cigarette, but I politely declined.
She said, then would you hold me? I said, I wouldn’t mind.

I took the Greyhound down to Sunnydale and stood outside the gate.
A red haired girl in a uniform sent me on my way.
I bought a bottle of bourbon and a Rolling Stone,
I killed that bottle on the long ride home.

(Refrain)

Mostly true story, eh? Reminds me of Wang Chung's Dance Hall Days, except that your lyrics are better. You should get Errol Brown to sing these for you.

Thanks for reading, Mod.

Heh. Well, inspired by true events -- as they say. The details are less colorful. I looked up Erroll Brown, but I'm not getting the connection.

Errol Brown is better at bringing off a sad song than anyone. Look up Hot Chocolate's Emmaline.

Interesting, Mod. Hadn't heard that. I only know that "Miracles" song. And I had no idea they were English. You learn something new every day.

Great song. When ya stop learning, you might as well gather some daises and pile em up on top of ya.

I love this song.

Hey, thanks Kang. I'll be recording this in the next few weeks and I'll post it in Musician's Central. So be on the lookout.

I can honestly say that this is exemplary to what a good lyric should be. It tells a good, realistic, relatable story about loss but doesn't go down a cliche path, has good phrasing and all that nazi jazz and doesn't blow its load too early. I really really like this.

I really like the title and the narrative aspect of the song. We don't see as many narratives any more. I also like how the hook/title is prominent and repeated quite a bit. Good job with this.

Originally Posted by JosephB

Hey, thanks Kang. I'll be recording this in the next few weeks and I'll post it in Musician's Central. So be on the lookout.

Sweet!

Mystery, thanks for reading and for the positive comments. Glad you liked the story and found it credible.

De Prophecy, most, but not all of my lyrics have a narrative. You're right, there aren't many "story" songs these days, but I actually find it easier to write them than lyrics that are more abstract. Glad it worked for you.

I always enjoy reading your lyrical thoughts Joe.

You're one of the only people i still find the time to appreciate; Good show.
Though i must admit, Listening to Rory Gallagher while reading this makes the tempo hard to picture.

Look forward to the recording.

I have to agree with Mystery here to some extent...The phrase "Lithium Days" is was makes thie piece. It gives it a bit of an edge that is needed in a piece when speaking of such subjects. I once refereed to it as Lithium Swirl in a piece I worte sometime back...

Fondly,
Miriam

Meeq, thanks. Glad it worked for you. Rory Gallagher? Wise choice.

Thanks for reading, Miriam. I like the word lithium too. Besides, Prozac Days just doesn't have the same ring to it.