Today's' challenge was to change the lyrics of a song to compliment someone. This was an idea I had when coming up with ideas to have. It was inspired by a friend/coworker who changed the lyrics of some rap song to make it about consent instead of....well....what rap songs are usually about.....not consent.
I was looking forward to this one until I started to think about how hard it was going to be. My creativity doesn't find a home in a project like this. I didn't know where to start, which is always the hardest thing about writing. I didn't know who I wanted to compliment or what song I wanted to use. I thought it would be a good idea to write a pretend email to a person complimenting them on something. I decided to compliment all my friends instead of isolating one. I wrote an email that served as an outline for all the things I like about my various friends. I still needed a song though. I opened up itunes and started playing some songs and watching some music videos. The songs that I thought of using were all way too long for me. I knew I wanted to have a version of whatever song I used linked in my post so I took the risk of going onto youtube and searching around. I only got distracted for about 20 minutes, which is pretty short for a youtube trip. Somehow I stumbled on to Tom Waits while looking around. It was one of my favorite songs: Make It Rain. So I found my song, I had my outline, now I just needed......most of the work done for me! Enter my lovely bride. She pulled up a chair (after I begged her to help and moved the chair for her) and proceeded to come up with the new version line by line. I can take some writing credit though for doing the initial work and coming up with lines when she couldn't.
I think it came out pretty good.
I tried to think of the qualities that a bunch of my friends have. If you read this and think that I missed you, you're wrong, you're somewhere in the lyrics.
My co-writer thinks we should learn our new version and sing it for you.....that will never ever happen.
First is the Toms Waits version with a video of him performing the song on Letterman. It's an amazing performance.
After that is our version.
Enjoy!
Make It Rain
She took all my money
And my best friend
You know the story
Here it comes again
I have no pride
I have no shame
You got to make it rain
Make it rain!
Since you're gone
Deep inside it hurts
I'm just another sad guest
On this dark earth
I want to believe
In the mercy of the world again
Make it rain
Make it rain!
The nite's too quiet
Stretched out alone
I need the whip of thunder
And the wind's dark moan
I'm not Able, I'm just Cain
Open up the heavens
Make it rain!
I'm close to heaven
Crushed at the gate
They sharpen their knives
On my mistakes
It's the same old world
But nothing looks the same
Make it rain
You got to make it rain
Without your love
Without your kiss
Hell can't burn me
More than this
I'm burning up all this pain
Put out the fire
Make it rain!
I'm born to trouble
I'm born to fate
Inside a promise
I can't escape
What she's done, you can't give it a name
Make it rain! [2x]
Got to make it rain
Make it rain
I stand alone here! [2x]
Make it rain! [2x]
-Tom Waits
-Real Gone
Good friend
We both like running
Though I run slow
You are much faster
Than I can go
It makes me faster
In the end
You are a real good friend
A real good friend
Since we met
Everything is good
I’m a happy guy
Walkin’ the neighborhood
I want to say
What I said again
You are a real good friend
A real good friend
You know who’s funny
You know who’s hip
You laugh right with me
You joke and quip
We’re always laughing,
That is our trend
You’re a real good friend
We share our dinner
Your home or mine
We talk all evening
About the times
What I believe, I can’t pretend
You’re a real good friend
A real good friend
Without your help
Without your thoughts
I couldn’t teach
These little tots
You do the work, your mind you lend
You know what I think
You’re a real good friend
We play your games
We play your cards
We watch your movies
We laugh so hard
All those late nights
We got to spend
You’re a real good friend
A real good friend
You’re a real good friend
A real good friend
You’re a real good friend
A real good friend
You are a…
Real good friend.
------
Tomorrow I need to go out of my way to meet somebody new. Meh...
No comments:
Post a Comment