Who is crazy enough to sign up for writing a song based on an unknown blog post and the comments that ensue? Me. That’s who. And who’s crazy enough to volunteer their blog as inspiration? Tyler Cowen over at Marginal Revolution.

Will it be a fun post like the one on what to do when you’ve been suddenly transported back in time 1000 years? Nope. Tyler decided that was too easy and chose to write a post whether books are too long. I am not shitting you. I signed up to write a song about the fact that some people think books are too long these days.

What have I done…

It seemed time for an uncomplicated pop song (not that any of my songs are super complex in the first place). But in this nice little package you get everything you’re looking for in a standard radio friendly pop song (does anyone listen to the radio anymore?):

• boy and girl meet, wrong thing feels right, turns out to be right thing after all (Standard Love Song Theme #237)
• under three minutes
• easy to remember repeating chorus lyric that’s also the title of the song
• chorus goes up a whole step for the big finish
• doubled guitar goes up a third in final chorus

Let me tell you people… you can’t ask for more from a pop song. We’ve spared no expense. And this baby comes with the undercoating for free! Take her for a test drive.

Days Like This

Lyrics

Here are the lyrics for Days Like This.

VERSE

You’re in my airspace and I tell myself it doesn’t matter
We’re steady circling, and i feel my common sense begin to scatter

CHORUS

Nobody told me there’d be days like this
When you’d be there to hold me, there’d be days like this
You could have bought and sold me, there’d be days like this
And I’m holding out for more

VERSE

Knock interrupts us and it’s just in time to stop for getting
We’re still connected and I think we know where this is heading

CHORUS

Nobody told me there’d be days like this
When you’d be there to hold me, there’d be days like this
You could have bought and sold me, there’d be days like this
And I’m holding out for more

BRIDGE

I couldn’t place you, you’re not the same as those i see
It took forever, to figure out the problem was with me

VERSE

The sun is up and reality is back, and now we’re in it
Though we said goodbye, all i know is you each hour each minute

CHORUS

Nobody told me there’d be days like this
When you’d be there to hold me, there’d be days like this
You could have bought and sold me, there’d be days like this
And I’m holding out for more

Nobody told me there’d be days like this
When you’d be there to hold me, there’d be days like this
You could have bought and sold me, there’d be days like this
And I’m holding out for more

A few months ago I decided I wanted to try and do a cover. Based on the result, it was clearly a bad idea. I probably should have been discouraged but instead, after months of therapy, I decided to try again. The victim this time was one of my favorite artists - Jonathan Coulton and his excellent song SkyMall. The first few moments of the original have a very sweet quality. For this version I decided to try and extend that quality to the entire song by encasing it in a thick layer of vanilla frosting. Hopefully the result is something you’ll enjoy.

Thanks to Steve, Kira, and Debbie for a patient ear while reviewing the many iterations.

P.S. I wonder if you can find the easter egg in the song. Nobody’s noticed so far.

Skymall

[LYRICS]

Lyrics to Skymall by Jonathan Coulton.

VERSE

O’Hare is nice this time of year
I check my bags and find my seat and buy a beer and settle in

Such is my life here on the road
Now my seat back is up, tray table stowed and there’s nothing to do
I gotta get myself through

CHORUS

So I am shopping in Sky Mall
That five-mile-high mall
That always has just what I need
When I get to the gate and remember too late
I should have brought something to read
I’m OK, cause I know that I’ m gonna shop SkyMall

VERSE

I bought a pair of bonsai trees
I bought a big fake rock where I can hide my keys from everyone

And I imagine what all my friends would say
To see this lovable Santa dance and sway to my favorite songs
My favorite holiday songs

CHORUS

And I am shopping in SkyMall
That five-mile-high mall
That always has just what I need
When I get to the gate and remember too late
I should have brought something to read
I’m OK, cause I know that I’m gonna shop SkyMall

BRIDGE

In Cleveland, I bought a replica of the sword that was broken
And then somewhere above Detroit some Successories that say “Lead with Vision”

VERSE

I love you best when I’m away
And while I’m out here I look forward to the day when I come home

Cause there’s something special waiting there
It’s a whimsical statue of a bear that holds a bottle of wine
But please don’t touch it, it’s mine

CHORUS

Because I bought it at SkyMall
That five-mile-high mall
That always has just what I need
When I get to the gate and remember too late
I should have brought something to read
I’m OK, cause I know that I’m gonna shop SkyMall
Cause I know that I’m gonna shop SkyMall