Free

The Singer not the Song (1996) – Written at the end of the Hard Rain (my only real original band) run from the perspective of an A&R guy. I don’t remember if we ever rec-orded it. I’ve always liked it, even if it is a little mean spirited, which I like to think is not a big part of my character. I played it at a songwriter’s circle once when the prompt was “bitter….”

Lyrics

It’s the Singer not the Song
They all think it’s them whose story I should be telling
But it’s me who decides which one is worth the selling
I can’t say I’m all that impressed with his composition
But it’s more in his style and his arrogant disposition
If we cleaned him up a bit the parents won’t be so frightened
And we find him a surefire hit
the record could break like lightning
It’s the singer not the song
It’s the way he hates the world that turns them on
He makes the kids feel they belong
So I’ll admit that it’s the singer not the singer not the song
She plays every piece of the part
she worships the ground he walks on
She knows every detail about him
right down to which phone he talks on
You know she’d kill or she’d die
just for the chance to meet him
He spits on the crowd but inside her
he stirs up so many feelings
Although his lyrics seem obscure
somehow they touch her deeply
Though they make no sense to her
she recites every line completely
It’s the singer not the song
And if he shows up two hours late they cheer him on
He’s both sensitive and strong
So yes I get that it’s the singer not the, singer not the
Song on the radio that captures
the imagination of all of the people who hear
His voice full of empathy, blood soaked in tragedy
But sometimes I think I see crocodiles under the tears…
The boys at the Stone say he’s just like all the others
But he sold too many copies they can’t keep him off the cover
He’s the hero of his time, the voice of a generation
At least that’s this week’s line to all of the target stations
It’s the singer not the song
And when he sneers and jeers through tears they sing along
You know the crowd is never wrong
So, I’ll insist that it’s the singer not the
singer not the song

[if this were vinyl – end of disc one]