Jack Brown: Music

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Waiting in line at an open mike in L.A. behind angry teenagers who write songs about how much they hate the world and their parents and teachers. They're too young to get into bars, so they play in coffeehouses and bring all their misunderstood friends . . . and we serious writers have to grin and not vomit.

ALL MY SONGS ARE IN A MINOR
© Jack Brown

VERSE
My hair’s dyed black, my clothes are too.
Just turned 19, now what is there to do?
A nice guitar but I can’t play bars,
Just open mikes at coffeehouses and diners.
But that’s no sin, I fit right in
‘Cause all my songs are in A minor.

VERSE
A scowling face is standard fare.
These ripped-up jeans, they’re the only kind I wear.
Well I could be at USC
My folks insisted there was nothing finer.
But I’d rather pound this college sound
‘Cause all my songs are in A minor.

BRIDGE
Sometimes in the chorus I play a brighter tune.
A major key slips in and brightens up the gloom.
But something always happens shortly after modulation.
I’m overcome by teenage angst and anger and frustration.

(Instrumental)
VERSE
My demo’s around all over town,
But all I hear are A&R one-liners.
Like “Kid, yeah, well, you’re hot as hell
But all your songs, they’re all in A minor.”

(Repeat bridge)

VERSE
My hair’s dyed black, my clothes are too.
Just turned 19, but hey, what is that to you?
But who are you, you know it’s true,
You’re all just a bunch of coffee-drinking whiners.
‘Cause I’m up here and you’re down there
And all my songs are in A minor.