An insectile frenzy of strings dissipates to reveal a disco backbeat and a simple four-note guitar line, backed by a swirling liquid bed of violin and cello. “Dying Is Fine” was one of the earliest songs written by Ra Ra Riot, and it’s among their best. Now I am the one spending the day wrapped up in my chords and trying to write the next killer line, and I expend so much time, effort, and communication trying to ensure E and I don’t share the same fate as the couple in this song. Being at home with EV focused solely on the twin passion projects of this blog and my music makes those lyrics uncomfortably close to home. I’ve never identified with the song before this year, because E and I have always had a (more than) 9-to-5 grind plus our own passion projects. Wrapped up in his chords? Trying to write the next killer line? She wonders where he’s been spending his time Yes it’s hard! You know it’s hard for her to do itĪnd she wishes she didn’t have a 9-to-5 grindīut while she’s out there in the real world It’s the story of a young couple – a career girl and a cool rock boy, who is blithe to the fact that she’s isn’t getting anything she needs from their relationship. It wasn’t based in life at all, but on trying to tell a complete narrative through imagery. I wrote the song as a project for a songwriting class at Drexel. I have a song called “A Few Bars of Goodbye” that has maintained its favorite over the past fifteen years, with E, Gina, and now EV counting themselves as fans. Yet, I think some songs – the best songs – are something more, because they so perfectly describe a future they have not yet glimpsed. Yes, I know that the interpretation of art is in the eye of the beholder, and just as we look to coincidences in the world as the sign of supernatural guidance we can also believe in the kismet of a song that perfectly describes a situation in our lives.
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