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6.29.2007 Misery Need Company Misery Need Company is a monologue by the devil. I was pondering a conversation with my own demon and arrived at a sympathy for it. Like a lover whose world is drowned in jealousy and bitterness, I imagine the devil can't see past the tip of his nose. We would describe such a state as a certain misery to which sympathy may be inappropriate, but nonetheless I played back a dialogue in my head, in writing this song.Well I got to you, didn't I The way I moved took you by surprise The thought of me in your head The things I said you can't forget They're lies, all lies Suddenly The lights go out and you and I Are left to fight and struggle 'til the break of dawn and I Eventually find that you're a part of me That all along so carefully you've planned this misery I've become my enemy It's a strategy for misery The pruning of adversity in life You make your own kingdom come The devil comes collecting tithes Why fight for lies Happily We put it on each other To do away the other It's a case of do or die Oh misery need company We can't seem to leave it all behind Misery need company Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight Misery need company Tonight Oh happily We put it on each other To do away the other It's a case of do or die Oh misery need company We can't seem to leave it all behind Oh misery We put it on each other I had written the song some time in 2004. We've actually performed it in various incarnations, until it landed in its final recorded form. Don's bass line changed 20 times (I have takes of all of them), and I was frankly surprised by how much the entire song shifts from one version to the next. There's a two-step meringue version, parts of which we will re-incorporate for the Roxy show. Listen for it, and step to it if you feel it. Ken, as often as he does, brought the twist to the song where the song modulates up a whole note. The beat loses the syncopation and starts to drive the guitars which obey with 8th hits. As a whole I love how the song evolves and deteriorates. The devil dances a tragic mood and sings through Ken's solo. You can hate it and feel sorry for it at the same time. There are some personal notes I won't share publicly, perhaps privately. |
