If I Could Paint My Feelings

These might just be the best lyrics I’ve written so far. (Feel free to disagree!) I wrote them on September 9th, 2006. The music followed the next day. I tried to keep it simple in order to not distract from the metaphor madness. C, it turned out, was not enough, so I added G. I still don’t know how I ended up with all the chords in the middle-eight when I recorded the song on September 11th, 2006.

I was tempted to re-do the programmed drum track for the album, but went for authenticity in the end. (The truth is, I couldn’t find the disc with the source tracks.) The outro features plenty of silly instruments like the melodica, a ukulele, glockenspiel, and plenty of keyboard sounds. Some sick flutes were there, too, but didn’t make the final mix.

Download the song: mp3 ogg (more music)

If I could paint my feelings I’d talk about brushes all the time
If I could spell my joy I’d use but vowels
If I could wear my passion a hat would suit me fine
If I could weave my heart I’d just make towels

If I could eat my sorrow I’d chew lemons all the time
If I could name my fear I’d call it Fullers
If I could drink my longing I’d serve myself the sweetest wine
If I could print my pain I’d need no colours

If I could paint my feelings
If I could ride my soul
If I could wear my longing I’d be all right

If I could draw my wisdom I’d sketch circles all the time
If I could strum my hope I’d play an F-chord
If I could dye my spirit then blue’d be on my mind
If I could fly my love you’d be the airport

(words and music by Johannes Schult)