"The Same Today"

After going back to school in January 1987, it didn’t take long for me to get the music bug again. This was one of the first songs I wrote when that happened. In fact, it is the first song of my song collection Revival, copyrighted in September 1987. It also serves as the lead song on my tape Spring 88. I still really like this one.

Current listening: The Monkees, Changes

The Same Today

© 1987 Brian Hutzell

What do you mean when you say

"Everything is the same"

Haven't you noticed we've moved up in the world?

Look at the place where we live

Do you know what street this is?

Haven't you seen our penthouse view of the park?

Thrust in the knife, I'll stay

Don't and I'll go away

Trust every word I say

What do you mean when you say everything's the same?

Once in a life, okay

Twice, and it's gone astray

Toast on a silver tray

What do you mean "Everything is the same today"

Do you remember the stores

Where we bought our clothes?

Do you recall how we'd search through the discount pile?

Do you remember the feast of macaroni and cheese

For Thanksgiving when the budget ruled our lives?

Thrust in the knife, I'll stay

Don't and I'll go away

Trust every word I say

What do you mean when you say everything's the same?

Once in a life, okay

Twice, and it's gone astray

Toast on a silver tray

What do you mean "Everything is the same today"

Been an upward road since the beginning

We've been lucky we've been winning

Now the bird is fat and ripe for killing

Show me now that you are willing

Look in the drawer

You'll see peculiar cutlery

Choose your weapon, but handle it carefully

The danger is increased

When you run at a faster speed

Don't you see nothing is the same today?

Thrust in the knife, I'll stay

Don't and I'll go away

Trust every word I say

What do you mean when you say everything's the same?

Once in a life, okay

Twice, and it's gone astray

Toast on a silver tray

What do you mean "Everything is the same today"

"Waiting For Your Call"

Probably the most successful of my purely pop songs. This one appeared first on my Spring ’88 tape.

"Waiting For Your Call" on MelodyFusion

Waiting For Your Call

© 1988 Brian Hutzell

Reliability was never your forte

Forgetting to tell me things, and showing up late

But I loved you and I easily overlooked your will to roam

I loved you and I easily understood why the telephone wasn’t ringing

(I waited and waited)

The phone wasn’t ringing (but I didn’t mind waiting)

How I wish I was still waiting for your call, oh

Anywhere you cared to lead me I would follow

When you left, I wasn’t looking so I lost you

And I don’t have any clue where you have gone to

So often inthe past you kept me waiting

And I'd sit by the phone without complaining

But you’ve gone away without explaining

And I’ve got a funny feeling there’s no reason for my remaining

How I wish I was still waiting for your call, oh

Anywhere you cared to lead me I would follow

But this time you simply left without a warning

And I know I won’t accomplish anything waiting for the phone to ring

Waiting for the phone to ring, Waiting for your call

Responsibility was never your first thought

You found something more interesting or simply forgot

More than once

We discussed your reluctance to keep an appointment on time

And you promised I’d never be stuck anymore staying up at night

Waiting and listening (There were times when I’d hate you)

The phone wasn’t ringing (But I always forgave you)

How I wish I was still waiting for your call, oh

Anywhere you cared to lead me I would follow

But this time you simply left without a warning

And I know I won’t accomplish anything waiting for the phone to ring

Waiting for the phone to ring, Waiting for your call

I must confess that losing my rest used to annoy me

But if I had that chance tonight I would enjoy it

How I wish I was still waiting for your call, oh

Anywhere you cared to lead me I would follow

When you left, I wasn’t looking so I lost you

And I don’t have any clue where you have gone to

So often inthe past you kept me waiting

And I'd sit by the phone without complaining

But you’ve gone away without explaining

And I’ve got a funny feeling there’s no reason for my remaining

How I wish I was still waiting for your call, oh

Anywhere you cared to lead me I would follow

But this time you simply left without a warning

And I know I won’t accomplish anything waiting for the phone to ring

Waiting for the phone to ring

"Dance With The One Who Takes You To The Ball"

There are two versions of this song. This one, the first, appeared on the recording “Spring ’88.” At that time, I was working at Boston Compact Disc (BCD). It was one of the first all-CD stores in the country. Just down the street from us, there was a Tower Records store. Now BCD is gone, Tower is gone, and CDs are on the endangered list. 

Dance With The One Who Takes You To The Ball

© Brian Hutzell 1988

Dance with the one who takes you to the ball
Dance, make it fun
Say it's the only night that's turned out right
And touched your heart at all
Dance with the one who was brave enough to call
Don't think about me
I'll just drag your evening down
Dance with the one who takes you to the ball

Tonight is the night that I'd like to be with you
I had my chance
But my timid nature failed to see me through
He lost no time asking you to be his date
By the time I'd summoned up the courage
It was already too late

Dance with the one who takes you to the ball
Dance, make it fun
Say it's the only night that's turned out right
And touched your heart at all
Dance with the one who was brave enough to call
Don't think about me
I'll just drag your evening down
Dance with the one who takes you to the ball

When the party's over
Will you still be on his arm?
Or will I have another opportunity
To introduce you to all of my charms?

Dance with the one who takes you to the ball
Dance, make it fun
Say it's the only night that's turned out right
And touched your heart at all
Dance with the one who was brave enough to call
Don't think about me
I'll just drag your evening down
Dance with the one who takes you to the ball

"Toe-Tappin' Ted"

Brian Hutzell

"Chosen By a Stranger"

Of all the songs I’ve written and recorded, the one for which I’ve received the most positive feedback is “I’ve Been Eating Giblets,” which appeared on my cassette, Spring 88. That was made when I was living in Medford, and working at BCD (Boston Compact Disc), one of the first CD stores in the country. I worked there with Jeremiah Sullivan, former lead singer and songwriter for the band JEREMIAH. It was a fun job, and through it, I was exposed to a lot of music I hadn’t previously heard. The Smiths, The Wild Swans, The Housemartins, Propaganda, Act, and many others. BDC is also where I found one of my most prized CDs, “From Brussels With Love.”

Spring 88 was the best collection of songs I’d recorded up to that point, and possibly right on up to the present. Some of my best songs are there, like “Anything” and “Praying Mantis.” It also included a second version of one of my personal favorites, “Simple Toys,” which first came out on my cassette October 1985. The songwriting team of Vin & Brian debuted on Spring 88 with “New Life,” “Manifest Destiny” and “Take Me For a Fool.” Two other songs recorded during that same period but cut from the final selection are “The Coldest Day of the Winter” and “Sending the Message.”

But the song that everybody seems to love is “I’ve Been Eating Giblets.” It’s a super simple little ditty, with a catchy instrumental hook, fun words, and bouncy beat. “Chosen by a Stranger” is an attempt to recreate a similarly simple but effective song. I don’t think I quite succeeded, but I still like this one a lot.

Chosen By a Stranger

© Brian Hutzell 1987

Certain circumstances led to my exchanging glances
With a girl across the room, and I noticed she was cute
Other things considered, I can say my mind was littered
With emotions of defeat cause I knew I'd never meet
That girl because my new in-laws
Would not approve of any danger
To a marriage chosen by a stranger

Studied pre-arrangements have created combinations
That were never meant to be
How did this happen to me?
I've reached the conclusion that the cause of this confusion
Stems from my unwillingness to promote my interests
Questions go unanswered
So I guess I'm going to have to change
Or learn to love what's chosen by a stranger

Making decisions doesn't bother me at all
The problem comes from critics of my choice
So often I would like to just get up and quit
Those are the times I lose my voice

Given these assumptions, it appears that my consumption
Of medicinal liquor is a habit I endure
For reasons notwithstanding, obligations are demanding
That I keep myself alert at the risk of getting hurt
I want someone to get things done
I need to find a new arranger
Probably someone chosen by a stranger