"So They Say"

Oh no, not another angry young man song! Fraid so. I recorded this one for my October 1985 tape. “I’m the Viking in the zoo?” What is that supposed to mean? I have no idea; but I always kinda liked that line.

So They Say

© 1985 Brian Hutzell

I'm pressed for time

And to stand in line

I've got better things to do

Well, I get so angry

My patience failing

I've got lots of things to do

And when I complain

It's always the same

They say it's the system

And it's the best way

So they say

You can't beat the system

So they say

A form to fill

Another bill

Print your name and address here

We'll protect you

With all respect due

You don't have to live in fear

And when I complain

It's always the same

They say it's the system

And it's the best way

So they say

You can't beat the system

So they say

So they say

      So they say

            So they say

You can fight the system

You may try and you may win

But you can bet the system

Will get you back again

I'm out of time

And I'm on the line

They're deciding what to do

Now they've got me

They should have shot me

I'm the viking in the zoo

And when I complain

It's always the same

They say it's the system

And it's the best way

So they say

You can't beat the system

So they say

“Blarg Nargle Fargging Yatch”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Something Better"

I wish I could think of something clever to write about this song, but nothing’s coming. I don’t have any strong memories associated with writing it, and as I read over the lyrics now, I can only vaguely recall the melody. That doesn’t speak highly for it. I need to write something better.

Current listening: Blondie, 4(0)-Ever

Something Better

© 2004 Brian Hutzell

Let’s make it clear right from the start: I’ve nothing against you

And I am grateful that you came to my rescue

But lay off now; it’s all done

I admit our time was fun

But I’m waiting for someone who’ll suit me better

My ship was flying so high but I got stranded

You caught me with both hands before I landed

Now you hold me far too near

Though I thought I’d made it clear

That I thought we both should steer toward something better

Something better than loving recklessly

Something better than mere geography

I just happened to be there and you caught me unaware

And it’s not that I don’t care how you feel

Something better waits for us--something less precarious

And we’ll know it when we find something real

You told me everything I wanted to hear

But I’m not sure coincidence makes it dear

It seems like romance should be more than happenstance

And I’m gonna take a chance on something better

Something better than loving recklessly

Something better than mere geography

I just happened to be there and you caught me unaware

And it’s not that I don’t care how you feel

Something better waits for us--something less precarious

And we’ll know it when we find something real

Perhaps I’m wrong thinking scientifically

Cause this luck of the draw seems to fit terrifically

Do you believe in serendipity?

Do you think this love was meant to be?

Is it something better than loving recklessly?

Something better than mere geography?

Maybe this open door is just what I’ve been waiting for

Am I silly to ignore how I feel?

Something better could be us--not the least precarious

I didn’t know it but we found something real

“Quee Driffus Mulmp”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Speak Another Language"

I’ve always enjoyed making up silly words. When I conceived the idea for Make a Thwinting Sound, the first thing I thought up was the word “Thwinting.” Then I had this word but didn’t know what to do with it. I didn’t know whether to use it in the context of art or music. So I did both. And worked in some of my trademark footprints as well. For individual “song” titles, I made up more silly words. But not these. “Plit,” “ploo,” and “plurp” have been part of my vocabulary for as long as I can remember. One other piece from Make a Thwinting Sound also uses a word dating back to my grade school years at Woodlawn Elementary, “Kerfloofleflorf.”

Speak Another Language

© 2004 Brian Hutzell

I shaved my mustache

Sliced it right off

I gave up smoking

So I wouldn’t cough

I’ve changed my wardrobe

And dyed my hair

I’m your chameleon

But you don’t care

I can’t understand you

Do you understand me?

Why don’t you understand me?

Is it my language?

I don’t know any other language

Maybe I need to learn something new

Try a different language

Speak another language

“Plit Ploo Plurp”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Speed"

“Speed” roughdemo on MelodyFusion

Current listening: David Cassidy, Rock Me Baby

Speed

© 1998 Brian Hutzell

Time stops. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Stops long enough for a little break

Then moves on under clearing skies

And a better sense of the give and take that keeps us strong

When we recognize

What needs to be done for love’s sake, before it’s gone

In a situation like this, what we need is a little more speed

In a situation like this, what we need is a little more speed

I get anxious when I think about my day

And the things I need to do and say

So much to squeeze into a limited space

Looking for a wayto fix the race

Running fast as I can just to stay in place

Don't know if I can keep up this pace cause I’m nervous

Look my hands--see how they shake

In a situation like this, what we need is a little more speed

In a situation like this, what we need is a little more speed

You keep me grounded, and you keep me sane

But my problems are compounded when you hear me complain day after day

It shouldn’t be this way

I stop when I feel your touch, and you tell me you are leaving

Time clock I'm supposed to punch, but I’ve got other dealings

You need attention and you need to know

That it’s my intention to take it slow

In a situation like this, what we need is a little less speed

In a situation like this, what we need is a little less speed

“Kerfloofleflorf”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Sleep Late"

I rarely sleep late; I’m an early riser. But a late bloomer.

Current listening: The Partridge Family, Sound Magazine

Sleep Late

© 1995 Brian Hutzell

I’ve been standing too tall

Looking down on people I should look up to

I’ve been staying inside

Looking out at people I should make love to

This happens to me much too much

There’s no excuse for it

Gonna make a change or two or three

Been wearing my clothing clenched and crunched

I’m gonna loosen it

Give my body room to breathe

If you sleep late, you’ll miss the morning sun

And though you try to compensate, the damage has been done

If you go to bed too early, you’ll miss the stars at night

Though you press your point quite firmly, that doesn’t make it right

If you sleep late, you’re only getting half the story

Wake up!  Wake up!

I can’t wait any longer

I’ve been acting too small

My gestures second-rate and shallow

I’ve been speaking softly

And I can’t be heard in the back row

This self-restraint has got me trapped

It can only hurt me

Cause there's no progress from where I stand

Plot my escape route on the map

The wheels are turning

Putting action to my plan

If you sleep late, you’ll miss the morning sun

And though you try to compensate, the damage has been done

If you go to bed too early, you’ll miss the stars at night

Though you press your point quite firmly, that doesn’t make it right

If you sleep late, you’re only getting half the story

Wake up!  Wake up!

I can’t wait any longer

Don’t you hear the alarm?  Don’t you hear the reveille?

Can’t you tell it’s time to get up, get up

Get up, get up and grab the key?

“Nidgluck Voo”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Rest The Frantic"

“Rest The Frantic”on YouTube (from Making a Mess)

Current listening: The Partridge Family, Up TO Date

Rest The Frantic

© 1985 Brian Hutzell

The star of the movie is seen by the crowd

So he's the one for whom they scream

The one for whom the ladies preen

And about whom young girls dream

He worked hard to get there

Like the musician practicing in his cheap studio

Hoping someday he'll go to the top

Until then, he'll never stop

Running endless dexterity drills on his axe

Rest the frantic

If everyone rested, then who'd do the work?

Who'd rise above; who could we love?

Who would we worship?

What human deities would guide us--be there beside us?

Where would we get our art?

Only an artist makes art

And only by hours of work

Hours of work when he should be sleeping

How does he live with the hours he's keeping?

Rest the frantic (who else needs it?)

Francis Gavotte: he's got a lot

But what he's got will be lost when he rests

Rest the frantic, sometimes tragic life of the entertainer

He's doing it all for you

So you can rest

“Thnarble Blinst”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Revere's Trip"

These lyrics grew directly out of a piece of paper Wally, Dave and I scribbled notes on during a night which may have involved psychedelic substances. It all made sense at the time.

Current listening: The Partridge Family, Album

Revere's Trip

© 1984 Brian Hutzell

Tripping

It's hard to write when the paper is breathing

Everything is moving

Weird outlines and transgressions

I feel as if I wasn't in control

I'm doing it in the light

I snort a black on the radio wrist sentence

Breathing in a red frame

The paper doesn't want me to write on it

The nicest airplanes breathe sprinkles and sunshine

Endlooped orb

Somehow I smile, trying to forget

Reverence!

I will write but it won't be understood

There are too many eyes in it

I am loving every second

Still my teeth are moving

And my legs slime on the wall

And wild things happen

I smile at everything

Everything I write is a dark line in the ocean

My body is a yellow shape

You like limesight

I can't see what I write

Reverence!

“Gluurm”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Starting the Record"

These were to be the bookend songs for a concept album which would feature an assortment of weird faux-angry music. Other songs on the album would include “EdibleHamsters,” “This is the Album,” as well as some of the We the People songs like “Three Days of Hell.”

Starting the Record, Part One

© 1986 Brian Hutzell

"Here we go"

           

            "Go, record, go!"

"Come on..."

            "Come on!

            You can do it!"

"Let's go!"

            "Go!"

"Alright, now!"

                                    "One two, on the spotlight

                                    Let's get this song right..."

Starting the Record Over

© 1986 Brian Hutzell

"This has been the album. You were warned, but you listened anyway. You listened with your friends and neighbors. You experienced major problems in a nation shunned by some. You survived Revolution 21 and three days of hell eating edible hamsters. Your thoughts may have bothered you. Let them die."

We're starting over
Starting again
Starting the record over

Yes, it's back; it's back again
You can't escape this strange phenomenon
You turn your back for just a second
Back around you've learned your lesson
Why keep asking silly questions?
Yes, it's back; it's back again.
Before another moment passes, run and fetch your opera glasses
Bring the family, come to see and hear the lecture on the record
Telling you what you're about to hear
This is the album
This is the record
Isn't it clever how we've managed to persuade the doubting public
That our purpose is to amplify the global situation when in fact
The only politics we've spoken were of such peculiar nature
They could be pointed out by any college student majoring in poli-sci
No matter what his grade-point is,
How often he attends the extra-credit classes or if he's been paying close attention
To the lyrics as they ramble on and on about the lack of proper training in the art of alchemy
Turning nothing into something
How to emphasize a point:
Repetition!
This is the leading way to stress important matters.
Repetition!
This is the best way to remember what should not be forgotten
With that in mind,
we're starting the record over
Maybe someday the world will better understand what we've attempted here.
Maybe not, but I guess it doesn't matter.

We're starting over
Starting again
Starting the record over

This record's over
This record's over
This is the end
This is the end
One, two, three, four, stop!
Let it die with the needle lifted on the arm
That's a joke, son.

“Zabberty Snaft”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Stop Being Silly"

This is what I imagine people frequently want to tell me.

Current listening: The Partridge Family, Shopping Bag

Stop Being Silly

© 1996 Brian Hutzell

I respect your attitude

You don’t want to grow old before your time

But sometimes I feel I’m living with Peter Pan

And sometimes I can’t take it

No, I just can’t take it

I just can’t take it anymore

Stop being silly

Quit acting weird

Enough of this nonsense

I've had it up to here

No more being foolish

Make sense for a change

Grow up

And act your age

I can take the games and toys

And I don’t really mind your noisy friends

But I can't appreciate the songs you sing

That isn’t music

Doesn’t sound like music

It doesn’t sound like music to my ears

Stop being silly

Quit acting weird

Enough of this nonsense

I've had it up to here

No more being foolish

Make sense for a change

Grow up

And act your age

Some of the things I say amaze me

I sound exactly like my dad

I wonder if I’m going crazy

I thought I was more open than I am

One of these days it’s gonna happen

I’m gonna wake-up old and gray

And someone younger and wiser

Will turn to me and say:

Stop being silly

Quit acting weird

Enough of this nonsense

I've had it up to here

No more being foolish

Make sense for a change

Grow up

And act your age

“Dessilapto”

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound

"Stop Jerkin’ My Gherkin"

I’ve spent almost all of the past three days doing schoolwork, and tonight I have a bad attitude about the whole process. In Jerry Spinelli’s brilliant book Wringer, the main character, a young boy, reaches the breaking point and yells, “No! No to all of it!” (I may be paraphrasing.) I feel like that. If you haven’t read Wringer, you should. It’ll be in the Juvenile Fiction section at your library, but don’t let that dissuade you. There are plenty of great books in that section that will challenge you more than much of the crap in the Adult Fiction section. You could do worse than to start with any of the Newbery Medal books.

Stop Jerkin’ My Gherkin

© 2011 Brian Hutzell

Tell me I’m nuts

Life is full of fools

Too many big buts

Too many stupid rules

Everything I plan

Shot down on sight

No wonder I can’t sleep at night

Stop jerkin’ my gherkin

When you should be workin’

Stop jerkin’ my gherkin

When I should be workin’

I hope you got fat

I hope your husband’s bald

I hope your kid’s a brat

I hope your engine stalled

I wish you lots of luck – all of it bad

And, since you asked,

No, I’m not mad!

Stop jerkin’ my gherkin

When you should be workin’

Stop jerkin’ my gherkin

When I should be workin’

Why do I suck at everything I do?

Why does nothing go the way I want it to?

I tell the world, “This is what I want.”

The world replies, “So what?”

When I explain my idea

They say, “Yeah, but...”

I knock again

But the door is shut

Stop jerkin’ my gherkin

When you should be workin’

Stop jerkin’ my gherkin

When I should be workin’

"Fnebular Wimbus"

Brian Hutzell

from Make a Thwinting Sound