That's How It Goes (Blackcurrant Tea)
Mellow, light, a contemplation on confusion.
New Classic Rock!
Barry is an independent artist in Los Angeles, California with roots in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a history of travel around the world and lives lived in San Diego, San Francisco and LA. These places and times inform his music with depth and authenticity.
A singer-songwriter with skills in guitar and bass, Barry records in his private studio with help from a few artists from his storied past.
Story behind the song
When I originally wrote this song, I was not thinking of any one particular theme. It was more or less a pastiche of thoughts that were going through my head. sensory impressions, things that caused me awe, and things I was having trouble remembering, quite honestly.I was driving for poetry more than song lyrics, and I think I succeeded.
When I got around to recording the song it was fairly straightforward. The chords came quickly, the melody came quickly. I recorded a rough draft, then I hunkered down to record the song in Cakewalk. I recorded the instrumental tracks, I sang the song, and then came time to make the music video.
I rather struggled with the music video. On the one hand, I wanted to put myself in there; on the other hand, quite frankly, I'm old. I don't look great. but at the end of the day, I said the heck with it, I was going to put myself in there, because this is who and what I am now. The recording of the music video provided me with some new technical challenges to overcome, I am sure that future efforts will look a little more polished, based on what I've learned here today.
Something really jumped out of me after I put the song out, however. A friend remarked that the song made her think fondly of her life with her father in his last few years, when he was suffering from dementia. I was shocked, taken aback! I went back and reviewed the lyrics again. Lo and behold, she was right! There was a lot of talk about forgetting things, about how long I have been on this road of life, how things slip away, there's a blur in my mind, things like that. Turns out, she was spot on! I guess I wrote a song about dementia, and I didn't even realize it. And amazingly, it ended up being rather light, bouncy, and not at all troubled or disturbed. I guess we are still capable of either fooling ourselves or missing what is really going on when we write or create art. Certainly I was.
The song was released in late August of 2023.
Lyrics
I forget where I put the matchbook where I first wrote your name
That was the day long ago when the spark turned to flame
I can remember when we tore the world in two
(But now it) all runs together, all I remember is you
(Dont) know how I got here, I dont know the name of this road
My heart is an ember, my hea d is primed to explode
The cool morning fog is so sweet in the street by my house
But the blur in my eyes and my brain gives me worry and doubt
Blackcurrant tea, a sugar or three, berries and grains for a start
Tending the garden, walking the dog, quiet in my heart
Fingers on strings, tingling things, the poetry comes and it goes
Stars overhead, an unmade bed, thats how it goes
Breakers crash on the shore, its too rough to swim
Currents under the water, theyll draw you in
This town is a ghost on a Tuesday, no ones awake
Im starting to think that this might be a mistake
Thats how it goes, ups and downs, and highs and lows
No one knows, where it comes from or where it goes
(At this) point in my road, its so long I forget where it starts
(At this) point in my life, its just songs for a trembling heart
One foot in front of the other, day after day
Dont know where I am, where Im going, or where I will stay
Blackcurrant tea, a sugar or three, berries and grains for a start
Writing a song, Ill sing before long, I play my part
Fingers on strings, silvery rings, enlightenment comes and it goes
A voice in my head, the last thing she said, thats how it goes
