(STRAWBERRY ANN) SWITZERLAND (Braid) lyrics. mp3.
Strawberry Ann Swtizerland is named after a semi-fictional sweet-smelling "neutral party" girl. She's forced to decide between two possible suitors and this is me pleading my case. As all songs are, it's based on a true story. I was in college. I had one of those mad crushes on a girl who, coincidentally, was dating the singer in another band. At times, it may have bubbled over into a subtle band rivalry, but it was so long ago, it all seems kinda childish now. Two bands rumbling over one girl! But anyway, I embellished here and there with the lyrics, giving myself an unfair advantage in the battle... playing the passive "thoughtful guy in the background" with my "tactical signs of life" and lack of concern over "leverage". Always being around when in need, picking the right moments. It's also purposely left open ended so you're not really sure what happens. In the real world, she picks someone else entirely. And we all lived (un)happily ever after.

WHAT A WONDERFUL PUDDLE (Braid) lyrics. mp3.
The title comes from an ee cummings poem about Spring that I thoroughly enjoyed while in high school. I believe the line in the poem was "the world was puddle-wonderful". I just liked the way the two words sounded together so I nicked it. Please don't tell his estate. The actual song is sort of a personal commentary of the state of the small "scene" that Braid was involved in at that time. I remember being in Panama City Beach, Florida and receiving a phone call saying that someone or other had started this vicious rumour about us in Champaign-Urbana. And instead of being upset or vindictive, I just shrugged it off as one of those unwanted byproducts of being involved in the community... and soon enough, it all died down. So the song is about the small dirty puddle that is made wonderful by... um, jumping in it? Well, making it bearable more or less...

FOREVER GOT SHORTER (Braid) lyrics. mp3.
I've never actually sat down and watched the entire movie St. Elmo's Fire, but I did catch a few choice Rob Lowe lines as it was on in my Urbana apartment... One being "well, forever just got shorter." So I wrote it down and the rest just came out. It starts out in this dreamlike state with the lovers under the covers and then gets a little difficult and "woe is me". I was in a tough long distance relationship at the time and there was a lot of mail going back and forth. I was having trouble with the idea of "not being there" and that's where most of the song comes from. Instead of actually communicating, I was writing songs to help cope with any supposed problems. I write so much better when I'm sad or depressed or frustrated and that's why frustration can be gorgeous.

PORTLAND MAINE AND THE POURING RAIN
(City On Film) lyrics. mp3.
I wrote this on a Braid tour and it revolves around (what else? ... but) a crush I had on a certain singer of a certain Floridian band. We only really spent one quality night talking and hanging out but there was absolutely no chemistry. I really believe she wanted nothing to do with me. And here I am laying on the floor sorta close to her thinking about all of the wonderful duets we could write together... and all the while she's happily asleep and snoring, probably dreaming the tour was over. Anyway, this all happened in Portland Maine and yes it was pouring rain. And I wrote most of the lyrics as I was waiting for everyone to get ready to go hang out by the docks. I was foolishly psyching myself up. As told in the song, nothing ever really happened, and after the tour's end in Philly, I tried to keep in contact with her via postcards and cool books I'd find... but to no avail.

QUE SHIRAZ (Hey Mercedes) lyrics. mp3.
I've received so many emails from people wondering what the hell the title means, so here goes: It's a play on the phrase "que sera" which means "what will be" in uh, French maybe? But instead of sera, I've substitued the tasty Australian wine known as Shiraz. I think maybe I mispronounce it as "Sha-rah", confusing it with the variety known as "Syrah." Big deal! You could always imagine that you actually do throw that extra Z in there at the end of the phrase, I guess. The song is about a drunken evening between two people in a rapidly deteriorating relationship. And the "color bars" are supposed to signify the end of a movie. And the whole Que Shiraz business is meant to convey that everything is Kool and the Gang... at least while we're wine drunk.

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