“How’d You Do It” - a song about mesmerization
It’s a real word, but one of those where I really don’t know if I’ve ever said it out loud before today…
Story Pairing
I have a habit of picking up my guitar when we are trying to go somewhere. I almost always had time prior to play, but it something about a farewell that has a little bit of extra songwriting magic.
A side note, is that I think moments like that are always closer to the parallel universe that holds songs. You see movies where there is a tear in the fabric of two worlds or a time or place where the membrane separating the two are weak, and that’s where the scientists go through or a monster/demon find entry into our plan of existence, etc etc. I think that songwriting has a similar thing going on.
A lot of life is repeated routine, where we almost get to running on auto pilot. Morning routines, mindless scrolling, driving the same route to and from work, having the same conversations over and over. There isn’t a lot of magic in these ruts because our brain is sort of automating a big part of it all. That’s very nice of our brain, we would short circuit if we had to think of everything individually that it streamlines, but I do think it get’s a little carried away. I think the times were that programming is disrupted is where the creative mind get’s to surface a bit more. The beginning of a deviation always has a portal to creativity for me, it’s where those two worlds are closest to touching. It’s probably why I love traveling for music so much. It’s also why I always seem to get song ideas right when I am about to leave home or leave my space that is ripe with routine.
Lately I’ve been trying to take new ways home from places I frequent. When I have the time and I feel like I haven’t been as creative as I’d like to be I try and find ways to throw off that autopilot. It really seems like it works. Drive down streets you haven’t been down, order new things at a familiar restaurant, try a different radio station, all these little things to break out of what’s familiar. It’s kind of wild how when you do that, it feels like you get a little more color in your day. I’d be amazed if you don’t feel a bit more magic swirling around once you stop your brain from “helping” so much.
This tune is a nice light touch, and happier one. I think it’s needed alongside so many heavy tunes of late. Since I started playing guitar instead of getting ready to leave, Ashley started vacuuming, and then I started walking around the house making up a song about her cleaning (because at my core I am an annoying child who loves pushing my luck), and then this came out of it.
Song Structure
Verse: E / A7 / E / B7 / E / A7 / E / B7 / E
Chorus: Walk up E/F/G/G# / A / E / B7 / E / E->G# / A / E / B7 / A / E
Voice Memos
Notebook Page
April 2025
Lyrics
Shes a vacuum hungry woman
The queen of getting it clean
Dirt is shaking in his boots
She runs circles round any machine
Kirby, shark, and hoover, are hounding her every day
How’d you do it girl, send a little something our way
How’d you do it mhmm, how'd you do it mhmm
How'd you do it, like theres nothing to it, how’d you do it
How’d you do it, mhmm, How’d you do it mhmm
Put us through it, till we glue it, like we knew it, how’d you do it
Shes got soldiers in the army
Jumping when the generals call
Whipped them dogs right into shape
At attention ready and tall
Young lady, whats your secret, tell us what to say
Howd you do it girl, send a little something our way
How’d you do it mhmm, how'd you do it mhmm
How'd you do it, like theres nothing to it, how’d you do it
How’d you do it, mhmm, How’d you do it mhmm
Put us through it, till we glue it, like we knew it, how’d you do it
Solo (chorus chords)
Pray to god she flips the sign
To open on the door
Be the best you ever had,
Hands out begging for more
Shes got lines down the sidewalk, name your price, theyll pay
How’d you do it girl, send a little something our way
How’d you do it mhmm, how'd you do it mhmm
How'd you do it, like theres nothing to it, how’d you do it
How’d you do it, mhmm, How’d you do it mhmm
Put us through it, till we glue it, like we knew it, how’d you do it
How’d you do it mhmm, how'd you do it mhmm
How'd you do it, like theres nothing to it, how’d you do it
How’d you do it, mhmm, How’d you do it mhmm
Put us through it, till we glue it, like we knew it, how’d you do it