“Jittery” - a song about being quiverish
Fun fact, this is the first song I’ve written where the title starts with “J”
Story Pairing
The word was “Jittery” for the November songwriting group. Now I know this isn’t some fanciful story song with deep grooves into poetry. It’s just a hungover guy, drinks too much booze and coffee, get’s hit by a car, has a flirty nurse, then get’s back to drinking. Just a standard day you know?
I wrote this in a hotel in Detroit, hence the nod.
Instead of talking about this song I want to talk about Detroit. What a beautiful city! I haven’t spent enough time there, and this last visit was the slap in the face I needed to change that. Like a handful of cities in the US, we get our minds made up about it well before we’ve danced enough with it. I live in such a city, Akron. It had it’s heyday, fell into disrepair, and has been clawing it’s way out into a city with a ton of character and some real gems. People can be quick to dismiss it, but when they really spend time in the parks, eating the local food and hearing the local music, it’s a powerful shift. That happened for me this last trip to Detroit.
- The food is so good! Mudgies for a sandwich or Mitso’s for a gyro is a great place to start.
- walk the campus and around Corktown and the Arts district. lovely
- Belle Isle is a gem! That aquarium and botanical garden is just about the perfect companion for an afternoon in the city.
- Hit 3rd man records for a peak behind the vinyl making process
- Walk around Detroit Institute of Arts and have a coffee in their cafe
Just a few of my suggestions, I’d love to hear what you’ve uncovered there, and in any city for that matter.
It’s interesting how being in a place can you inspire you to make something, even if none of the “material” ends up being in whatever you create. It’s a transfer of energy, not a list of demands.
Song Structure
Verse: G - C - D - G
Chorus: C - G - D - G
Voice Memos
Notebook Page
November 2025
Lyrics
Another slow rising with boots on my feet
Never kicked em off when I lost out to sleep
After drinking my way down michigan street
In detroit
The coffee in the hotel lobby is gone
When the pot is free it never lasts too long
Just one cup always feels two wrong
To me
It’s gonna be a jittery day
Just a little shaky I say
I don’t really mind it that way
It’s gonna be a jittery - - - day
Went to cross the street for some scrambled eggs
With the edges of vision still in a haze
She wouldn’t have hit me if I looked both ways
Too bad
I recall a nurse she was rubbing my chest
Whispering shed give me some of her best
It may make it hard to lay down and rest
Oh well
It’s gonna be a jittery day
Just a little shaky I say
I don’t really mind it that way
It’s gonna be a jittery - - - day
After laying around for an eternity
That handsy nurse hardly nursing me
Dispatched with one shoe and anxiety
Move on
Had me sweating so bad, all my nerves were shot
Stumbling down a familiar block
Hey michigan street show me what you got
I’m game
Take my jitters away
Just a little shaky I say
It’s been one hell of a day
Take my jitters - - - away