“Shooting Star” - a song about wishes
Recorded on Maui in the Hawaiian archipelago
Story Pairing
First things first, if you want to borrow this shirt just ask.
This is one of those old songs I’ve been mentioning needed some dusting off.
Sometimes when I write, I have an entire story in my head and all I am doing is finding rhyming phrases to narrate it. I will even write out a story sometime and then tackle the song that holds all those thoughts. This is a perfect example of that approach.
Scene 1: A guy in prison, surrounded by tough guys showing off their war wounds
Scene 2: A girl crying in her room because her love is in said prison.
^they are both wishing on the same star
Chorus: A guitar player notices them wishing on a star. He’s been doing that his whole life and it amounts to nothing. Good luck you two.
Scene 3: Conjugal visit. A moment where the girl is realizing that if he wouldn’t have lied, they wouldn’t be in this position. (the star dims)
Chorus: Yea, not going to end well I’m thinking.
Scene 4: She’s ready to leave him and he’s begging her. Promising that when he’s out they can start the family she’s always wanted. She doesn’t believe him.
I’m not sure why this song decided to come hang out with me, but it did. It’s one of those that I never really added to my setlist but I hum the melody here and there. I guess it just decided it was more of a “tropical song” and came knocking when I got out into the Pacific.
Song Structure
Verse: C - F - C - F - C - G - Am - F - G
Verse Tag: C - C/B - Am - F - C - Em7
Chorus: Am - F - C - F - G - C - C/B - Am - F - C - C/B - Am - F - C
Voice Memos
No Notebook Page
Jan 2018
Lyrics
He's back there and he's singing his old song once again
Can't you hear him through the lonesome iron bars
The others down the hall, they swear they didnt do a thing
As they guard their hearts, but gladly flaunt their scars
Won’t you take my wish, dear shooting star
She’s crying in her bedroom, there’s something she holds tight
It’s the picture that was hanging on the wall
Outside her window she sees that silver tail
Catching all the questions as it falls
Won’t you take to him my dreams one and all
Dreams fall on deaf ears, when stories do the same
I’m the one singing, but you don't know my name
If these same notes are being played on your guitar
We’re better off wishing, on fallen shooting stars
She begged him sorry, so he promised not to go
Look where one last time has put him now
Every other week for just an hour at a time
Already more than they allow
Won't you keep me sane, my star, somehow
He tells his story, that she’s heard a thousand times
Things will change on the other side
We’ll start a family and grow apples in your eyes
Weaves the words until she's satisfied
It’s too far gone and their star has died
Chorus
Chorus (last two lines)