“Turned ‘Round” - a song about reappraisal
Reappraisal doesn’t mean you were a failure or a fool, just means you took some steps in a direction that didn’t serve you or the things you care about. An occasional dose of personal and societal scrutiny doesn’t sound like a bad thing. To the adjacent parties that are witnessing said shift, a little grace can go a long way to encourage that (often needed) change…
Story Pairing
Yea, it’s time for some reflection. I wonder where along the way of existing that that word became a thing of weakness for leaders? Is it because the egos involved don’t allow anything to be amended easily? Is it because of the way that we document and market happenings in society? Something is said or a stance is taken and because it was documented it becomes a gospel hammer that get’s bashed over someone’s skull when they try to change? Idk. But it’s been on my mind.
I wrote this song in April and just hadn’t published it yet. It’s about a soldier marching to the place that Armageddon will take place and as he travels he passes people and places that don’t look a thing like what he was told they would. People trying to exist, not evil demons. He’s seeing the similarities and shared connection and all of the brainwashing he’s received is starting to crumble. As I sit here thinking about that and writing this out, it’s 12:02pm on June 16th. Saturday there was a military parade in the US, one said to cost over 45 million dollars to have… $45,000,000.00. I wish I had the time and ability to talk to all the participants. To hear about why they have the job they do. To hear about their families they are trying to support, the dreams they want to fund, the sick parents they are trying to take care of, the debt they are trying to chip away at, the broken car they need to fix, their favorite pet. I also want to know how many of them have a little worm of doubt wiggling in their bellies. I want to know why they became a solider. I want to know if they wanted to become a protector or a destroyer. Did they want to work for a hero or a villain. What’s their favorite food. What’s their favorite patch of dirt that they walked as a child. If they had 45 million personal dollars what would they do with it? If they had 45 million federal dollars what would they do with it?
I wish we could ask these questions without an underlying agenda, and I wish others could answer without fear of perception. The complexity of decisions and questions are arguably infinite.
Breaking points aren’t infinite. It feels like we are brushing up against so many of them as we step over the ones that have already broken. I get to write these words from a comfortable space, on a full belly, with a couple bucks in my pocket. Easy to do.
For me I need to reappraise my involvement in society. I’m writing this down in the hopes that when I come back and visit my archives in the days/months/years to come, I can do so with a clean-ish conscience. I want to be an artist that creates and questions and finds common ground while also encouraging others to embrace perspectives. Spending that much money on a show of power doesn’t sit right with me. Hating the participants doesn’t sit right with me. Not saying anything doesn’t sit right with me. This weekend, all around the US, it seems for every pair of military boots 100 more where marching from a place of frustration and desire for a better world. I didn’t participate, I’m embarrassed that I struggle to find the passion to do so. Instead I write page after page of words trying to clear my mind and find where I want to plant my flag. I want to bridge the gaps between people and that feels like a hard sell for all parties involved. Lines are being drawn and the creators of those lines demand you cross it or you’re dead to them. I just want to brush those lines away like that dog in Alice and Wonderland…
^^This my friends is a ramble. I’ve highlighted it all and have had my finger hovering over the delete button for a minute now. I’m leaving it. It’s scattered and full of illogic inconsistencies and handholds for greater minds to scold my flaws.
Thank you to the ones making our world better. Encouragement to the ones who have fallen across a line they don’t recognize anymore.
Song Structure
Capo 3
Verse: Am / C
Chorus: Am / C…(alternating) Dm / G / C / Am
Voice Memos
Notebook Page
April 2025
Lyrics
I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
Oh, I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
Ordered north to the ancient Tell
Where enemy armies of darkness dwell
Kings imply it will seem like hell,
I must be getting turned round
Passing field of working men
They look a lot like I do and
I shake my spear and flash my teeth
The greeting that was trained in me
They raise their hands and smile back
With courtesy we seem to lack
Soldiers march with minds so set
These wicked souls don’t seem that yet
Oh, I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
We branch in deeper to the towns
Was promised there much different sounds
No pyre fires or acid rain
No scream or cries of woes or pain
Just hungry children grab our cape
And mothers beg let them escape
Where are the stolen riches that
Our leaders sent us to bring back
Oh, I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
Ordered north to the ancient Tell
Where enemy armies of darkness dwell
Kings imply it will seem like hell,
I must be getting turned round
Generals see we start to drift
The borrowed judgment starts to shift
At first they go to crack their whip
But even they are losing grip
It’s easy to stand tall and sure
When you're force fed to endure
The notions that they swear are true
Obscure the common ground in view
Oh, I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
I’m a-getting, must be getting turned round
Ordered north to the ancient Tell
Where enemy armies of darkness dwell
Kings imply it will seem like hell,
I must be getting turned round
Mmmm I must be getting turned round x3