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Me for a day

by Mermaid Guitar

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1.
_LYRICS_ You're talking to me, feels like it is yesterday As your lips move no sound comes forth Though it seems I know what you are saying I'm not really listening - I just drift away It must be a nice day I dimly comprehend The redness on the inside of my eyelids tells me this, as a bellbird's song ends Cut off by my alarm clock and the shouts of next door's kids So it all comes rushing in, the things, the thoughts, the din what I'm doing, where I'm going, today But I'll put this off some more That's what the snooze button's for I want just 5 minutes more -<( ...is anything as good as this?... )>- Slowly drifting back 1/2 awake, 1/2 asleep - bliss The warmth of your breath, your face is so close to mine As I lean in to kiss And suddenly your face has changed, you're the weatherman predicting rain And the kiss is lost once again Next door's back door's slamming shut Across the street a Honda's revving but I want just 5 minutes more
2.
_Lyrics_ I squeeze open an eye The clock tells me it's 8:59 But getting up still takes an act of will Pull across the curtains Inhale the sweet nastursiums Baking in the sun on my window sill Though my eyes are still blinkin' I stumble to the kitchen Put the pot on, fill up the caffeine tank Once that black IV drips away I'm ready to start my Saturday And then nothing improves my mood Like the blue eyed dude Put on a little Frank! Though I know that my voice sucks I croon away in my dressing-gown tux Coffee cup mic in my right hand Hitting top notes that would deter others Singin' songs for swinging lovers Listen up - coz here comes the band Like my mate Chris always used to say We wait all week for Saturday Now it's finally here As I thank the audience I see My neighbour's been watching me over the fence So as I back away from the window I start to think about what to wear today
3.
_Lyrics_ Monday What to wear on Monday? Track suit - I think I'll wear my 3-stripe track suit And I'll look good Yeah! Tuesday Walk past my neighbours' houses Confuse them Am I wearing shorts or are they trousers?!? It doesn't matter what I wear I could be naked for all you care Well they looked OK when I picked them But you always treat me like a fashion victim Wednesday What to wear on Wednesday? Cardy I think I'll wear my favourite cardy You know the one with the elbow patches on the sleeves My stubbies and my walk socks pulled up to my knees Well they looked OK when I picked them But you always treat me like a fashion victim They had labels on the rack But not the labels I though they had Thursday Try a little punk on Thursday Friday Afro-disco-funk on Friday Saturday I'll make a final attempt Gotta find the gear that won't arouse your contempt Well they looked OK when I picked them But you always treat me like You always treat me like You always treat me like a fashion victim
4.
_Lyrics_ Got my favourite T-shirt Better check if it's smelly Pose for the mirror - very Fonzarelli Slap on some manly scent, slick back the hair some more Stride down the hallway and open the door Stand tall, stick out the jaw, suck the stomach in I look like George Clooney, but less handsome with a weaker chin I step out of the house In my Che Guevara T-shirt I step down the street With that sense of street cred radiating from it My neighbour is out mowing his lawn Just because it's Saturday morning He nods hello, carries on with the lawn as I walk past But I just wait for his surprised downward glance And the smile breaks on his face, he sees my polyester jewel And he nods and smiles and I know he's thinking, 'Dude, you're cool' Me and Che We've got it made When I meet you later today At the Esplanade Cafe I might not know my history Che's politics are a mystery to me But this shirt has a history of it's own Good things seem to happen when I have it on Got my first A My best ever lay I bought these shoes And the first time I met you
5.
6.
_Lyrics_ I remember a time when I was nine I lost her favourite Valentine necklace I expected rage or a flood of tears but she stood there She must have guessed while I confessed That I was just as distressed as she was, standing, holding back Was that calmness just pretend? Did she swear to be avenged? I guess I'll never really know Did she wanna punch me in the mouth? Was that why her folks moved south? I guess I'll never really know At university I met I girl called Lee Kind of reminds me of the same kind of quandary She was funny and surly, always ordered rice Always smelled really nice I always wanted to ask her out but I always chickened out While smiled at me in that indefinite way Was she thinking 'Ask me please'? Would she have brought me to my knees? I guess I'll never really know Would the whole thing have been hell? If there was just some way to tell But you never really know Every moment seems like this Is it really worth the risk? I wouldn't have to waste my time If I could read your mind Life would be so easy if it wasn't fraught with possibility Those moments when you make a choice Trying to block that inner voice What if my parent's had called me Sue? Or I'd never set eyes on you I guess I'll never really know What if I never dare to make This foolish, rash mistake? I guess I'll never really know
7.
_Lyrics_ Fingers tap the table as I try to read This fascinating story 'bout Harris tweed Here I sit in our agreed upon place Tryin' to keep a semblance of composure to my face I purposely chose this window seat To get a perfect view of the street Sweatin' like a pig on heat My heart skips a beat Coz here she comes! The caffeine's gone to my head A sudden rush, my brain is mush, my tongue feels dead What could make this hell wothwhile? I wonder, as you see me, and there's that smile My stomach flips and then I fall in love all over again Coz here she comes! Euphoria fills me now I understand how Leo felt on the bow Words pour out without impediment or stress The question, then That smile again As you wordlessly say, 'Yes'
8.
Me for a day 04:35
_Lyrics_ As I step out on the street I can't feel my feet Or think straight But this is a good vibration I'm on mushrooms, P, red wine All at the same time It's something sweet This is complete elation Ahhhhh! Ahhhh! Who'd have thought that as we parted 'See you at the party' Would be what you'd say and not goodbye? As I utter 'I can't wait' We both hesitate - an awkward pause Is now the right time? (As I lean in to kiss) Is anything as good as this? This feeling is impossible to convey Everybody should be me for a day As long as it's today People passing by avoid my gaze They think I'm crazed Who's this guy they wonder With the madman's eyes And the 2 foot smile?!?! People passing by - they look away They think I'm crazed They would change their tune If they'd see through my eyes And be me today
9.
10.
Summer Days 06:21
_Lyrics_ Come on down and sit around some Bring a friend, some alcohol Summer Nights spent in a T-shirt Talk of nothing or anything at all The food is ready - No, hang on - wait a bit Experts have to have their say After we eat grab the acoustic Don't know the words but that's OK Coz this is all I want Listening to what Brady says This is all I want from Summer Days Drink sets in, someone gets angry Someone else is getting blue The bullshit flies all around us Latecomers get here right on cue Eat too much, drink even more Tomorrow morning there'll be pain But for now we'll just repeat ourselves Again - and again... Coz this is all I want Listening to what Cat has to say This is all I want from Summer Days Same place same people same discussions, repercussions, there's this great CD, you gotta hear it, I'll go get it, past glories, ghost stories, well, whatever takes your fancy, you say you fancy the pants off that Andie MacDowell, I can't believe or condone such a flagrant disregard, of good taste or good sense, man, you've got no defence, hey, What's the Frequency Kenneth?, yeah, it's great but not their best, I downloaded this great version of it live in Stockholm, Hello?, what are you thinking?, what is it that you're drinking, did you try it with some lemon, you can't drink it since the last time, just the smell makes you flinch, as a matter of fact I'm queasy, drink some milk, take it easy, half an hour you'll be fine, I'll see you again next time It's getting late, we're getting noisy The neighbours think that we're insane We know it's nearly time to go When Jas' starts taking off his clothes again Coz this is all I want Listening to the sh*** that my friends say This is all I want from Summer Days
11.
Tomorrow 06:31
_Lyrics_ 'Drop me off here,' I say to the driver 'I'll walk home the rest of the way' I'd like to walk down to my house Like I did at the start of the day today Fences and gardens stand silently now Only one or two lights can be seen The Honda is back under cover And his garden shows how busy my neighbour has been It's coming back to me Familiarity Gently I'm turning my key This is the place where I'll be, tomorrow Down a curative glass of water Try to put the day's thoughts in their place As my mind focuses on you I can't wipe the goofy smile off of my face A wisp of wind's blowing in Rustling the curtains I lay my head down to the scent of nasturtiums This is the place where I'll be, tomorrow

about

_Me for a day_
As a music fan I have always been an ‘album listener.’ I mean I’ve always listened to entire albums, never skipping songs, because I love the sense of time and place you get from the best records – where rock music and the musicians who made it were at when the record was made.

I don’t remember where the day-in-the-life concept for Me for a day came from. I guess I noticed that a few of the songs were coming from a similar persona and were related thematically. These songs (Fashion Victim, Sometimes Dumb, Never Really Know) all deal with inadequacy, doubt and desire, not necessarily in that order. So from there I started piecing together a thread of other ideas which gradually formed the fabric of the rest of the album, with a rough pattern emerging: the guy’s character, his morning routine, his doubts, his dates, what he would do with his mates.

It was a pretty slow process. This album represents over a year’s work. It’s not supposed to be high art or anything, just an everyday story about a regular guy.

credits

released January 7, 2011

Artwork by Catriona McKillop. Used with permission.

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Mermaid Guitar New Zealand

If you like it: enjoy it. If you really like it: pay what you feel. Each album has bonus material for download.

Mermaid Guitar music is not earnest navel-gazing. It's indie rock with humour and hidden depths.

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