“Gravity”
I was sitting in traffic on a Friday, driving to pick up groceries at QFC, when this line came into my head: “I am helpless when I fall into your eyes.”
My first instinct was to write a song about love-sick obsession, where the singer’s love is not requited. That’s something I haven’t felt in a long time, if ever. I don’t like the idea of that kind of dependency either — so why should I write a song about it?
So I worked on a version that made it about a person coming to grips with being in a relationship. I wrote it metaphorically, staging the song as a journey; first, falling from the sky; second, washing up on a shore; third, climbing a hill; fourth, descending into a valley. Different stages of a relationship.
I finished the song, but it felt “blah” to me.
So I went back to the original concept: obsession and dependency. It’s not really the song I wanted to write, but it’s the song that wanted to be written.
I know, I know … that sounds a bit pretentious and artsy-fartsy. But that’s the way it played out. I’m not sure whether to force a song according to a concept or go with my first instinct. Sometimes following my instinct has generated a song that sounds pretty trite. Sometimes pushing myself to think of something fresh has given birth to a better song. I don’t have a rulebook yet.
NOTE: I’ve included the lyrics for the alternate version of the song at the bottom of the page. If you’re interested in hearing a recording of this, let me know in the comments and I’ll record an audio version of it. If you prefer one version over the other, let me know also in the comments.
Lyrics
I am helpless when I fall into your eyes
I won’t get very far today.
I should go, ’cause we both know
what’ll happen if I stay.
You’ll be the end of me
I’m caught in your gravity
Gonna try to enjoy the ride
And hope that I can make it
out in one piece on the other side.
I am restless when I walk these streets alone
chewing my worries to the bone.
I am reckless to be standing at your door
asking you, begging you for more.
You’ll be the end of me
I’m caught in your gravity
Gonna try to enjoy the ride
And hope that I can make it
out in one piece on the other side.
Why won’t you ever let me stay here?
Why won’t you ever let me say “dear”?
You know I cannot keep on circling
over this barren land,
like a buzzard,
hoping for a helping hand,
like for something small to come crawling out and die.
You say you’ll miss me, when you kiss me,
then you make me watch you walk away.
I am drifting I am spinning in the void,
with no light to find my way.
You’ll be the end of me
I’m caught in your gravity
Gonna try to enjoy the ride
And hope that I can make it
out in one piece on the other side.
Lyrics for the Alternate Version of “Gravity”
I am helpless when I fall into your eyes
You've got me captive as a moon.
I am streaking through your dark untraveled skies
wrapped in a blazing hot cocoon.
I'm caught in your gravity
held fast to where I want to be.
Though some days I may try to break free,
but always I return to solid ground.
Your tides have swept me up a steep and rocky shore
a wild country I must tame.
So I'm sweating up this mountain in my mind
gotta reach the top to stake my claim.
I'm caught in your gravity
held fast to where I want to be.
Though some days I may try to break free,
but always I return to solid ground.
I am sliding down the slopes of my own way
to a meadow full of green and gold.
I think I'll stay, if that's okay
and watch our afternoon grow old.
I'm caught in your gravity
held fast to where I want to be.
Though some days I may try to break free,
but always I return to solid ground.
ScottStoriesandSongs 