Oddly comforting

The process of writing lyrics (or creating any art, really) can be frustrating, as you sit there wondering where your muse went, or why what's on the page is so inferior to things you've done before. Every phrase feels contrived or derivative.

Then again, sometimes the words just appear and the best thing you can do is stand out of their way and not interfere too much.

Here's what came out of me today, as I listened to a friend's music project and was reminded of when I used to live near a sort of forest reserve. You could hear coyotes at night, and at first I was completely creeped out by the sounds they made. They traveled in a pack, hunting, fighting, fucking when in heat... and the noises they made were eerily similar to screaming babies and women. Once I knew it was coyotes I was able to sleep at night... usually. Anyway, I'm proud of this little piece and I'm going to try and write a tune around it, sort of Talking Heads influenced plus some Pavement and other indie rock.

I present "Oddly Comforting":

Out there in the rain I hear
An animal's cries
Maybe it's a baby
or a woman in the night

Sounds of competition
for food or warmth
strains of copulation
or a murderous swarm

It comforts me to know
it's only the coyotes
It's comforting I know
it's only the coyotes

Only the coyotes-
Oddly comforting, I know