i you say that you will not be my friend
if there's one thing i needed to know
and the flowers melting all around
i hate flowers ‘cause the thought they bring to your hands
if there's one thing i needed to know
The first song, "i hate flowers," was one of my most liked songs at these early coffee shop shows. Note the all lower case, Reznoresque angst in the title. I was into "trilogy" song constructions as a Senior in high school. I wrote a song called "99" (also called "Beautiful") that was for a young lady with whom I was smitten. I was so socially inept in high school that I had difficulty even thinking about communicating with this person. I frequently hid behind my school work. Writing songs was the best way I could think to deal with my quandary. I wrote "99" followed by "Paper Staircase" in 1992. One day I got the nerve up to talk to her. In stead of saying "Hey, do you want to hang out sometime," like a normal person, I gave her a tape with a few songs I wrote for her. Guys, this is a bad idea...just so you know. For days, I heard nothing. My hair had already begun to fall out, but this wasn't helping. After a month of standing in the shadows and waiting by the phone, I flipped. I wrote "i hate flowers" and had a breakdown of sorts. I got a great song for my trouble though. Incidentally, it turns out that she was secretly involved with someone else. Because it was a sensitive matter, she couldn't tell me about it. When I learned the truth a year later, I felt like a complete egotistical jackhole.
if i told you that i had a heart
would that mean something to you
if i told you i had been torn apart
would that run right through you
when I leave you 99 did you laugh 1000 times
yes or no is all i need to know
dress it in your too-stained vest
tell me with one word or less
yes or no is all I need to know
it’s all i really need to know
if you say that you will not ever trust me
and this hatred can only grow
would you stay with me for just one day
if there’s one thing i needed to know
would you stay with me for just one day
children laughing without a sound
1000 words you held between your hands
the snow was melting in the sky
no questions now, you know just why
did you know your love was in demand
did you know?
did you know?
just running through your sentiments
the black grains of sand
if i had the knowledge that i think i do have now
things would be much easier
could not bring me down
if you say that you will not be my friend
it’s all i really need to know
if you say that you will not ever trust me
and this hatred can only grow
would you stay with me for just one day
if there's one thing i needed to know
would you have stayed?
it’s ok to be alone
Mike Garrigan on
"i hate flowers":
Lyrics gathered by J. Hodge
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