There are various theories about writing what you know. Robert A. Heinlein maintained that it was much harder to write what you know than it was to write about what you didn't. On the other hand, I feel that one of the things that makes songs genuine is for them to be about true feelings and experiences. All of my songs, even "In the Sighs" fit that rule.

Getting stuck in a cycle of avoidance was a feature of my University and High School life. I would sit there, playing with the computer, knowing I had other responsibilities. It wasn't any fun, but I did it anyway. I was stuck in a rut.

Sometimes, I'd even have panic attacks, tidal waves of the emotions I was trying to suppress. Well, if there's one thing I know about, it's this. So I wrote about it.

It's not behaviour I'm particularly proud of, so I rarely perform this song.

This is the song that falls apart. It starts as one of my peppy-about-the-depressing songs, like "The Alligator Song". It keeps that up for two verses, before dropping the mask. The "Oh, and I'm going under" tune was borrowed from my "Saga Tonite" version of "Stairway to Heaven".

I thought the chord progressions in the final section were original, but Tony Hightower pointed out that they match those of a Cranberries song. No matter what, it was tricky writing that three-syllable rhyme to go with it, and, as a result, it's a bit more symbolic than I usually get. Though I'm not proud of its content, I think the form of this song is worthy.

Questions, comments or suggestions about this web site? Email me at aaron.bentley@utoronto.ca