“Dandelion” - a song about exploitation
Flowers, dogma, stars, ghosts, energy, politicians, heroes, art, drugs, food, etc. Part of being human seems to trying to find ways to get things to fix or save us.
Story Pairing
I’ve always found the concept of placing our well being or our fate in the hands of man made “saviors” to be an interesting idea. I wonder about all the different versions of that same concept that have come and gone over the years. It seems to be human nature to have champions of our luck, talismans that we tether ourselves too in the hopes that we receive a blessing or good fortune.
In my van I have this little red and black crystal skull. It’s perhaps an ominous figurine, but I’ve had it in every single one of my cars since I started driving. I don’t even remember where I got it, but I’ve moved it from car to car over the years and in my head I think of it as a type of “heat sink”, but for ill fortune. I drive so much, that the idea of having a little extra luck on the road is a comforting thought.
Maybe it’s my cautious driving that has kept me out of an accident or maybe it’s a bit of shaped mineral… who really knows. Some may be reading this and cringe at the idea of me “jinxing” myself. As if the sharing of a self made belief bursts the bubble of protection that I made for myself… there is a part of me that is thinking the same thing (maybe by bringing attention to that fact I can appease the greater powers with some praise or acknowledgment that they have some sway over my path and that is enough for them to not dillute my lucky charm)…
In this tune I focus on how we use flowers for a number of different cases. I googled them of course, and it’s also amazing how many flowers mean so many different things. I had to juggle the ideas and individual plants a bit to work with the song, but they landed in this way.
Daisy - used to decide if a potential love interest feels the same
Marigold - can be used to mean good luck (more often it’s a financial luck, but I took some liberty)
Carnation - can be used to say sorry, specifically if they are pink
Rose - love of course
Dandelion - the queen of wishes
*Personally my favorite flower is the one left alone.
That said, I am almost certainly going to send some flowers this week for Valentine’s day. Capitalism beats out floral longevity once again.
Song Structure
*Capo 2
Verse: C walk to G / F / C / G / F / G / C / E7 / A / G / F / C / G / F / C
Chorus: C / E7 / Am / G / F / C / G / F / C
Voice Memos
Notebook Page
Jan 2025
Lyrics
I’m sick and tired of the sick and tired
Pulling me from the dirt
Messing my hair with wishes
Like that’s gonna stop the hurt
Boohoo who’s gonna want to hold you
If you ain’t really trying
no saving in the greenhouse
or a god damn dandelion
So you got heartache and you’re all alone
Sit and watch the tears fall by a silent telephone
You picked my cousin crazy she loves me maybe she loves me no
Maybe that old daisy in the garden loved to grow
Hoping for some good luck, got your fingers crossed
Picking her up at 7, with goals to warm up the frost
Nothing says good fortune like a corpse held to the chest
Pin my sister to your target marigold wishes you the best
Chorus
You’re in the doghouse, and need a quick reply
I’d try to warn you but that be a waste of a try
How about a sorry bunch of regret with the sweet smell of decay
My brother, dear carnations, is the apology of the day
So we helped you get your big plans back on track
She’s got her white dress, and you got your suit of black
Warm your throwing arm there cutie, and practice that winning smile
The petals of mother rose will take you down the aisle
Chorus
When your time is over, when your long past gray
When you croaked and left her there to slowly wilt away
She doesn’t come to see you, no flowers on your stone
Me and all my family are finally left alone