“Piece of Solid Ground” - a song about searching
Recorded on the Coast of Oregon
*360 video included. (Make sure to adjust the quality settings up, they can default to lower res).
Story Pairing
I love scallops. Love em.
As I was driving the Oregon coast I had been planning on stopping somewhere and digging in. On the road I end up eating a lot of cheap things and try to keep the van stocked with quick meals so that I’m not eating through the money I make from shows. That’s what will kill you in this line of work, hotels and meals. So I was setting a little aside for a big plate of Scallops.
When I was recording this video, a man and his dog came over to where I was while I was tearing down. (His dog almost peed on my backpack). We got to talking and he told me about a town called Yachats with a popular Seafood restaurant there. He all but grabbed me by the shoulders and shook my while screaming the name of the place to go. His enthusiasm caught on, and I packed up the van and peeled out of there like a bat out of hell. I was running slowpokes off the road, not letting old ladies cross, and throwing bottles at cars that wouldn’t let me pass… I had some scallops to get.
I pulled into the restaurant at the same time as a big family, and did the move where you walk faster through the parking lot to get to the door first so you don’t have to get stuck behind a big party. They saw me and I swear decided as a collective that they wouldn’t be shown up by a punk, so we got to the door at almost the same time. I touched it first.. but my midwest took over my brain and I pulled the door open, stepped off to the side, and said “after you”…. (polite fool).
I stood in line as the young hostess became flustered by all the demands of the large party and letting them know that it would be a moment before they could get a table ready in the section they wanted. I pushed my way through triumphantly and stated loudly “just one, I’m fine to sit anywhere”. She directed me towards the bar area, and I followed, while spinning around and tipping my hat to the losers behind me.
I got situated and ordered an iced tea and the scallops dinner. I was riding high. King in the castle. A lean mean tiger of a traveler bobbing and weaving through the obstacles in my way, always with the eye on the prize.
My dinner comes out. I triangulate my prey. I grab my knife and fork, holding in place with my fork, as my knife cuts a scallop in half (with a peculiar amount of resistance). I place the skewered half in my mouth with a sneer… and… quickly spit it out into my napkin. That son of a bitch was frozen in the middle and tasted like fish flavored nothing. I’m not a picky eater, but these were trash. I blame it all on the large party. I don’t know how and why, but it was their fault. Oh, and that guy with the dog. It wasn’t even a cute dog, and that guy had bad breath.
I let my waitress know and switched to the fried fish. Lame. Safe. Tasted fine. Ate it. Left. Went to a campsite. Cried myself to sleep.
As I write this I am in Montana, and it’s making me hungry (oddly). I wonder how the seafood is out here.
Song Structure
Chords:
Verse - G / C / D / G
Chorus - G / C / D / G
(another easy one)
Voice Memos
No Notebook Page
Written in 2017
Another tune placed in a lost notebook…
Lyrics
Just looking for a piece of solid ground
Some place where I can put my two feet down
I’ll roam around till I have found That piece of ground
Well my boots are in the corner, they’ve been known for catching dust
That car outside the garage, well it’s turning straight to rust
My thumbs are tired of spinning and my gears are getting stuck
My chickens bald, there ain't no more to pluck
Just looking for a piece of solid ground
Some place where I can put my two feet down
I’ll roam around till I have found That piece of ground
Break
My bed is sitting empty, ain't no girl for me to hold
That loaf of bread is past its prime, it's been collecting mold
That kitchen sink is drip drip drip drip dripping me to dry
My bill folds telling me to please stand by
Just looking for a piece of solid ground
Some place where I can put my two feet down
I’ll roam around till I have found That piece of ground x3