The weekend was kind of mixed. Had a whole table full of Georges for the birthday D&D one-shot with teenage boys. We got through it, though, even if I had to crack down on the whole “chaotic evil cannibal” character concept.

I did discover the wonderful Everything Sucks! on Neflix on Sunday afternoon (pure, distilled 90s nostalgia, even if it’s a little behind me, who had just graduated college in 96 rather than being a high school student), and Black Panther on Saturday was amazing, and totally lived up to the hype. I’m sure thinking about it I’ll find some holes like I always do, and yes, it did end up with “good guy fighting evil opposite” again like Marvel does too often (although the “evil opposite” was very well done until he put on the mirror of our hero’s suit), but it gave us Letitia Wright as Shuri, which makes up for all kinds of other failings.

I took the weekend off from songwriting, though this morning brought me back to it, inspired by my revisiting of one of my greatest social failings:

-verse 1-
hello friend, we’ve met before
we see each other several times a year
we talk and laugh at these events,
all kinds of pleasantries dispensed
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name

Hello friend, where have we met
was it a work thing or a con or through the kids
I remember that you have a cat
have strong feelings on bowler hats
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name

-prechorus/bridge-
my greatest social weakness
is that I get right to conversation
small talk feels meaningless
I’d rather our ideas avoid stagnation
I’m great at banking faces
no fear of polite embraces
but names are my greatest vexation

-chorus-
I love you friend, but I don’t know your name
I love you friend, but I don’t know your name
your face is clear, your voice is too
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name

-verse 2-
hello friend, we meet here once again
I’m glad you like new tunes, I do too
you hand me the CD to sign
of course you want it personalized
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name

hello friend, oh yes, my wife is fine
we all met last year at that charity fundraiser
I recall yours preferred sparking juices
she’s a botanist who studies ancient spruces
but I’ve never ever ever heard her name

-prechorus/bridge-
my greatest social weakness
is that I get right to conversation
small talk feels meaningless
I’d rather our ideas avoid stagnation
I’m great at banking faces
no fear of polite embraces
but names are my greatest vexation

-chorus-
I love you friend, but I don’t know your name
I love you friend, but I don’t know your name
your face is clear, your voice is too
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name

-verse 3-
hello friend, oh yes, you’ve changed your hair
we talked about your plans to change it over drinks
it was blonde when I saw you last
purple now, flattering, iconoclast
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name

hello friend, of course I’ll share a drink
I remember we closed down the hotel bar once upon a time
we talked of european politics
cotton fabric and brown dog ticks
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name

-prechorus/bridge-
my greatest social weakness
is that I get right to conversation
small talk feels meaningless
I’d rather our ideas avoid stagnation
I’m great at banking faces
no fear of polite embraces
but names are my greatest vexation

-chorus-
I love you friend, but I don’t know your name
I love you friend, but I don’t know your name
your face is clear, your voice is too
but I’ve never ever ever heard your name