5090 by FAWM: "A Lot on her Plate"

A Lot on her Plate

6 weeks ago by @berni1954

Challenge: Idiom

A Lot on her Plate

berni1954

00:00

Liner Notes

PLEASE LISTEN FIRST before reading these notes...THANKS

This one was for the idiom (or sayings) challenge, but could also fit the REFRAIN challenge.

As obesity and diabetes are becoming rampant in the "Civilised West" there must be more and more stories like this one.

My narrator feels helpless as his partner pours on the pounds, despite serious health warnings.

I think I was channeling my inner Stephen Foster with this. IMPORTANT NOTE: Have I plagiarised this tune from some other existing song? I just looked at the lyrics with a Tin Whistle in my hand and this tune emerged as if by magic - so I'm suspicious that it might have already been in the memory banks 😉

INSTRUMENT: Johnny Guitar Tenor Banjo strung with Nylon strings - making it a Baritone Banjolele

#fuc #baritoneukulele

PS for our US listeners "Crisps" are what you guys call "Chips" which are what we call "French Fries"

Lyrics

She's got a lot on her plate
I don't know how she'll cope
I've tried my best to help her
But I'm giving up all hope
Her cup is overflowing
I do not see the need
Is she driven by addiction
Or a compelling desire to feed?

The doctor has warned her
It's a danger to her health
She knows she shouldn't do it
But she cannot help herself
Yes, she's cut down on the sugar
The alcohol and fat
But she gorges on those snack foods
Who will cure her now of that?

She's got a lot on her plate
But it's salad stuff and greens
Later will come crisps and nuts
Or she'll heat a can of beans
I watch it all in silence
How I wish she'd get control
It's so hard to watch your loved one
Fall down deeper in a hole

CHORDS?
Three Chord Trick in plain "D"

Comments

@marthie 5w

Love the perspective. Maybe I should send this to my husband- got the speech recently about weight! And diabetes family history it’s a challenge not to fall into family eating habits!

@mikeskliar 6w

and as a ps, no I dont think the tune is specifically plagarized from some other tune, its got a fairly common chord progression, (with that major II in there, a nice touch!) but nothing to worry about the copyright police!

@mikeskliar 6w

An important and sometimes overlooked subject, and you covered it well and with compassion and understanding. Many of us have been there, or had loved ones been there, and this really sets out the situation well. great work! (and I look forward to a song down the road extolling the virtues of those GLP-1 medications (which really are miracle drugs from what I've witnessed)

@musicsongwriter 6w

Great idea for refrain challenge. Upbeat music with poignant lyrics. Very lovely listen.

@coolparadisoMod 6w

Good song in content and delivery! A real issue worldwide

@sunfire 6w

Original idea to sing about. Yes, a major issue for many. Everything from the food plate to the car size to expectations to waistlines seems to be getting bigger and bigger. Should be something for us all to think about. Glad you addressed it in a song.

@billwhite51 6w

i dont know if this specific tune was used before, but there are a lot of tunes in this genre that are similar. the familiarity is what makes it so likeable. althought he tune is light and carefree, the lyrics are not. they offer a brief and exacting analysis of the obese over-eater. What I really like is that you never get gross in your descriprions of her eating habits, as for example monty python did in the meaning of life. this is an affable, caring song about a person with a problem that is shared by many.

@roddy 6w

Such a clever title. I followed your instructions and listened before reading the notes. As @gwynjones says this is a difficult topic to write about but your empathy and musicality makes it work well.

@gwynjones 6w

You bravely address a very real and increasingly common problem here with wit, warmth and a degree of warning...a difficult trick to pull off but you do a wonderful job of ding so with this song...

Command Center

A Lot on her Plate

Liner Notes

Lyrics

Comments

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