FAWM: "Do you wanna hear a joke"

Do you wanna hear a joke

3 weeks ago by @theodamus

NSFW

Do you wanna hear a joke

theodamus

00:00

Liner Notes

I knew FAWM this year would be a bit of a different ride, because the last year has been full of changes - but I didn’t quite realise how different until I started this one.

I'm still me, I promise. As per tradition I’m doing way too much on song #1. And despite saying I was finished with apocalypse albums in 2023, well, here we are. Write what you know :)

I don’t normally explain much in liner notes, but this one isn’t as doom as it sounds. This started as a notes app/voice note wonder at 12.05am on Feb 1st because after so many FAWM years the conditioning is strong, then I set it aside and spent the weekend at a wedding, and I realised I’ve been to more queer weddings than queer funerals in the last few years, and queer joy is a shield and a weapon - and this is about that.

Drums are a garageband placeholder, guitars vocals and keys/synth me.

#rock #alternativerock #queer

Lyrics

Do you wanna hear a joke? you said
I’ve been telling it to you in my head all day
Will it make me laugh? I asked
The me in your head knows what you’ll say
Wanna hear a story instead?
The ending is we’re fucked either way
Ok

Watch the news like what the fuck dude
Somebody check the times
Outside it’s signs alright
I can read ‘em but I like the sounds
Do you wanna come round?

Do you wanna come down? you said
I've been staying out of bed like there’s hell to pay
If I’m in your head, I said
Not getting into bed is too little too late
Wanna hear a story instead?
The ending is we go to hell anyway
Ok

Watch the news like what the fuck dude
Somebody close the blinds
Outside it’s weirdly light, I can see it but I’m thinking aloud

Watch the news like what the fuck dude
Somebody check the times
Outside it’s signs alright
I can see ‘em but I like the sounds
Do you wanna come round?

Comments

@jackketch 2w

It’s hard not to write apocalyptic music when the world and news is so grim. Personally I appreciate your take on it - I really liked this on lots of different levels - sounds completely fully formed. Great lyrics, vocal performance, just everything really..

@wobbiewobbit 2w

love the energy in this, a raw punk cynicism. some really great lines, that news line just hits a spot perfect! the whole thing rocks! Really gives me a flavour of that attitude. the do you wanna come round is so good there, i dunno why but it seems so loaded. really like this!

@tfish77 2w

Ooh spooky vibes on this one. Great tone on the chugging rhythm guitar, and dig your vocal delivery. "Watch the news like what the fuck dude" << 💯💯💯

PS fuck yeah queer joy 💜

@squirrelhavenstudios 3w

Great lyrics and a great driving musical bed for them. Excellent start to the month.

@danieldeshon 3w

Epic! Great overall sound, like a transistor radio station coming in from the end of the world. Great lyric. Following!

@jamesstaubes 3w

I like the dynamics. It gives a lot more impact to have the band out during the verse and come in on the chorus. The guitar riff rocks!

@blainev83 3w

The lyrics hit hard. Love the riff. Cool vocal. It’s a fitting soundtrack to life right now.

@powerstars 3w

I'm really happy to hear things are moving in the right direction but I do really dig the grimmer sound of the song and especially the harmonies on the chorus. Real good stuff.

@leslie333 3w

Oh yeah, this feels just about right things being what they are! The soundtrack to our lives.

@ericalbert 3w

OK, now. A change in sound that suits the change in times. Love the heavy ragtag groove a la Neil Young. Love the passionate singing. Always love your elliptical way with words. And, beneath it all, the craft: parallel lines with small, key changes; internal slant rhymes. Glad this isn't as doom as it sounds (a low bar!).

@wizardofarc 3w

Love the guitars!
And the vibe is killer… I’m a sucker for quiet verses and big choruses

@disarming 3w

Hey there friend. This is epic. Love love love the lead guitar. Love the doubled up vocals on the chorus. This is a great first song. And a reminder to not watch the news. I'm done with that. At least for a bit.

@bradbrubaker 3w

So far FAWM2025 is gut punch after gut punch...not that I'm surprised given everything. Your song captures the sense of watching the world collapse and feeling helpless, yet the "Do you wanna come 'round?" seems to imply that not being alone is at least some comfort.

@andygetch 3w

Such a joyous guitar riff, thats gonna be an earworm!

@stephenwordsmith 3w

Having such a richness of insight and social commentary wrapped up in raw distorted rock reminds me of the best elements of REM's 'Monster'. The slight dissonance in the pacing between the vocals and instruments is compelling in an uneasy way... then the first line of the chorus hits like a truck - a truck that runs you over, then you pick yourself up and stand in its path again because you want more.

But the most striking thing for me was your nod in the liner notes that you had only now been to more queer weddings than funerals. We're a similar age, and hoo, boy, is that line damning society with faint praise.

@morti 3w

Fucking A. This is awesome. That grungy guitar is right up my alley and the lyrics are super cool. Love the change-up in the chorus and the darkness of the verses but man "do you wanna come round" there's the joy, there's the community. Love it.

@tageule 3w

Love the energy of this. Great song. Here's to that kind of shield and weapon.

@atam94 3w

Such a heavy theme. I'm listening for a second time because that chorus is way too good. Nicely done!

@yam655 3w

An apocalypse album, huh? This (both the song, and like everything) seems like good start to it. It is a great song. Nicely done.

@nwhosings 3w

Oof. That watch the news line is too real right now.
I think you capture the sense of dread that can be so pervasive in contrast to the tangible joys we can experience every day really well. Not that the dread isn't real, but it's not as immediately interactable as the joys can be. And we have to hold on to those joys so fiercely.
The grungy/heavy instrumental treatment goes so well with your vocals! Great music!

@tcelliott 3w

I'm loving the heavy without being too heavy feeling. The dirty guitar is just dirty enough. The melody is great, it draws me in. Especially the chorus. That first line, 'Watch the news..." is catchy without being bubblegum. It's an earworm in my brain.

@catetaylor 3w

This is a ripper. Love it. Powerful melody and lyrically full of interesting sound pairing and imagery. Thank god the weddings are outnumbering the funerals. Queer joy a shield and weapon - love!

@balancelost 3w

Ooh this is catchy as heck. It feels like hard rock for walking through a snowy night. I like those dark guitar shapes and that chorus flows superbly. The melodic twists are so satisfying.