FAWM: "A Patchwork Whale"

A Patchwork Whale

1 week ago by @johncrossman · @bradbrubaker

A Patchwork Whale

johncrossman +1

00:00

Liner Notes

Brad says: I missed John's music so far this FAWM. I sent him this idea for a song title. (The idea came to me while watching one of this year's Oscar-nominated animated shorts.) He took the ball and ran with it. I honestly had nothing to do with the song, but am honored he thought me worthy of collaboration status.

John says: This is what happens when...

#musicexistsbut #bluesorjazzorchildrens #acousticonetake #cheesepatch #sorepetitive

Lyrics

A Patchwork Whale
On a patchwork planet
Used to be dark blue
Denim fabric

With patches deep
Corduroy underneath
And patches pale
As the shallow sea

No brand name,
no tag to be found
If the size of the whale is the size of a whale, how’s it
get around?

Patchwork whale
gets waterlogged
From the edge of the tub
Or the bowl of the dog

Patchwork mammal
Doesn’t fear the shark
Only backing the van up
To parallel park

The largest heart,
And a whole cast of friends
It can fix any kind of relationship problems and flip
broken scripts

Patchwork whale
Has a soft hem
for Radiohead’s second
album The Bends

Patchwork whale’s
Never seen the sea
But patchwork whale
Really sees me

Patchwork whale
Patchwork ambergris
Patchwork honesty
A patchwork kiss
Patchwork's all that we'll
Ever be
I’m sure you’ve deduced it by now that patchwork whale is patchwork you and patchwork me

Comments

@dasbinky 3d

If it's got John Crossman chords, John Crossman melodicism, John Crossman vibrato, and John Crossman lyrical imagery, it's probably a John Crossman song. And this is a John Crossman song.

Great turns of phrase, this is the kind of tune you make feel effortless.

@guatecoop 5d

Oh man, a lot of talent in this collab. Goodness this is one of those songs that sounds like you’ve been playing it for years. It also is comfortable like a song that I’ve heard for years—but haven’t. Really excellent song!

@bradbrubaker 1w

Thanks for running with my idea, @johncrossman ! It's like a Shel Silverstein nursery rhyme, but for adults. The "fearing parallel parking" part couldn't help but make me smile, though it wasn't the only moment I did.

@bethdesombre 1w

Yes! Had to listen to a collaboration between two of my favorite writers. This is is adorable and so fully realized. That last stanza is killer, and so many elements that come before are fantastic ("If the size of the whale is the size of a whale, how’s it get around?" "Only backing the van up/ To parallel park"), including the bits that put a lot of syllables into a small space.

@nancyrostMod 1w

What a whimsical concept and sweet, swinging musical rendition. I particularly like the delivery of the longer lines in triplets. Some excellent surprises and juxtapositions in the lyrics. Particularly like shark / parallel park, patchwork ambergris, and the Radiohead reference.