Many times

I’ve written three songs this fall, but I’m going to start with the most straight-forward one to discuss: “Many Times.” I feel like it’s the most subtle one, rich with layers of very personal meaning. I suppose it’s about gratitude for feeling true love, and bursting with the desire to share true love. There’s definitely an element of celebrating where the carnal meets the divine.

I was inspired directly by making love. A tune emerged there in the night. Suddenly, the words “with you, it is so simple” pulled me into my ‘study’ after midnight on Monday, November 30th.

Actually, I tried to get by with a thirteen second video in the kitchen, capturing a couple of lyrics, so I could go back to sleep. Now, go back to the “simple” line. I thought: what if I really need this again, one day- to set a shiny, hopeful tone? What if it’s meant to be loved by others?

I sat down with the pen and notebook, first, writing lyrics to the verse melody. I quickly picked up ‘Pretty Baby’ and played the riff that kept me from sleeping, established the chords, then went back to composing most of the words.

I’ve thought it sounds a bit like a tune for Badfinger or Teenage Fanclub or Big Star. Maybe if I type it up, I thought, I’ll put it in order, too. I had eye-balled it and thought it’d go something like this. Originally, I wrote the first part of the second verse, last.

“Many Times” words and music by Lue Lyron

Before we make love

I sometimes get so nervous

what did I ever do to deserve Us

The feeling’s fuel, another rocket high

Your pretty face takes me to the sky

Can’t hide, I get excited

in you, I feel invited

Ah-hah, so many times / I feel your love around me but there is no rhyme

to spell all of the changes/ dispell the fear of danger

Love light another way that’s tossed /

thru the tries and goodbyes, I’m gonna pay the cost

Though I wanna take the world/

whatever I can’t take, you know you’re still my girl

2. My doubts and defenses fall in quick succession

One trip around the sun, a thousand sessions

With you, I cross a nation/ hang on our conversations

Funny how, after the distance, crossed

We fall by other ways, but we never stay lost

Right here, would be so sinful

With you, it is so simple

Ah-hah, so many times / So many times!

Ah-hah, so many times / So many times!

Ah-hah, so many times / I feel your love around me but there is no rhyme

to spell all of the changes/ dispell the fear of danger

Love light another way that’s tossed /

thru the tries and goodbyes, I’m gonna pay the cost

Though I wanna take the world/

whatever I can’t take, you know you’re still my girl

Ah-ha, so many times/ so many times!

Ah-hah, so many times / I feel your love around me but there is no rhyme

to spell all of the changes/ dispell the fear of danger

Love light another way that’s tossed /

thru the tries and goodbyes, I’m gonna pay the cost

Though I wanna take the world/

whatever I can’t take, you know you’re still my girl

Ah-hah, so many times/ so many times! (four times, and fade)

-Cecil Disharoon, Jr.