July 06, 2005
essentially, a way of reprocessing
Yet again, I have repeatedly been side-tracked away from actually writing music. Thankfully, I had the past week to focus energies on finishing up this song.
This is dedicated to the Quitter's Club; you know who you are.
Download: Goodbye, Dear Situation
Appropriately enough, it is about my EX-job and the process of leaving it. It is surprisingly hard to walk away from anything as significant as a job or a relationship or whatever even if it sucks. It is all you know, having been pounded into your life for so long, and in some ways, an unpleasant known can seem less scary than the unknown potential for something better.
Just have a listen. Maybe you've felt this way before.
why doesn't this song sound happier?
this is a good question. I suppose the answer is because though I am, in fact, very happy to be leaving my job, the whole process of jumping into a huge unknown is scary and I feel some apprehension because of that. There is no question in my mind that leaving the job was the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean I will be successful at my new endeavors.
What are you going to do with yourself now?
sit around the house and watch TV all day. maybe I'll surf the internet too...
Do you like having conversations with yourself?
Yes.
Do you think that you sound wicked smart in those recordings?
absolutely. that's why I included them.
Do you get paid more if you use lots of business lingo in your conversations?
yes; that's just the way it works in corporate America.
Those three marimba lines in the penultimate section are really cool.
thanks.
Why did you quit your job?
if hearing this song doesn't make that abundantly clear, you have issues.
How much does soda cost now?
Why is this song so long?
well, I worked there for a while.
was there a specific reason you used the sped up recording of your piano tuning in this song?
YES
Can you get fired for writing this song? Oh yeah, I guess not anymore...
Posted by halsey at July 6, 2005 11:18 AMLOL! I remember the days when Darby, our old CEO, would say "the day we don't have free soda is the day we shouldn't work here", or something to that effect.
Good luck H-man, and don't look back!
Posted by: Amitabh at July 6, 2005 04:45 PMAmen, man. I claim ownership to the free soda idea at our old place...what a bummer it is gone.
Here's to all of us who have left the corporate life to explore new worlds.
Hope you kick major butt Halsey!
Posted by: Christina at July 6, 2005 07:16 PMI recommended charging for soda 3 years ago...now that we finally are, I lose my job, isn't that ironic?
Halsey, I'm impressed with your creativity. I'm sure that you'll be very successful with whatever you plan on doing, e.g. watching t.v., surfing the net, sitting on the couch!
Seriously, follow your dreams, it's the only way you'll truly be happy! Keep up the good work.
Posted by: RobDu at July 6, 2005 08:39 PMHaving worked the vast majority of my life in the not-for-profit sector, and having rarely received ANYTHING for free at work (besides water -- maybe on a good day), I am beginning to realize that I have made some poor career choices in my life. Free soda? You guys got free soda? Even $0.25 soda doesn't sound so bad right about now.
Having left my job much sooner than you, Halsey, I would be delighted to give you some insight into the best daytime television out there!
Posted by: I chose the wrong path at July 7, 2005 12:13 PMPriceless. If only we all could go through this type of therapeutic purging of demons on a periodic basis. It scares me that the nonsense that is the subject of your talking is something that I can actually recognize.
Posted by: Mike at July 13, 2005 11:48 AMsome prices are too high to pay for subsidized soda...
perhaps simply listening to this song can help purge the BIG YELLOW-ness? that would be good.
Love it! The best line is "that doesn't make sense to me and it sounds like it doesn't make sense to you." It is just the way it goes!
Big yellow-ness is being purged!
