Number Three

Listen while you read:  TMBG Live!

There's only two songs in me and I just wrote the third
Don't know where I got the inspiration or how I wrote the words
Spent my whole life just digging up my music's shallow grave
For the two songs in me and the third one I just made

A rich man once told me, "Hey, life's a funny thing"
A poor man once told me that he couldn't afford to speak
Now I'm in the middle like a bird without a beak
'Cause there's just two songs in me and I just wrote the third
. . . 

So I went to the President and I asked old what's-his-name
Has he ever gotten writer's block or something like the same
He just started talking like he was on TV
"If there's just two songs in ya, boy, whaddaya want from me?"

So I bought myself some denim pants and a silver guitar
But I politely told the ladies, "You'll still have to call me 'Sir'
Because I have to keep my self-respect, I'll never be a star
Since there's just two songs in me, and this is Number Three"

~  John Flansburgh & John Linnell (They Might Be Giants)

I thought it might be time for some levity. But first, time for that clever little anomaly called Coincidence. In anticipation of my trip to Georgia, I've been counting down the days, and today, I needed a song with the number three in it. So I did the usual; I googled "songs with three in the title." While I love Ray LaMontagne's "Three More Days," I didn't think there would be much to say about it, so I kept scrolling down the list. I listened to a few, including Willie Nelson's "Three Days," remarking to myself that I was unfamiliar with that song, even though I know a lot of Willie's stuff. I settled on TMBG's "Number Three" and started typing the lyrics.

And then something caught my ear. I had WFUV streaming, as I do every day. What song were they playing? "Three Days" by Willie Nelson! Did WFUV read my mind? Seriously, I don't think I'd ever heard that song, certainly not on WFUV. Man, I love this shit.

So They Might Be Giants might be the Kings of Clever. This song, from 1986, appears on The Pink Album. And it begs the question: how in the world did TMBG predict the Presidency of what's-his-name who talks like he's on TV back in 1986? Whaddaya want from me?

There's only two songs in me . . . I have written two songs (lyrics, not music). One has been recorded by The Good Whuppin' String Band. And I've been asked to write another one for them, so maybe TMBG just gave me a nudge to do so. It's now on my to-do list.

Now I'm in the middle like a bird without a beak. I will spend the rest of the day contemplating that line while I get started on packing for my trip. Three more days, Georgia. Three more days.