F Posterity, issue 8: "Narcissist Blues"

Piano was the first instrument I learned. My parents insisted my brothers and I take two years of lessons, and after that if we wanted to quit, we could. After two years, we all promptly quit, having paid our debt to society.

It wasn't until college when I was learning guitar that I got really interested in the piano again. With my recollection of rudimentary classical notation, I began to take undertake excruciating turns at reading ragtime scrolls like Joplin's "Solace" and the Maple Leaf Rag. Those, in turn, are candy when you look at Jelly Roll's crazy two-handed masterpieces.

The piano is really a thing of beauty. 88 strings hit by 88 felt-covered hammers, attached to a a keyboard of 88 keys and pedals that dampen or sustain their ring. It's like owning a car, only you can entertain guests in the parlor.

Last fall, in the midst of quitting my job and making a short film for a conference, I took the odd stroll on Craigslist and found an old upright piano for $350 bucks. I went to inspect it, and it was in great condition. It had been maintained by a piano teacher who was moving to San Fran and couldn't afford to take it with her. After looking it over and hearing it was originally from Nebraska, as I am, I had to have it. The fact that it's a 1916 model, and thus has been around through 9 decades of popular music, made it that much sweeter. The thing saw the tail end of the invention of jazz, its revival in the '40s, and all else throughout the 20th century. And still sounds good.

Anyway, it was another $300 to move it to my place, and worth every penny.

Now, I only need to learn to play it well. This is the first song I've composed on the piano, and you can hear I don't have the most deft hand. But them's complicated, playing those keys and singing at the same time.

Narcissist Blues

Well the first pink pearls of dawn come on and I'm staring at the same old scene
The last thing that I could see before the lights went out
And when my eyes are closed, I still see it all the nights around

Well the awful truth and the burden of proof weighs heavy on a hungry heart
'Cause ain't nobody seem to believe when I cop my plea
That as a matter of fact, she is still in love with me

But all things equal I think
I would just as soon take to drinkin' than
To watch you prostitute yourself with him

Well the last brass rays of sun go down and I'm standing on a sad side street
Making overtures of love to a young, cheap date
Pouring out my heart like an old peach crate

It's times like these I say, 'brother please, you got more class than this'
But there's only really ever one love of the narcissist
And the sight of her smarts 'cause you just can't forget that kiss

But all things equal I think
I would just as soon take to drinkin' than
To watch you prostitute yourself with him

And all things equal I think
I'd just as soon consign myself to drink
Than to watch you prostitute yourself with him

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006