" Another Hard Year in Taos "
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" WAITRESS AT THE DONUT SHOP (THOSE EYES) "
The Lyrics
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I woke up this morning, around the break of day Walked down to the donut shop, about a mile away Had my coffee and my chocolate glazed, Read my paper in my morning haze It was just an ordinary day It was just an ordinary day "Refill, Sir" said a stunning vision Tied my tongue with indecision Eyes like diamonds drilled my soul Eyes wild fire burning out of control Swept my ordinary life away Swept my ordinary life away Did you see those eyes? Clear blue like New Mexico skies Makes a poet want to rhapsodize Those eyes, those eyes Did you see those eyes? Like a hundred thousand fireflies Makes a bishop want to sermonize Those eyes, those eyes Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who's the fairest one of all? Buttermilk or maple glazed, Killer creams that will amaze me But the thing that drives me crazy Is I just can't stop gazing at those eyes Woke up this morning and you were on my mind Thought about the donut shop and I started crying I can't call you up, I can't call you sweet The judge says, "Don't go within a thousand feet" This is no ordinary day, Damn sure not an ordinary day Did you see those eyes? Clear blue like New Mexico skies Makes a poet want to rhapsodize Those eyes, those eyes Did you see those eyes? Pierce my heart like an arrow flies Makes a prophet want to prophesize Those eyes, they tantalize Those eyes, I fantasize Those eyes |
Copyright 2002 by Richard De Stefano
Notes on the Song
| As my friend Jim Riggio used to say, this song is a "ditty." A "ditty" is a polite way to describe a song whose lyrics have no substance at all, and are just an excuse to make some thing you like musically into a full-fledged pop song, because it doesn't work as an instrumental, and you lack the poetic skills to write good words. (Think Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy...") The musical hook I liked so well is the opening piano figure, which was crying out to be made into a song. I extended that figure into a sort of 12-bar blues pattern (preserved only in the guitar solo), but had no verse words. The chorus came first lyrically, and I knew I was doomed to dittyness. By casting aside any pretension of lyrical substance, I came to the idea of writing about infatuation with a waitress at a donut shop (and changed the verse musically). For a while I had only the first two verses and the choruses, and only one key. Then I was inspired to write the bridge and third verse and modulate up a whole step, and really put some Maybelline on this warthog. Mike Hearne came to the studio one day and arranged and performed all three vocal harmony lines in about 20 minutes, having never heard the song before that moment. Mike, you're awesome. |
" Another Hard Year in Taos "
Good Day LA Two Hearts Hard Times Angelina The Champion Interlude al Presto
Sometimes It's Right The Sheriff Of Nottingham A New Father's Song
Waitress At The Donut Shop Coyote and Magpie
Another Hard Year in Taos
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509 Camino de la Placita - Taos, New Mexico 87571
ph: (505) 751-7100 - fax: (505) 751-1234
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