I decided to go with something a bit more lighthearted for today’s song, since the last few have been heavy subject-wise. And yes, I recognize the irony of calling a song “lighthearted” when it has “sad” in its title. I was trying to do something simpler and shorter than the last few, which feel like they’ve been expanding away from me. This one has a fairly simple structure and harmony (nothing fancier than V7-of-V and I7), unless you count the modulation to the 4th scale degree for the bridge.

Recorded as per usual with the laptop mono speaker. This time, I used a tenor uke and a soprano uke for the two instruments, with the tenor also playing the little instrumental leads. Those lead sections are the only things standing in the way of this being in standard 32 bar form, by the way (I guess the extra bar pivoting to the bridge also counts).

Lyrics

This beard is a sad beard
Though I don’t really know
Exactly why I grew it
It was so long ago

 

I wish it could be happy 

Saying so is not my place
I’ve got a morose rebel
Sprouting from my face

Was it the pandemic?
Malaise at my job?
Something else entirely that
Made it droop and sob?

This beard is a sad beard
Think I’ll keep it around
We’ve all gotta live somewhere
Even when we’re down