I got the idea for this song from my usual source of inspiration, my books. A tip for budding songwriters: if you need a good title for your song, just walk up and down the fiction aisles of a library. There are thousands of words and phrases that have been vetted by venal publishers and editors to be the most provocative, eye-catching titles possible, and they're all lined up on shelves facing you. Just tilt your head a bit to the right.
It might even help if you use the prose of the book, too. Perhaps this song would have been better if I had followed the plot of William Faulkner's book instead of using a situation I found myself in with a woman at the time. The version below was recorded in 2013 with my harmonizer and acoustic guitar. There's an earlier version below the doodle.
Written: Gallagher Street, Las Cruces NM, 1980
Knees was thinking of
the William Faulkner novel when he wrote this whiny ballad. Too bad he didn’t
follow the plot better. The song sounded pretty good when Knees was playing with a group called Night Flight. He was the piano player and the guitarist, Mike Gregory, was amazing. Unfortunately, Knees never was able to get a copy of the few recordings they made.
You call on me when you
can use me
When you’re feelin low
you choose me
You count on me, I’m a soft place you
can fall
But while you’re out
gettin lonely
Til it hurts so much
you phone me
I’m thinkin someday, I won’t be here when
you call.
Everybody needs a
sanctuary
A place to hide when
you’re feelin too well known
Everybody needs a
sanctuary
Well I’m somebody and I need
one of my own.
I love your mind I’ve
been inside it
But somethin’s wrong
we’re too one-sided
I’m sinkin fast, and I
can’t wait too long
So when your nights
begin to bruise you
Let’s just hope I don’t
refuse you
I’m tryin hard but I
can only be so strong.
Everybody needs a
sanctuary
A place to hide, a
friend that you can call
Everybody needs a
sanctuary
I’m somebody and I need
you most of all.
Coral
Recorded in 1993
