[TITLE: PORCH SWING PHILOSOPHY] [ARTIST: EARTHLING] [STYLE: Warm, playful folk swing. Bouncing acoustic guitar, upright bass, brushed snare, light fiddle, and answering harmonica. Natural room sound; smiling, conversational male baritone.] [TEMPO: 104 BPM | KEY: G MAJOR] [INTRO — chair creak, birdsong, acoustic guitar finds a lazy swing] [Spoken] I had plans this morning. Morning had other plans. [VERSE 1] Woke up late to an early sun Coffee went cold before I’d begun Dog in the yard was chasing a bee Neither one worried about being me Bird on the wire sang half a tune I was supposed to be somewhere by noon Sat for a minute and watched the day Watched all my big plans wander away [PRE-CHORUS — upright bass walks in] I leaned on back and let them go Some days that’s all I need to know [CHORUS — fiddle lifts, easy harmonies] Swing a little left, swing a little right Miss one turn and find a lovely sight You can spend your whole life straightening the sky Or pull up a chair and let the clouds roll by Laugh while you can, love while you’re here The road gets easier when you loosen the steer Hey, swing a little left, swing a little right There’s room for a good surprise tonight [VERSE 2 — brushed snare and playful guitar] Neighbor came by with no news to bring Sat down slow and gave the porch a swing We settled no scores and we made no plans Just watched the rain come across the land Thunder rolled in with a low “hello” I tipped my cup and said, “I know” Rain on the roof found a shuffle beat My neighbor tapped time with both his feet [PRE-CHORUS — instruments pause on the last line] The world was turning before we came It’ll keep right on through the rain [CHORUS] Swing a little left, swing a little right Miss one turn and find a lovely sight You can spend your whole life straightening the sky Or pull up a chair and let the clouds roll by Laugh while you can, love while you’re here The road gets easier when you loosen the steer Hey, swing a little left, swing a little right There’s room for a good surprise tonight [INSTRUMENTAL — fiddle and harmonica trade short, laughing phrases] [BRIDGE — guitar and bass only, vocal close] Maybe the meaning ain’t far away Maybe it came by and sat down today Maybe arriving can wait a while For rain on the roof and a friend’s half-smile If you’ve got questions, bring ’em along We can leave a little space between the words of this song [FINAL CHORUS — full porch band, communal harmonies] Swing a little left, swing a little right Miss one turn and find a lovely sight Take what you need, give what you can Leave a chair beside you for another friend Laugh while you can, love while you’re here Hold somebody close when the weather ain’t clear Hey, swing a little left, swing a little right We don’t have to understand it to enjoy the ride [OUTRO — instruments fall away to guitar and chair creak] [Spoken, smiling] I had plans this morning. Funny thing— this was better. [Harmonica answers. Natural room fade.]
