Looking through old journals I came across a memory from years and years ago. I was on this date that wasn’t really a date; we were “just friends” but there was a pretty obvious air of sizing each other up. It was at a Cracker Barrel near the highway mouth because I was about to leave town. After lunch we wanted to keep talking, so we settled into the rocking chairs outside to play oversized checkers. After a few minutes I was brutally dominating the match and trying not to laugh. He didn’t throw a tantrum, but he did make a comment that was as pointed as it was detached: “I’d like to play you in chess.”
Perhaps it’s no surprise that relationship didn’t amount to anything. It’s hard to build something genuine when you start from a basis of conniving competition. Over a decade later I can chuckle and appreciate the intensity of that moment, as absurd as it now seems.
This is a song I assumed I’d let go immediately after I finished writing it, but for whatever reason it was stuck in my head. After playing it on Twitch a few times and bringing it in for NSAI feedback, I decided to drag the piano roll up to a higher key and re-track vocals to match, but otherwise everything on this demo is untouched from the day I laid it down. While I’m wrapping up recording my first “real” EP, I’m embracing imperfection with these song blogs, treating them as archives rather than production practice. Maybe later I’ll circle back around and tweak the arrangement. If this is as far as this song goes, it’s been fun. KM
Checkers or Chess
Say you wanna play me in chess
Boy, we already are
Any other move you try next
I know you’re gonna fall
‘Cause I always play black and your cheeks are bright red
For me there’s no suspense
‘Cause I’m not scared to lose
But you’ll never win if you never choose
You can keep holding your breath
For me it’s a game but for you it’s life or death
It can be checkers or chess
I’m sixty steps ahead
This could take us all afternoon
If you keep standing still
I don’t need to break any rules
I’ve got the time to kill
Your whimpers and jabs won’t get under my skin
I know I’ve got you pinned
‘Cause I’m not scared to lose
But you’ll never win if you never choose
You can keep pounding your chest
For me it’s a game but for you it’s life or death
It can be checkers or chess
I’m still ten steps ahead
All the king’s horses and men
Can’t take down a queen when she’s self-possessed
All the king’s horses and men
Then don’t stand a chance when the queen wants revenge
‘Cause I’m not scared to lose
But you’ll never win if you never choose
You can keep hedging your bets
For me it’s a game but for you it’s life or death
It can be checkers or chess
I’ll stay one step ahead