ElisabethIf you are at all familiar with previous Steve and Chris releases (including the first three 52 song project songs), you know Chris tends to write pop songs, Steve veers to love songs. So in the spirit of the New Year in the world, a new Environment Minister here in Canada and a new zodiac sign throughout this galaxy, queue a new genre for 52 song project: hate songs.

Song

Discussion

STEVE: I must first make a disclaimer about this song: to all those I have known, know now, and ever will know whose names in some way, shape or form sound, or look, like the name Elisabeth: I can assure you this song is not about you. (These people include, but are not limited to my brother’s girlfriend, my sister, several people I worked at summer camps with and my presumably dead cat. Oh, and the Queen).

CHRIS: You guys, Steve is hilariously and adorably terrified of insulting someone with this song. In fact, he could take his disclaimer even further and guarantee that this song is about no one he’s ever known (or even any person who has ever existed at all), but for some reason he doesn’t want you to know what it’s actually about. Which perplexes me, because I know what it’s about and can’t imagine anyone being upset, but Ima go with it.

STEVE: Terrified. I just mainly don’t want to hurt anybody. As much as possible, I live my life along the lines of peace, love, respect and all of those other overused and often misrepresented words, so I am essentially quite trepidatious about this, my first hate song.

CHRIS: You guys! Adorable! Anyway, what I find truly trepidatious is that this is by far the most rushed we’ve been to get a song out on time. In fact, even as we write this late (LATE!) Thursday night, the final mix, which must must go online at 9 a.m. Friday morning lest we violate our official contract with you, dear listener, is not yet done. So this week has been a bit nerve-wracking, but I’m feeling good about it now.

STEVE: Yeah, I agree (good about it), but me too (first time I have felt the pressure of writing 52 songs) (err… only 4 songs in). Starting to realize what we signed up for. This week’s song, I believe I can venture to say, goes into new territory for us: unaffectionate overtones, with a bit of a bluesy undertone. It is also our first pseudo-interactive song as it contains as much of a “raging guitar solo” as I can muster at this time (which was listener suggested).

CHRIS: It was also a remote collaboration. Steve wrote and recorded the main bits, then sent the files to me using Dropbox, and I did some editing, mixing, and added backing vocals. I then sent the files back to him so he could finish the drums and bounce the final file. Anyway, the first time I heard this song it got stuck in my head, and I respectfully hope it gets stuck in yours too.

STEVE: … hope it gets stuck in yours too. Gets stuck in yours too. Stuck in yours too. In yours too. Ella. Ella. Eh. Eh. Eh.

Lyrics

Oh Elisabeth! I hate you so!
Oh Elisabeth! You really suck my soul, suck my soul.
You make my young grow old
Oh Elisabeth, I hate you so!

I came to you, one night last year
For some shelter from all my fears, from my fears
I wanted hope, all you gave me was tears
It’s time for me to drive back north, my dear

Oh Elisabeth! I hate you so!
Oh Elisabeth! You really suck my soul, suck my soul
You make my young grow old
Oh Elisabeth, I hate you so!

Every one of your hours, feels like a day
I wanted to leave, but you got me to stay, me to stay
Your heart is of concrete, cold, dark and gray
And your eyes are two black holes several light years away

Oh Elisabeth! I hate you so!
Oh Elisabeth! You really suck my soul, suck my soul.
You make my young grow old
Oh Elisabeth, I hate you so!

I always tried to love you
I have a good heart that’s always true
But you strangled my smiles, you choked them blue
Oh Elisabeth! I hate you!

Credits

Chris Tindal: Backing vocals
Steve Salt: Lead vocals, electric guitar, percussion (tambourine and synth drums), bass
Words and music: Steve Salt
Illustration: Claire Salloum
Produced by Steve Salt and Chris Tindal