Now is Not the Time for Sad Songs: A Pandemic 2020 Souvenir

Now is Not the Time for Sad Songs

I'll admit I am not in that great of a mood
Lately the state I'm in could be greatly improved
But I don't want to bring you down
So I'm not going to sing the blues
I'm not going to stare at my navel
Or my shoes

Nothing quite like the nightmare that we're living in
Every day, every night you feel like giving in
But I don't want to be a downer and
You don't want to hear me whine
I'll save that for another place
And another time

Now is not the time for sad songs
No, it's not the time for sad songs
Now is not the time for sad songs
Feeling bad songs

I will not drag you down the emotional drain
I won't share my malaise, my misfortune and pain
I don't want to be depressed and
You don't want to see me weep
I'll save that for later on
When I'm trying to sleep

Now is not the time for sad songs
No, it's not the time for sad songs
Now is not the time for sad songs
Feeling bad songs

Now is not the time for sad songs
No, it's not the time for sad songs
Now is not the time for sad songs
Hard times we had songs

I'm not a tortured artist
No really, I'm just fine
I just want to smile a while
And drink a little wine

Now is not the time for sad songs
No, it's not the time for sad songs
Now is not the time for sad songs
Feeling bad songs

Now is not the time for sad songs
No, it's not the time for sad songs
Now is not the time for sad songs
Hard times we had songs

Now is not the time for sad, sad songs

Mr. Jameson

Can't stand the stress and
I can't stand the strain
Can't stand the fog and
Can't stand the rain

I hate the hatred
The stupidity
Can't stand the liar
Lying to me

So Mr. Jameson
That's why I'm calling you
I think I've figured out
What we gotta do

Let's have a party
Let's have some fun
Call up your best friend
Tell everyone

Let's get together
Let's do it right
Put on some music
And dance all night

I'm tired of racists
I'm tired of their friends
Looks like Blue Meanies
Are in Pepperland again

Can't stand the poison
They're spewing out
I turn down the volume
Still too loud

So Mr. Jameson
That's why I'm calling you
I think I've figured out
What we gotta do

Let's have a party
Let's have some fun
Call up your best friend
Tell everyone

Let's get together
Let's do it right
Put on some music
And dance all night

So Mr. Jameson
That's why I'm calling you
I think I've figured out
What we gotta do

Let's have a party
Let's have some fun
Call up your best friend
Tell everyone

Let's get together
Let's do it right
Put on some music
And dance all night

Let's have a party
Come as you are
We'll raise the roof
We'll crash the car

Let's get together
That's what I said
Who knows, tomorrow
We might be dead

Oh Mr. Jameson

It Might be Tuesday

When I go shopping for groceries
I don't want anyone to get close to me
I don't want anybody's germs, not hers or his
Lately I don't even know what day it is

I do all my living in the living room
I talk to people on Zoom
While watching Parks and Recreation season four
I hardly know what day it is anymore

It might be Tuesday, I don't know
When you're in quarantine time passes slowly
It might be Friday, it don't matter a bit
There's a bug out there and I'm not catching it

There's a bug out there and I'm not catching it

Every day seems like Sunday afternoon to me
Every night dragging on and on endlessly

My lifestyle changes have been stunning
I've worn the same clothes four days running
If you come over, baby I'll Purell you
But if you ask what day it is, I can't tell you

It might be Tuesday, I don't know
When you're in quarantine time passes slowly
It might be Friday, it don't matter a bit
There's a bug out there and I'm not catching it

It might be Tuesday, I don't know
When you're in quarantine time passes slowly
It might be Friday, it don't matter a bit
There's a bug out there and I'm not catching it

There's a bug out there and I'm not catching it
There's a bug out there and I'm not catching it

It might be Tuesday, I don't know

Covid 15

DoorDash is down at my front door
GrubHub was here an hour before
I'm a junk food eating machine
I just can't get enough of that fine cuisine

And that's why I'm putting on the Covid 15
I've gained 15 pounds in quarantine
There's nothing else to do
But stuff my face the whole day through
I'm putting on the Covid 15

Normally, I'm quite the healthy dude
But all I want to eat is comfort food
Half the time I'm drunk and delusional
I'm drinking more Jameson than usual

And that's why I'm putting on the Covid 15
I've gained 15 pounds in quarantine
There's nothing else to do
But stuff my face the whole day through
I'm putting on the Covid 15

I'm getting bigger right before my eyes
I'm just too freaked out to exercise
Even though I know I really should
That bag of Chips Ahoy is looking good

And that's how I'm putting on the Covid 15
I've gained 15 pounds in quarantine
There's nothing else to do
But stuff my face the whole day through
I'm putting on the Covid 15

Putting on the Covid 15
I've gained 15 pounds in quarantine
There's nothing else to do
But stuff my face the whole day through
I'm putting on the Covid 15
Lots of calories
Putting on the Covid 15
Watching Netflix
Putting on the Covid 15
I'm sedentary
Putting on the Covid 15

All I Want is You

I don't want a million dollars
I don't even want two
I'm content
Without a cent
'Cause all I want is you

I don't want a stately mansion
With an ocean view
I'll hang my hat
In any old shack
'Cause all I want is you

I'll hang my hat
In any old shack
'Cause all I want is you

All I want is you
To hold me tight
All I want is you
Night after night

I don't want a Lamborghini
Or even a Subaru
I'd walk 100 miles
To see you smile
'Cause all I want is you

I'd walk 100 miles
To see you smile
'Cause all I want is you

All I want is you
Forever more
All I want is it to be
Like it was before

I don't want to live forever
Ripe old age will do
But before I go
You should know
All I want is you

Before I go
You should know
All I want is
All I want is
All I want is you

All I want is you

Flying Blind

I don't want to get too high tonight
I don't want to kiss the sky tonight
I don't want to learn to fly tonight
But I just might

I don't want to break the spell tonight
I don't want to kiss and tell tonight
End up in a cheap hotel tonight
But I just might

I just might sing my same old songs
That never rhyme
I just might ramble on and on
You know that I'm
Flying blind
I can't seem to make up my mind

I don't want to wake the dead tonight
I don't want to burn the bed tonight
I don't want to lose my head tonight
But I just might

I don't want to be unkind tonight
I don't want to cross the line tonight
Don't want to go out of my mind tonight
But I just might

I just might sing my same old songs
That never rhyme
I just might ramble on and on
You know that I'm
Flying blind
I can't seem to make up my mind

I can't seem to make up my mind
I can't seem to make up my mind

I don't want to spin the wheel tonight
I don't want to seal the deal tonight
Or tell you how I really feel tonight
But I just might

I just might throw away my love
And that's a crime
I just might decide I've had enough
You know that I'm
Flying blind
I can't seem to make up my mind

I can't seem to make up my mind
I can't seem to make up my mind

6 Feet Apart

Six feet apart, six feet apart
What can we do when we're six feet apart?
Six feet apart, six feet apart
I can't get close to you when we're six feet apart

If we could hold hands
That would be splendid
But our arms are too short
Even fully extended

And we have to stay six feet apart, six feet apart
It seems like a mile when we're six feet apart
Six feet apart, six feet apart
Just for a while we'll be six feet apart

I'd love to dance
But you'd have to touch me
We can't watch TV
'Cause our couch is a love seat

And we have to stay six feet apart, six feet apart
In quarantine we'll be six feet apart
Six feet apart, six feet apart
Until day fourteen we'll be six feet

We can't make love
That would be tricky
We've moved our beds
Like Lucy and Ricky

And we have to stay
And we have to stay

And we have to stay six feet apart, six feet apart
It seems like a mile but we're six feet apart
Six feet apart, six feet apart
Just for a while we'll be six feet apart

And we have to stay six feet apart

You Think it's Over (But it's Not)

You think it's over but it's not
You think it's over and the coast is clear
The plague has magically disappeared
You think it's over but it's not

I really shouldn't be so shocked
I'm not surprised that you deny it all
Sometimes I wonder why I try at all
You think it's over but it's not

I can't believe you're so naive
I can't believe you're just so blind
But you believe what you believe
And the truth won't change your mind

You think it's over but it's not
And we can go back to the way it was
I'm running out of things to say because
You think it's over but it's not

You put your fingers in your ears
You wish that I would shut my mouth
Good news, I getting out of here
Before it all goes south

You think it's over but it's not
And you can put a smile back on your face
Don't overestimate the human race
You think it's over but it's not

Don't overestimate the human race
You think it's over but it's not
Don't overestimate the human race
You think it's over but it's not

You think it's over but it's not
You think it's over
You think it's over but it's not
You think it's over but it's not

Apartment Song

Well, the college girls downstairs play their music too loud
And they're always knock, knock, knocking at our door
They got a yapping little dog, dogs are not allowed
And I don't think I can take it any more

Upstairs it sounds like someone's sink has overflowed
And the water's drip, drip, dripping on the floor
It's enough to make a torture victim's head explode
And I don't think I can take it any more

No, I don't think I can take it any more

I just want to get a good night's sleep
I don't want to lie here counting sheep
But as it is I'll probably go insane
Watching the little red numbers change

Maybe you can sleep through all the noise out there
But the siren's screaming song I can't ignore
But I got to get out of here, let's fly away somewhere
'Cause I don't think I can take it any more

No, I don't think I can take it any more

As it is I'll probably lose my mind
Watching the sun peek through the blinds

Maybe you can sleep through all the noise out there
But the siren's screaming song I can't ignore
But I got to get out of here, let's fly away somewhere
'Cause I don't think I can take it any more

I got to get out of here, let's fly away somewhere
I don't think I can take it any more
No I don't think I can take it any more
No I don't think I can take it any
Don't think I can take it any
Don't think I can take it any more

Private Serenade

I would cancel all my plans
Appointments that I've made
I'd miss Thanksgiving and
The Thanksgiving day parade

For if you should demand
Sweet love songs to be played
I'll come and play to you
A private serenade

For whatever you require
Your will I will obey
Even if I'm tired
At the end of an endless day

'Cause if you should desire
A private serenade
I'll come and sing for you
Even if I don't get paid

Some things are more important than
A few more dollars in my hand
I don't think that money can
Buy everything I need

'Cause what I need is you
It's that simple I'm afraid
So you're entitled to
A private serenade

I'll change the strings on my guitar
I'll put some gas in this old car
Don't care how far away you are
I'll drive all night to you

But even if the car won't start
Or the next plane is delayed
I'll come and sing for you
A private serenade

Everyone Will Miss Me

I'm a hopeless dreamer
I'm a primal screamer
I'm a none hit wonder
I'm always bubbling under

I'm a grand illusion
A foregone conclusion
I'm a one clown circus
I've barely scratch the surface

And everyone will miss me when I'm gone
Everyone will miss me when I'm gone
Everyone will find it hard to carry on
Everyone will miss me when I'm gone

Everyone will shed a tear or two
Even people that I never knew
Everyone will start to sing a sad, sad song
Everyone will miss me when I'm gone

I'm not rich or famous
Or adored by millions
I remain quite nameless
To most adults and children

We had some good times, didn't we?
I guess I succeeded
I gave you what you wanted
You gave me what I needed

And everyone will miss me when I'm gone
Everyone will miss me when I'm gone
Everyone will find it hard to carry on
Everyone will miss me when I'm gone

Everyone will shed a tear or two
Even people that I never knew
Everyone will start to sing a sad, sad song
Everyone will miss me when I'm gone

Everyone will start to sing a sad, sad song
Everyone will miss me when I'm gone

Yeah
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

My Work Is Done

The bottom of the barrel has been scraped
The genie from the bottle has escaped
And every Suzette has been creped
I guess my work is done

There are no more battles to be fought
Terrible diseases to be caught
No more big ideas to be thought
I guess my work is done

And now I can get back to you
And we can do what it is that we do

Every resolution is resolved
Every revolution has revolved
The mystery of life and death is solved
I guess my work is done

My work is done
My work is done
And now I can get back to you
And we can do what it is that we do

I've checked off every item on my list
I'm pretty sure there's nothing that I missed
I'm glad that all the charges were dismissed
I guess my work is done

My work is done
My work is done

My work is done

Liner Notes

I started recording my new album on March 11, 2020. Ahh, what a simple time that was! We all know what the world was like just one week later -- scary! By March 18 pretty much every summer festival show (the major source of my yearly income) was canceled. Scary! Luckily my friend Paul Jones from Boston sent me a simple text: "You should do a show on Facebook." Well, as of this writing, I've done 23 of them! Throughout the original lockdown, the Facebook shows were hugely successful, helping me pack 'em in at the remaining summer shows on my schedule, helping me sell more CDs and t-shirts (and Sex & Beer masks) which allowed me to put out this album containing many of the pandemic-related songs I wrote for the Friday night shows. Whew! And now that it's finally coming out, I thought it would be fun to share some of the fun facts about how this collection of songs was written and recorded.

Now is Not the Time for Sad Songs was one of the first songs I wrote for the Facebook shows. My co-producer Chris Hanson and I used a popular 70s pop song as a template for the arrangement. (A prize for you if you can guess the song!) Chris played a mean lead guitar riff on the intro, and we played the acoustic "answer" riffs in the verses together.When it came right down to it, I don't really ever write sad songs! I'm not a tortured artist!

Mr. Jameson is a song I've been performing live for a few years. It's on this album because, well, what beverage have I been drinking a lot of during this stupid pandemic? It's me playing that throbbing bass part and the Hammond organ solo. The dueling Clapton/Allman-esque lead guitars at the end were played -- brilliantly -- by Chris, who also really likes the line about Blue Meanies.

It Might Be Tuesday did not seem like a reggae song in my head when I wrote it, but that's how it turned out! It was the fourth, or fifth, or sixth week of the lockdown and everybody was losing track of what day it was!! I'm very proud of my Jamaican bass playing on this, and Chris programmed an exceptional drum track. I practiced the piano part dozens of times and almost did it in one take! And when I wasn't practicing the piano, I was indeed watching "Parks and Recreation" with my sons Miles and Julian.

Covid 15 was a real crowd-pleaser at my shows all summer. It was also the second most requested pandemic song on Friday nights. What can I say? I couldn't stop eating Red Vines! (Thanks Pete the Contractor.) The song originally featured bass harmonica ala "Green Acres". Yeah. We took it out in the final mix.

In December I found a $45 mandolin at a thrift shop in Chicago. I spent a lot of time learning how to play it during the lockdown. All I Want is You features me playing the $45 mandolin, and I doubled the part with Chris' 1923 vintage one. I also did the acoustic guitar solos and sang the cheerful background vocals. "All I want is it to be like it was before" is kind of a perfect pandemic lyric.

Flying Blind has nothing whatsoever to do with viruses or pandemics or presidential ineptitude or anything, really. I really labored over this song, changing the lyrics dozens of times. This song was in the set of the first Facebook show; it's a song I love playing. Chris plays slide guitar on this, which is a sound I love. Probably because I'm a big fan of George Harrison's guitar playing. I do the piano solos and the funky conga part.

6 Feet Apart This is the most requested pandemic song of all!! And one of Harlan Fischer's favorites. Joe Hipp's too! The arrangement started with a cheesy drum machine, added a cheesy accordion sample, then some fake clarinets and a fake string section. Chris and I played unison dobros, and voila! A cheesy little pandemic waltz. The 70-year-old "I Love Lucy" reference in the last verse is sure to appeal to contemporary listeners!

You Think it's Over (But it's Not) When coronavirus started to really spike in Florida and Arizona a certain orange-skinned president tried to tell us that it was fading away. Well, it certainly wasn't, and isn't. I played almost everything on this track except the scorching guitar solo. I sang the shit out of this song, and the background vocal arrangement is the best I've ever come up with. "How did we ever get to this place" indeed!

Apartment Song This song is on the album because I'm proud of the chords in the bridge parts. And because this is another song I love playing. It always gets a great response live, and I hope it gets a great response on CD!!

Private Serenade was the song I recorded on March 11th, not knowing that soon I would be doing exclusively private serenades!! Chris could not believe that I nailed the piano part in one take and together we arranged the acoustic guitar lines, which he played beautifully. This is another song I performed at the very first Facebook show, and it has a chord structure very unlike most of my songs.

Everyone Will Miss Me No, I haven't been pondering my mortality in 2020. Well, not much anyway!! This song is meant to be funny! (Even though I hope everyone will miss me when I'm gone!) It took a year to get a set of lyrics I was satisfied with. I might just change them from time to time, but not the chorus. I love that part! Chris played slide guitar again on this, and I kicked ass on the hi-hat cymbal.

Finally, My Work is Done was a song I relearned for one of the Friday night shows adding the line "No more terrible diseases to be caught". I used this song as a pre-Sex & Beer closer at my live shows all summer, and people really responded well to it. And now, I guess my work is done. I hope you enjoyed learning a little about the songs, just as I hope you'll enjoy listening to A Pandemic 2020 Souvenir!!




Produced by Pat McCurdy and Chris Hanson

Engineered and mixed by Chris Hanson at Murphy's Idle Hour Cafe

All songs written by Pat McCurdy
© 2020 Hey Paddy! Play a Song for Me Music (BMI)

Pat: Vocals, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, piano, mandolin, Hammond organ, Moog, drums, percussion

Chris: Electric & acoustic guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drum programming

Cynthia Starich: Vocals on "6 Feet Apart"

THANK YOU!

Paul Jones -- for a great idea & career renaissance!

Kevin Hanson -- for science!

Kimmy Unger -- for that beautiful voice!

Courtney Byelich -- for the Memorial Union backdrop!

Mark Lippert, Patty Dee, Ian & Alicia Nelson, The Elias Family, Drew & Barb Olson, Josh, Julia, Lena & Elijah Gimbel, Bill & Tait and assorted neighbors -- the driveway audience!

Bryan & Araysa Simpson, Bernie Doll, Sharon Dynek, Harlan & Kathy Fischer, Doug Anderson -- for the feedback! Brian Murphy -- for everything!

Jim Schaufelberger -- sound & right-hand man!

CD Artwork and Design -- loneshoegraphics.com

Inside Photo -- Pipe Jim's iPhone 4


SPECIAL THANKS! (AND LOVE)
Miles, Julian, and Bethany (Mistress of Alcohol)

THANKS TO EVERYONE
FOR SUPPORTING MY FACEBOOK LIVE SHOWS
Over 475,000 views and 1.75 million viewing minutes--and as I promised, here are the people who generously donated for shows 16, 17, and 18!!! Love, Pat

Amy & Jerry Behrendt | Tim Frank | Ken Saffran | Kym & Lee Schmidt | Rhonda Silver & Bob Mader | Lisa Lock | Michael Seidl | Deb & Brian Driscoll | Adam Delvaux | Lindsey & Ryan Dieck | Lloyd Whiting | Kevin Schickert | David Vacca | Nikki & Dan Poh | John & Jordan Oaks | Chad "Cheddar" Alshouse | Robert & Jodi Roos | Mike Conlon | Dee Lincoln | Scott Fugate | Jeff Bowe | Kathy Croak | Lori Ahrenhoester | Nach Karnik | Kathleen Blatz | Bob Gillespie & Sabrina | Nancy Woolver | Karlee Wallin | Laura Parsons | Cindy Thompson | Robert Ludwig | Darin Tessier | Kalyn Gigot | Pat Foerster & Autumn | Julie Van Camp | Tom & Susan Popovics | Samuel Brunk III | Rachel Holloway | Lisa Hansen | Laurence Chapman | Nicole Novak | Lindsey Biese | Kyle Keprios | Mark Degner | David Cober | Matthew & Jenny Meyer | Tim Whitney | Christine Stack | Jessica Rolfe | Carrie Nemke | Kari Kelliher | Paul Shedivy | Christina Toth | Terry Bradshaw | Darla Krause | Jeremy Strasburg | Matthew Pavlik | Jason Meinen | Josh Zillmer | Sarah Fadness | Jeff Briganti | Michelle Bauer | Vincent Demarinis | Sandy & Mary Urban | Eric Brouch | Maureen Morris | Corey Mielcarz | Monica Hall | Robin Harper | Derek Mosier | Sara Ziemendorf | Nathaniel Meyer | Jennifer Schmit | John Thibodeau | Bennett Berson | Dak Ragus | Rod Wilhelm | Newt Newton | Billy Buerger | Steve Prueher Family | Lori Weuve | Shana Shallue | Robert Byelich | Joe Hipp | Debra Demark | Re-chard Carpuntier | Chuck Renaud | Susan Brungraber | Mary Cavey | Julia Ihlenfeldt | Sheryl Andrews | Tom Hanson | Greg Sanden | John Dewolfe | Bruce Schauer | Carey Vandenbusch | Teresa Arauco | John Flood | David Plonka | Gregory Warner | Margaret Brenner | Mike & Carolyn Vescio | Wrigley & Addison | Vickie McBride | Sean Gifford | Jan & Doug Thomson | Mauricio Lopez | Chad Ready | Hunter Young | Jared Finger | Jennifer Martin | Richard Sullivan | Karen Rhyner Michael Hanlon | Michelle Croak | Ruthanne Rosser | Darin Bohm | Peter Groset | Julia Bosman | Jaime Hensel | Laura Tucker | Molly Askins | Dan & Lisa Elias | Ruben Najera | Stephanie Albrecht | Carolyn Rosewall | Jessica Frohn | Chris & Shelley Lundin | Jess Olson | Chantel Richter | Kristin Osgood Kotlewski | Dustin Hanson | Michele Larson | Katie Denlinger | Kim Peterson | Jason Birr | Jeff Gustafson | Linda & Dave Lehman | Erin Hill | Dave Wincell | Dave Halbrooks | Todd Hanke | Kelly Davids | Tom Sammons | Renee Meyer | Sarah Fogl | Doug Scopel | Michael & Courtney Falk | Scott Ertl | Mary Draheim-Thome | Mark Kunkel | Laura Kuelz | Miranda Hoffman | Maria Maczka | Amy & Matt Hendricksen | Sharon Schmidtknecht | Jessica Feggestad | Dale Emmons | Christine Chambers | Robert Friedlander | Lori Bogie | Paul Hanson | Robert Wargolet

Now is Not the Time for Sad Songs
Mr. Jameson
It Might be Tuesday
Covid 15
All I Want is You
Flying Blind
6 Feet Apart
You Think it's Over (But it's Not)
Apartment Song
Private Serenade
Everyone Will Miss Me
My Work Is Done

Liner Notes

Copyright © 2020

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