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Timeline Revision (my name is mud)

from She's A Girl (deluxe edition) by Tim Smolens' I.S.S.

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In typical Estradasphere fashion, there has to be a fair helping of soap opera drama. This is the first song on the record to deploy the improvisational vocal skills of George Smith. This tune is a real oddity with regards to superimposed music genres. The backing track and background vocals are a very typical full blown Phil Spec- tor, castanet driven, Wall of Sound-style production while the dueling lead vocals (George vs. Tim) couldn’t be further from the expected 60’s lead vocal sound, instead sporting an abrasive, taunting, rambunctious back and forth energy that is more akin to the Beastie Boys.

Without naming names in this true story, the narrative depicts a friend A moving in way too fast on friend B’s VERY recent ex-girlfriend. B had been abruptly discarded which left him hopelessly heartbroken. At first the novel hookup remains unbeknownst to the friend circle, but the girl, who is now free, wants A to come clean to B (“...now she’s telling me I gotta get even...”) so they don’t have to hide any longer. Easier said than done. Friend A wants to come clean while simultaneously trying to take the spotlight off the timeline that delineates exactly when all this transpired, a damning timeline indeed. Perhaps a timeline revision is in order.

In that era of yore in Estradasphere lore, dude A had been evicted from the long held center camp and, as luck would have it, was moving into a room in dude B’s house. One day A went to B’s house in order to store some stuff in his garage until moving day arrived and perhaps A could come clean at the same time. A shows up at B’s house with his mattress and other odds and ends for storage and a conversation ensues after a knock on the door (“...I brought you something more than a mattress to store, I brought you a story, she needed help washing her back when she showered.”)

As is typical with songs involving George and Tim, this song cuts to the bone, and was not without its share of controversy within the inner circles. But many years removed, identities obscured, and potential sacred boundary violation of after-the-fact narrator involvement, we cannot withhold it any longer. The song is too good, too unique. The majority of George’s lyrics in this song are indeed improvised and these are his actual original takes. My parts (Tim) are usually more worked out.
The backing track in this song sounds very crisp and is driven by castanet doubled with tambourine, timpani, baritone saxophone, harpsichord, quadrupled tape delay bass, 60’s surf guitars, string sections, and more.

lyrics

So happy
I feel so good
And my name is Mud
And I’ve got your ex-girlfriend over at my house (I’m telling you)

I brought you something more than a mattress to store
I brought you a story
She needed help washing her back when she showered

I couldn’t help wanting to make love
and I’m sure you know she’s fine
She’s keeps going, but I’m waiting
‘cause I wanted to ask you if it’s alright if I held her hand

and what was going on?
While you were making yourself ill
with thoughts of a woman who couldn’t love you
and you were ready to give yourself up to a luscious lady

But now she’s telling me I gotta get even
Well I’m gonna try my best
Listen to what I’ve got to say
but the timeline’s gonna stay out of the story

‘cause you wouldn’t even understand it
I’ve been taken her all over the world and I’m just getting home

Might as well just get married
‘Cause you know the pressure’s on
My little sister just tied the knot with some Australian Don Juan

Digging like a mole
oh, Lord, oh
People seem to stare when we walk down the street now
My baby is on my arm for real now
And she’s all over my pillow talking chances and chasing children

Keep it coming and I’ll have her coming over to my house for more

We shake it to the soul
In the name of Rock n’ Roll
I’ll be taking her all over the world when you’re just getting home

credits

from She's A Girl (deluxe edition), released January 1, 2018

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Tim Smolens Denver, Colorado

Tim Smolens is a composer, producer, bassist and pivotal contributor of Estradasphere, Don Salsa, ISS and currently heads up international sci-fi prog rock band High Castle Teleorkestra. He is known for elaborate, multi-layered productions and a keen insight into chord progression "theory." ... more

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