A few years back I was on tour in Europe and ran out of money. Being me, I decided to climb onto a bicycle, managing to ride the rest of my 2,000 mile journey, making it to my shows just in time. I slept under bridges and in the homes of kind folks. Wonderful things happened, and terrible things. I could not stop thinking that perhaps my entire career as an artist had been a mistake. Always behind me echoed the words of a terrible review I had received from a moronic critic at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “Strangely is too big to be performing in a bus…when he stomps the bus rocks, and not in a good way…when Strangely talks about his life it sounds like an X-Factor sob story…”
At my very lowest point, I saw an empty bottle of Buckfast float by, as I sat huddled under a natty blanket. When my European friends hear this song they think it's funny, if you've had 'Bucky' you know why. If you've not had Bucky, DON'T. It's %17 ABV, Highly Sugary and Caffeinated. I call it a "Bad Idea in a Bottle." Nobody ever finishes a bottle of Buckfast, if you do it's either a disaster or an epic victory. At that moment I felt like neither.
When Jason O'Dea heard this number, his instinct was to make it a "Sad Cowboy Song." He played some wonderful slide guitar and Aurelia was kind enough to play a bit of mournful coronet in the background to really make it depressing.
lyrics
I’m a writer, whose words will lack meaning when I am dead.
I’m a pair of lovers, who can’t find a bed.
I’m parent who’s only child, is down in the ground.
I’m a little lost boy, who will never be found.
I don’t know, what the hell I’m doing here.
I don’t know, if I can make it, though this year.
I’m a man, who’s socks are made out of holes,
wearing shoes, with worn out soles.
I’m an empty bottle of buckfast, out on the bay,
hoping the tide will sweep me away.
I’m a singer who can’t remember his own lyrics, so good.
I’m a sword in the hands of a master, but I’m made of wood.
I’m an old sailing ship, that’s stuck on the shore.
I’m a big fancy hat, worn only for war.
I’m an empty bottle of buckfast, out on the bay,
…What a party. What a party.
hoping the tide will sweep me away.
…To a better place. To a better place.
supported by 8 fans who also own “Empty Bottle (Feat. Jason O'Dea)”
Compelling stories that are well written, not to mention beautifully sung, accompanied by beautiful instrumentation. I found Aaron J. Shay's music under a strange set of circumstances and was instantly fascinated by it, this album contains some of my favorite songs by him. Hyphonetics
Australian singer-songwriter explores self-examination, loneliness, and post-pandemic malaise through delicate, empathetic folk pop. Bandcamp New & Notable May 5, 2024