Broken Flowers

Broken Flowers
Written 2011, Arranged and Recorded 2014

"Broken Flowers" was a song written in the early stages of Of the North, though this recording wasn't made until the last few months of the band. I originally wrote this song for my friend and then bandmate Tim to sing. This is probably my most successful attempt at writing "with a purpose" or with someone in mind. Typically when I try to write a song about something or someone, it turns out terrible. If I let it the process happen naturally, without an agenda, I'm much more successful. It took a long time for this song to actually take shape. The melody and lyrics have never changed, but the accompaniment always seemed to be moving somewhere else. I think this recording was my inadvertent send-off to this song, putting it to rest along with the band a few months later.

• I know there is a Bill Murray movie out there with same title, but I've never seen it or know anything about it. A flower with a broken stem that continues to grow is a clear picture and that's how the song started.
• The lyrics of this song are straight out of my childhood. There are a few lyrical images that are vivid and a somewhat bittersweet to remember. I can't go into too many details without revealing what the song is about to me. I'd rather everyone take from it what they will.
• I wanted to keep this song very simple in terms of chords and structure. The verses used to just be tonic (G) and dominant (D) chords, but for this recording I changed it for a bit more movement. The chord progression was originally only used on the end chorus as a tag.
• The original didn't have as much of a solo section as this, but it does feel more complete with it after having only two verses. However, the decision to only have two verses was intentional. I felt like I said all I needed to say.
• While this song will always have a special place in my heart, I'm happy to put it to bed and leave it as it is now.