This is basically a true story, in which a late-night talk show host (namechecked in the song) had a regular feature where they would make fun of some aspiring songwriter without their permission- I was not the unlucky songwriter made fun of here, but it happened to someone I know, who, like me, is also a contributor to an online collective songwriting group called "February album writing month".
lyrics
Start with a basic imbalance of power
Selling the cheap way to get some kicks
Its entertainment that’s oh so sour
With more then a hint of bullying tactics
Punching down, it’s your m.o.
Punching down, it’s part of your show
You think you’re cute, you think you’re so clever
But anytime you’ve got your hand on the lever
Its easy to punch down
Much harder to lift people up
On your TV show, without permission
You played an unknown guy singing his song
Tried to take him down like he was in a competition
Made fun of his sound, had the crowd laugh along
Punching down, it’s what you do
Punching down, it’s your worldview
You think you’re cute, you think you’re so clever
But anytime you’ve got your hand on the lever
Its easy to punch down
Much harder to lift people up
Ain’t you the cool kid on the block, Sharpening your critical talons
The one thing that I want to say to you, Screw you Jimmy Fallon!
He didn’t ask to be in your comedy skit
Where you make the audience feel superior
‘oh look at those singers, those freaks and misfits’
Making folks feel ok to make others feel inferior
Punching down, it’s never cool
Punching down, last refuge of a fool
You think you’re cute, you think you’re so clever
But anytime you’ve got your hand on the lever
Its easy to punch down,
Much harder to lift people up
The second EP from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bea Stewart runs from gentle folk to pillowy pop ballads, all perfectly executed. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 15, 2024
Percussionist and sound artist Riccardo La Foresta joins musician and producer James Ginzburg for a fluid collaborative experiment. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 4, 2024
