It’s Complicated
This was not the second song I wrote but about the fourth or fifth and I simply wanted a song with non-standard chords. It does nothing but repeat the series C, Em, G+, Eb, Gm, Gm7, Dm, A#7, G7, C through every verse. This chord progression does what John Lennon does so often – each chord change changes only one note from the first chord to the second chord. Other notes are held. The change is only by one note or half note (one fret) of change. It makes for a continuum of note progression through the set. Lennon does it all the time so I thought – probably a useful approach. Worked for him!
The result is a bunch of uncommon and perhaps complicated chords. Thus, the songs name. But, the lyrics are just a commentary on the complexity – or is it the simplicity of relationships. As it turned out, I think of it as between a father and young daughter
It’s Complicated
When you complicate your life
You’re too tied up to see
That you have paradise
You’re tangled, never free
You will fail to recognize
Your child’s outreached hands
And the longing in her eyes
If you’ve made other plans
You will never be amazed
By the sunlight on her face
Or the wonder in her gaze
When you complicate your ways
Did you take the time to play?
Do you know her inner soul?
Have you held her hand today?
Or did you chase another goal?
To be forgotten is a shame
The loss is yours to take
She won’t recall your name
The more you complicate
Life is a simple thing
Love is given and is taken
You cry or you sing
It’s not that complicated