A few of my friends and former coworkers at LM Halifax had a Supertramp tribute band, Breakfast in Halifax. I attribute this song’s birth to hearing those keyboard parts every morning with somehow triggering a desire to write some material with the electric piano front and center (much like the previous song, Family Car, though that doesn’t sound much like Supertramp!)
… heart shaped leaves…
I feel like I’ve seen a heart shaped leaf before. Prob just a nirvana ref. Then again, this is one of the most personal love songs I’ve ever written. And I so respect and honour the memory of my muse here, that I am loath to offer too much information lest it reveal too much. Suffice it to say, there are no throwaway lines in Moonflower.
When it came down to production, I must also acknowledge that I had been listening to a lot of LCD at the time. Also around then, I remember Clive McNutt telling me that they always played Dance Yrself Clean before Erin Costello shows to get pumped up. The more I thought about it, the more I thought this was a perfect mix, and the more I wanted to use this song as a prototype for something. So it was the build up for Dance Yrself Clean, in miniature, that was in back of mind when I gave instructions to Mike Belyea before recording the drums, and it also influenced how we mixed it with a little more bass drum and low end thump than usual.
…these thoughts in my head, that bloom in the night…
One of my earliest songs of note was called Flower. But looking back at it now, I had botched those lines so bad back in high school, trying to use botany as a metaphor on love. Moonflower was the update, where lines can have a very literal meaning but still have a very private double meaning…
… you give it plenty of light…
It’s about a relationship conducted in secret that you still want to see grow, so maybe you are a little too excited and obvious and are just too willing to do anything to make it work, but the intentions are right. Anyway, a hopeful song about a hopeless situation, which is what I think I most like about this one
My friend Michael Coll as well as Charles successfully campaigned for it to be the first single. The solo at the end was influenced by John Fogerty leads, but also The Groundhogs, who I’ve been fairly obsessed with for the past few years
lyrics
Heart shaped leaves
No two of a kind
These thoughts in my head
That bloom in the nite
And if she had a little girl
A little girl just like her
Well, that would be alright
[CH] Oh, my moonflower
You can’t hide your love
You give it plenty of light
No, you can’t be afraid
She wants to see you fight
And never leave her in the cold
You gotta show her you care
[CH] Oh, my moonflower (x2)
She just needs a little proof
And you know that she is right
Ahhhh….
And even when it’s really rainin’
She’s tryin’ to tell you without saying
Oh, I love you my child
Oh, my moonflower
And if she had a little girl
A girl like you, I will adore
And I will treat her right
credits
from The Monster,
track released December 1, 2023
Song written by Jeff Gay.
Drums: Michael Belyea. Drums recorded by Michael Belyea. Percussion: Jeff Gay and Drew Debay.
Everything else (guitars, bass, keys, lead vox, etc.): Jeff Gay. Backing vocals: Meaghan Dalton and Emilee Sorrey, recorded at Ocean Floor. Additional recording by Jeff Gay and Charles Austin at Ocean Floor Recording.
Mixed by Jeff Gay and Charles Austin w/ Ronok Sarkar.
Mastered by Francisco Lopes.
TOSSING RECORDS is filled with beans and joy to announce the newest Jeff Gay album, THE MONSTER. Coming to you: Dec 8, 2023.
First single from the Monster: Moonflower, Dec 1. In addition to Jgay and Dirtmouth titles, TOSSING RECORDS will release the entire Jeff Gay catalogue on Bandcamp, so make sure you follow for digital transfers of dusty DATs and demos/unreleased tracks...more
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