I entered the Tiny Desk Contest with a song about entering the Tiny Desk Contest.
This is “Don’t Quit Your Day Job.”
Enjoy the studio version on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Soundcloud, or wherever you listen to digital music.
LYRICS
I’m just another singer-songwriter.
Raging. Navel gazing.
Angry belly buttons don’t impress.
Yet all my friends every year this time be saying:
“Ain’t you gonna enter Tiny Desk?”
I try so hard but also not hard enough.
Maybe I should pray to God.
Help me shoot my shot, shoot my shot.
Give it everything I got.
The Lord says: “Do not quit your day job.”
I’m just another songwriter
Who thinks he’s clever going meta
But four of me is kinda grotesque.
Four of me surely ain’t fo’ mo’ times betta.
Is it more enough for Tiny Desk?
I try so hard but also not hard enough.
Maybe I should pray to God.
Lord, help me shoot my shot, shoot my shot.
Give it everything I got.
The Lord says: “Do not quit your day job.”
The Lord gives and he taketh away.
And he taketh away.
Blessed be thy name. Be thy name.
This is what the Lord says:
“Mic check one, mic check check,
Buggy, check your ego behind that tiny desk.
You got the nerve to compare your day job to Job’s distress?
Regret sucks when it comes with success!
You wanna retire by the loophole of five-four and
join that FIRE community gang.
But be wary of them backyard gold burying libertarian contrarians
Seeking immunity from everythang.
Seeking actions without consequence. Acting with impunity.
Equality ain’t equity ain’t equal opportunity.
They quote the dreams of a King without fail
Cuz they ain’t never heard of no letter from no Birmingham jail.
Actin’ a fool like Atticus in Act Two,
Seeking Tom Robinson’s acquittal
While getting paid 15 million dollars a year
To tell all y’all to shutup and dribble.
So stand yo’ ass up!
Summon your ancestors’ fortitude.
Put your back and your whole ass into it,
Cuz baby you still gots work to do.”
I try so hard but also not hard enough.
I try so hard but also not hard enough.
I’m trying and trying and trying and trying and crying and crying.
So I’m shouting up to the heavens
I ain’t trying to betray God.
So I’m shouting up to the heavens
Cuz I’m kinda trying to sway God.
Turnin’ it up to eleven.
The Lord got slay goals for his slay squad.
And he shouts down his eleventh commandment:
“Thou shalt not quit thy day job.”
