Holy moly, I wrote a song!
Listen to "If I Could Only Draw," my collaboration with musician Eytan Mirsky.
Happy 2023! I hope you’re keeping resolutions left and right — or having a blast blowing them to bits.
I have several creative projects planned for this year, but the first was pretty unexpected: It’s a musical collaboration with musician Eytan Mirsky!
A few months ago, I told Eytan that sometimes I write song lyrics just for fun. He urged me to send him some, so I did — and then he surprised me by creating a melody and recruiting several musicians to play and record the track.
It’s my giddy pleasure to share the result with you, “If I Could Only Draw”:
That’s Eytan on vocals and acoustic guitar with Scott Sutherland on electric guitar and bass, Tommy Mandel on organ and Peter McDade on drums. The song was mixed by Scott Sutherland and mastered by Jon Gordon.
Eytan is an accomplished musician whose songs have appeared on soundtracks to Happiness, American Splendor, The Tao of Steve and other films. You can hear more of his work on Bandcamp, Spotify and all the services.
If you like the song, I’d be thrilled if you could support Eytan by purchasing a download and/or more of his music at eytanmirsky.bandcamp.com. He did this entirely on his own time ‘n’ dime, and it was just the most fantastic surprise.
Below are my lyrics — enjoy!
“If I Could Only Draw”
Lyrics by Whitney Matheson & Music by Eytan Mirsky
I’ve always been okay with words, and I can strum a decent ditty
I’m not a bad photographer, and some would even say I’m witty
But one thing I could never do was grab a pen or brush
And draw or paint a single thing I didn’t wanna flush
Oh, if I could draw worth a damn I’d sketch you all over town
I’d start with your sweet, sweet face then work my way on down
When I was done I’d show everyone and hang you on my wall —
The galleries I’d fill with you If I could only draw
Oh, if I could draw worth a damn I’d paint you day and night
I’d spend hours at the easel trying to get your essence right
My use of space and color would be the best you ever saw —
The masterpieces you’d manifest if I could only draw
Your brain is an electric blue, your heart the smoothest line
Your soul has an abstract shape, your smile a golden shine
I’m sorry I just can’t express these words as works of art —
But maybe this song’ll help you see that you are in my heart
Well, after this here song’s been sung maybe I will take a minute
To scribble one small picture, and of course you will be in it
It might look like it was scrawled by a baby or grandpa
But if I recall when I was small Mama said, “Everyone can draw!”
Oh, if I could draw worth a damn I’d be inking you right now
I’d delight in all the details like your arching left eyebrow
Each work would burst with all my love, folks would stop and stare in awe
You’d be my one eternal muse if I could only draw
I’d quit all this other shit I do If I could only draw
In NYC on Jan. 12? Come see my short films at this FREE SCREENING! No RSVP required! I’ll be there with the cast! More exclamation points!
OK, that’s it for now. Tell me what you’re making at whitmath@gmail.com.
sleeping in the streets & dancing in the sheets,
whitney
Holy $%@! That song is so f'n cool.
I love the Tao of Steve soundtrack so much.
⚡🌟💥