The Smiley Smile Message Board

Finally set up a Soundcloud page, so if you'd like, you can hear "The Better Part of Valor" here: https://soundcloud.com/the-beau-mondes/the-better-part-of-valor

I've been kicking around the first verse of this piano-based ballad for a week or so; everything else I wrote and recorded this morning. As you'll see, this is just piano, a doubled lead, and some harmonies. I'm not really sure what I'll end up doing to finish off a version--quite possibly I'll just let it mold and die as it is--but who knows? Hope you enjoy it.

Pleasant song.

Thanks. I guess today's a pleasant valley Saturday. Actually it's not pleasant today, it's fucking cold. But that's beside the point.

Nice.

To respond somewhat out of order:

First, thanks for the nice words about the song. Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully I'll get back to it to finish an arrangement and rerecord it properly (though I always say that and then just move on...).

As for the downloading, I can understand why anyone trying to sell his music would limit or avoid free downloads, but that's not a concern for me, so I don't care. The whole point of the soundcloud page was just to make it easier to point friends to new music, rather than emailing sh*t around or uploading to sendspace, etc. So if they want to download once there, fine by me. If offers for cash start rolling in, I'll reconsider.  ;D

As for what the song is about, that is always kind of an awkward question to answer when it isn't a clear narrative. But I guess I'd say the song is about exhibiting and expecting discretion from a romantic partner. (Discretion is the better part of valor, the Shakespearean saying goes.) This song began as the first line (and chords) and built from there. That line is "Your best advice to me was not to ask questions with answers I wouldn't want to know." Then it just plays with that idea, the curses and blessings of wanting to know, not knowing, or knowing things about your partner (and vice versa).

Finally, I can assure you there is no mention of semolina or any other pasta product in the tune! The lyric you're mishearing is actually "She acts decisively, no gone-and-back, tiresome theatrics. She acts. Just up and go." Funny way you heard it.

'lright.