In today's world, it is often difficult to stay balanced and it is EASY to feel smothered and overwhelmed. That's when we need people, REAL PEOPLE, who will help us be steadfast when the "smothering" is getting the best of us. That is when REAL LOVE needs to show up and stand behind us. That is what this tender tune is about.
This is a love song about the support that steps into a person's life when a loved one reaches out and helps their lover when they are overwhelmed by outside events that are smothering them.
I had a dulcimer as a 9 year-old kid and it fell from the top of the bunk-bed and cracked into multiple pieces and had to be tossed. I cried as I loved that tiny toy dulcimer. But, I was a prodigy cellist, so it just went back to playing cello and piano. Then, as life would have it, I bought a guitar in Tijuana when I was 13 and started playing it and writing songs. I knew three chords. Then I went through my rock 'n' roll band phase, but the band disbanded because the guys got drafted, so I started to write singer-songwriter songs. I played coffee houses in college to help pay my way and then was DISCOVERED by major label and went out on tour as a solo, and self-described "professional opening act". I played opening set for many major artists. (Dylan, told me not to "name drop" as it made you look "bad". I asked him if it was OK if I told people ... HE told me NOT to? LOL). When I was in Boston, I stopped into an E. U. Wurlitzer music store, and found a peg-tuned dulcimer made by Hank Levin from Musical Traditions in New York, who was in the process of closing the New York store and selling the inventory to David Eisner who moved the store to Maryland. I scooped up the dulcimer and wrote a song on-the-spot in the store entitled, "The Leaving Track". Anyway, over the years and even today, I incorporated the dulcimer into my shows and recorded numerous tracks featuring it. I still have ONLY THAT one dulcimer and would LOVE a few more, but I can't afford one. I recently re-recorded a Joni Mitchell-esque song I originally wrote back in 1973. It is entitled, "Smother You". It is a beautiful tune and it features my beloved dulcimer in the center of the mix. Also, I'll include a stage photo from the 1970's at a live show I did. Hope you enjoy this song. I LOVE the lyrics!
“Smother You”
Lyrics and music by Chet Nichols (ASCAP)
Copyright 1969/1975/2008/2016/2022/2026 by Chet Nichols/Magic Garage Music (ASCAP)
ONESTOP music, lyrics, vocals, all-instruments, arrangement, production, mixing and mastering by Chester Nichols, Jr
URL: http://www.chetnichols.net
Email: chet@chetnichols.net
Email: MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com
Email: ChetNichols@me.com Tuning: ebbebe
VERSE ONE
New confusions have left you here
Thoughts are blurred and unclear
Dreams once held so near
Have begun to disappear
So, let them fly to the wind
Someone new will take them in
Someone new will be their friend
CHORUS
And what about my ears?
And what about my mouth?
And what about my gentle touch
Helped to warm your darkened nights?
I’ll help you fight your fears
And hold you through the bouts
That love to draw you in the ring
And smother you with doubt
VERSE ONE
Mix reservation
With the feelings that we’ve had
Add the frustration
Of a world that has gone bad
Still we must keep on churning
We must move right along
There is no returning
That’s yesterday’s song
CHORUS
And what about my ears?
And what about my mouth?
And what about my gentle touch
Helps to warm your darkened nights?
I’ll help you fight your fears
And hold you through the bouts
That love to draw you in the ring
And smother you
And smother me
And smother you
And smother me
And smother you
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Copyright 1969/1975/2008/2016/2026 by Chet Nichols/Magic Garage Music (ASCAP)
(ASCAP)
ALL SONGS and INSTRUMENTALS are Copyrighted © (including various/all other dates) ® by Chester Nichols, Jr (ASCAP) & Magic Garage Music (ASCAP)
ALL GLOBAL RIGHTS and BEYOND ARE STRICTLY RESERVED.
This/these song(s) or any portion thereof (lyrics, music, samples, vocals - etc.) may NOT be reproduced/copied/re-formatted/re-edited/sampled in any form or media, distributed, transmitted, downloaded, shared or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the writer and the publisher. This especially refers to ANY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) Manipulation, Sampling, Re-editing, Re-recording or re-use of any part of these songs or instrumentals or vocal, in ANYWAY, is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
For permission requests, write to the publisher at:
MagicGarageMusic@gmail.com
Or addressed to:
"Attention: Permissions Coordinator, (at the address below)
http://www.chetnichols.net.
More information at:
http://chetnichols.bandcamp.com
Email: MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com
Email: ChetNichols@me.com