These two songs of mine are about doing too much for others at the expense of one’s self. The songs are written decades apart and the first one is written in the first person and the second song is written in the third person.
“I Don’t Want To Wear A Hat” grew out of a conversation I had with a close friend who naively asked me “How’s it going?” on a day when I was overwhelmed. I told him I was so tired, I didn’t know how long I could keep going. I said something like”I wake up and put on my daddy hat, I put on my driver’s cap for the commute to work where I put on my teacher’s hat and then the driver’s hat again for the ride home and then maybe a chef’s hat or hubby hat and so on…” He then asked me “…and how are your migraines?” I told him of my further misery and he then wisely suggested I should “take off some of those hats.”
The second song was written a few years ago with several people in mind. Mostly my life partner and my mother, but I know many people in the “giving” professions of education and health care and so when you put em in a blender….. The song hit home with one of my wife’s cousins who was visiting from Wales. She said last night that she sings it to herself when she feels overwhelmed by her three jobs, extended family duties including aged uncle and several children and grandchildren at an age when she should be putting her feet up.
I Don't Want To Wear A Hat The greatest hat I ever wore Kept my four corners warm Sheltered me from every storm Man, I miss that hat! Some hats are too loose Some hats fit too tight Some hats I get to choose But nothing seems to fit right I don't want to wear a hat The ceiling’s low and my head’s too fat I wear a hat when I go to work Another one when I get home I wear a hat when I’m out with friends I even wear one when I’m alone I can’t remember when my head was bare Since I was young, there’s always been something there Always on the go, always on the do Always trying to try on something new (chorus) When you where a hat it’s hard to dream If you’re a dreamer your head will be splitting at the seams Cause if your head’s too big like mine is A hat’ll just confine this If I gotta wear one, make it fit Not just my head, but what’s in it If I gotta wear one, make it cool I’m tired of changing hats like a fool (chorus) In god’s house I try to keep my head bare But prayer caps and "do"er caps keep slipping up there I wish I didn’t care What hat I wear when people stare (chorus) I think it’s pretty unfair I just want to feel the wind in my hair https://ianhanchet.bandcamp.com/track/what-about-you What About You? You hit the ground running With a list of things to do You’re always going and coming You’ve got too much to chew You give yourself away At the start of every day You do it for no pay, it’s a fact You never think about you! What about you? I think it’s time for you to renew What about you? You look out for your brother, Father, sister, and your mother Look out for strangers too You feed the squirrels and birds Leave me at a loss for words You’re kind to everybody but you What about you? What about you? I think it’s time for you to renew What about you? No one says “I’ll do it!” So you step up to the plate You did your day already, Now you’re working late You’d think someone might thank you, Show that they appreciate You sacrificed your dinner’s Lying cold upon the plate What about.... You volunteer for everything You put your life on hold They will suck you dry You’re still young, but feeling old The weight of the world is Something you can’t bear No matter how you try, The world doesn’t care about you What about... The world will keep on turning Even if you stop Going do do do do do do do Do do until you drop There’s more to life than doing I’m afraid you’re missing out Things that are worth pursuing, I’m right without a doubt,what about You....
Vignettes and Bagatelles 