As part of a songwriting workshop run by Buck Meek for the School of Song we were asked to write a song by randomly cutting up text to inspire the lyrics for the verse and using texts with a friend to inspire the chorus.
I cut up a random page from a book I haven't read, "The Nickel Boys" by Colston Whitehead.
The first phrase I found was "The Night Visitors" which I found intriguing so became the title of the song. The "tired and emotional" line in the chorus is from a text from a friend but the rest of the chorus is inspired by the verses.

The Night Visitors

The night visitors were not outside his grasp
they roved the grounds at day
in a drowsy way
Phil said they came at 1 am
and the underlying facts would be embellished

chorus
Tired, Emotional,
They wear disguises all day
just like they wear them at night
Tired, Emotional,
Black Skin Bruises just the same

Verse 2
The boys heard the cars grinding outside
bright strokes across the sky
they found it hard to sleep
the bunks were only two feet apart
the men came thumping up the stairs
and bruised the bathroom door.

Chorus 2 repeat

Verse 3
The men's flashlight danced where their beds were
the night visitors returned
to people's violence
the night visitors everyone obeys
Phil said you'll see them in the day
It's best to stay away

Chorus 3 repeat

The Night Visitors

Blankets #2

Jonathan

Original song. 
Jake Slater - Guitar/Vocals
Will Rich - Bass
James Thomas - Drums

Diamond Girl

Jonathan (Remix - abirnout covering Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek)

yesteryear

they could be starlings

does it get easier

Screams and Dreams

hashbfk it's been a while since i posted huh

LYRICS

i don't know if i should trust you anymore
but you're really not that easy to ignore
it's hard to say that i'd love you again

so please don't get my hopes up
i cant stand when you lie
so i'll let time fly by
let the sun set under the sky

leave me be, i'm not yours anymore
it's not our fault
but i will still fall
down the ocean we called our own

so maybe in another universe
we could've had love
maybe in another universe
we could've had it all

i know that you're not so sure what to say
when i'm already hundreds of worlds away
i gave you a chance
and you threw it away

so why are you talking to me?
i'm not made for you
it's sad, but it's true
i know that you see it too

i've tried to forget about us
but the thought is so strong
i've fought for too long
we aren't where we belong

so maybe in another universe
we would've been fine
maybe in another universe
our stars would align

so maybe in another universe
i'd open my doors
maybe in another universe
i would've been yours
in another universe


i don't know if i should trust you anymore
but you're really not that easy to ignore
it's hard to say that i'd love you again

so please don't get my hopes up
i cant stand when you lie
so i'll let time fly by
let the sun set under the sky

leave me be, i'm not yours anymore
it's not our fault
but i will still fall
down the ocean we called our own

so maybe in another universe
we could've had love
maybe in another universe
we could've had it all

i know that you're not so sure what to say
when i'm already hundreds of worlds away
i gave you a chance
and you threw it away

so why are you talking to me?
i'm not made for you
it's sad, but it's true
i know that you see it too

i've tried to forget about us
but the thought is so strong
i've fought for too long
we aren't where we belong

so maybe in another universe
we would've been fine
maybe in another universe
our stars would align

so maybe in another universe
i'd open my doors
maybe in another universe
i would've been yours

Jonathan

abirnout

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