I'm reversing out of the driveway and this line comes to me, “If she's lashing out in anger and shouting in your face, know that she trusts you more than any man whose ever stood in your place.”
An hour later, at my favourite work café in Hobart, I have the lyrics: three verses, a pre-chorus, chorus and bridge.
A song about the good guy doing it tough in a relationship with a woman who's trust has been deeply broken.
This is not my set up. It's not autobiographical. “So how did this roll out? And that in a mere hour?” I wonder to myself.
Then I realise it came from a simple thought, notion, idea - which I was pondering, trying to figure out if it holds true:
Could it be that as women we unleash our greatest anger on the men we love and trust the most?
And that simple question led to ‘Aftermath’, a song about the good guy who is relationally served up the emotional consequences of what he triggered, but didn't actually cause.
I confess that I felt quite emotional writing ‘Aftermath’, as I know this is a hidden relational reality for a lot a decent men. I hope that the ‘good guys’ who are trying to genuinely be there for their spouses through tough seasons will hear this and be encouraged.
It's just lyrics for now, but melody/harmony will come when I get a chance to get behind the keyboard.
Renaté
