song of the day. #54 | song lyric sunday. #music

Posted on 11 February 2018 by what sandra thinks

These week’s theme for Song Lyric Sunday is phone calls/calling.

It took me less than five seconds to come up with a song. It’s one of my favorite songs ever. I don’t know what it is about this song, but I love it so much. I went through a phase where I was listening to it on repeat for days.

John wrote this while he was at Berklee College of Music (in Boston… a mere 15 minutes from my location at the time…) before he dropped out. It’s the second song he ever wrote. I think it’s pretty fucking amazing.

I can’t really say why I love it so much. I can’t usually explain such things. There’s just something about it… that gets me every time I hear it. It makes me emotional or something. Like… I can feel it. Full disclosure… the first time I heard it, I cried. Still happens to me sometimes. Hey, I never claimed to be sane. Or normal.

I suppose I can identify with the feeling of being on the side… being a fallback… and letting myself be that. I shouldn’t be willing to be the backup… to only be considered if there are no other options. I should be the first choice… or I shouldn’t be there at all. Must be my fear of loneliness that makes me allow such treatment.

• • •

Just in case it wasn’t obvious… the first line, especially, is what makes this song perfect for the theme.

swirly
Man On The Side | John Mayer

Six numbers, one more to dial
Before I’m before you
I tried to call
Been busy all night
Gave up waiting at daylight

Excuse Mrs. Busybody
Could you pencil me in when you can
Though we both know that the worst part about it
Is I would be free when you wanted me
If you wanted me

I am the man on the side
Hoping you’ll make up your mind
I am the one who will swallow his pride
Life as the man on the side

One of the many
One of the few
To stand back and wait for you

Excuse Mrs. Busybody
Could you pencil me in when you can
Though we both know that the worst part about it
Is I would be free when you wanted me
If you wanted me
If you wanted me

I am the man on the side
Hoping you’ll make up your mind
I am the one who will swallow his pride
Life as the man on the side
Life as the man on the side

I fell in love with a dream that I built of you
Playing the part of the Queen
Taking my own advice
I’m giving up tonight
Good luck to you and the King

Excuse Mrs. Busybody
Could you pencil me in when you can
Though we both know that the worst part about it
Is I would be free if you wanted me
When you wanted me
When you wanted me

I am the man on the side
Hoping you’ll make up your mind
I am the one who will swallow his pride
Life as the man
You know, life as the man
Living life as the man on the side

song of the day

This video is from John’s live album/dvd ‘Any Given Thursday,’ and there’s a lyric-free intro before the song begins. If you want to get right to the song, start at 3:06.

song of the day

Obviously I am not the owner of any rights to this song, video, or lyrics… just everything else… ©2018 what sandra thinks

About what sandra thinks

Sandra is a writer, sometimes blogger, poet, artist, emotional disaster. She thinks far too much and sleeps far too little. Sandra lives in the Northeastern U.S. but dreams of an oceanfront home in Italy, but she would settle for a non-oceanfront home in Italy. She loves books, brutal honesty, coffee, and the color black. She hates insincerity, beer, whipped cream, and facebook. And she is uncomfortable talking about herself in the third person.
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36 Responses to song of the day. #54 | song lyric sunday. #music

  1. Mark Lanesbury says:
    11 February 2018 at 6:34 am

    Mmm, that sounds like me Sandra. A fear of rejection so I just sat and waited for her…but she was never there in the first place.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. gigglingfattie says:
    11 February 2018 at 10:08 am

    This was a really pretty song!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. kphoenix1 says:
    11 February 2018 at 10:30 am

    Wow, nice song.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. sonofabeach96 says:
    11 February 2018 at 10:48 am

    Good pick for the topic. I think we’ve all been there before. It sucks, but we just don’t give ourselves the credit we deserve sometimes. 😕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Helen Vahdati says:
    11 February 2018 at 12:45 pm

    John Mayer is brilliant. For as much as I love him, I honestly haven’t heard this one? I’m so ashamed! I love it! It is sad, though, isn’t it? Great pick!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Peter's pondering says:
    11 February 2018 at 5:35 pm

    The link didn’t work for the UK either, but found it elsewhere. Something to do with licensing I believe.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Felicia Denise says:
    11 February 2018 at 7:22 pm

    Wow, sad…but very nice! Thanks for sharing. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. ghostmmnc says:
    11 February 2018 at 7:35 pm

    Nice and easy, and great music. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Shruti Ohri says:
    18 February 2018 at 3:29 am

    Aah! Love this song!
    John Mayer is one of my all-time favvs ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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