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Backhand Love
words & music: Matt Burt
©2006 matt’songs BMI 2007
My sister called me up the other day, to tell me that Daddy had
passed away.
I couldn’t muster a single tear. All I felt was relief, a new life without fear.
It didn’t bother me in the least. I said, “dig a hole, toss him in and let me rest in peace!”
I don’t need, I don’t need, I don’t, I don’t
I don’t need you backhand love
He was a short man, larger than life. He probably went through three or five wives.
They kind of liked his style, kind of liked his spunk.
He wasn’t too bad until he got drunk.
He used to promise to make me a man, he broke my cheek, broke my heart, broke four bones in my hand.
chorus
I got shot twice in that stupid Asian war. when I landed home I thought I knew the score.
Might makes right, kill ‘em all, let God sort out the rest.
If I could take it back I would, I confess.
I don’t know much but I do know this: don’t ever trust a man who teaches lessons with his fist.
chorus and out
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| Lyric Credits: |
Matt Burt |
| Music Credits: |
Matt Burt |
| Producer Credits: |
Matt Burt and Dave Race |
| Label Credits: |
Broken Oak Records |
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Story Behind the Song:
This song first popped up in 2004. I had been playing Copperhead Road by Steve Earle for awhile and one day just started fooling with the drop D tuning that I use for my version of the song. I hit the open C chord position and it turned into this neat sounding chord. When I hit the Fmaj7 position it also transformed into an interesting sound. I nicked the rhythm from the Who. Once I started strumming this the story just bloomed in front of me.
I once heard PD James speak and she said that writing wasn’t revelation as much as it was dictation. I’ve found this to be true with the stories, novels and songs that I’ve written. These characters just sort of show up and demand that you tell their story. This tale certainly expresses my feeling that violence begets violence but the gift of being human is that you can change yourself. The reflexes taught to you are always available but you don’t have to use them. You always have a choice.
I have been secretly flattered when a few of my friends have told me that this song just makes them a little too uncomfortable. I also had someone mention that “obviously” this had never happened to me but where did it come from. I will state for the record that I was never a physically or emotionally abused child but if you sit and watch it’s easy to see the millions of little flinches that people carry around with them. The legacy of someone’s quick temper.
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| Song Length: |
3:41 |
| Primary Genre: |
Country-Rock |
| Tempo / Feel: |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
| Lead Vocal: |
Male Vocal |
| Language: |
English |
| Era: |
2000 and later |
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