1 (edited by jets60 2007-11-16 13:26:22)

Topic: Don't Listen if You Don't Like It

Well, listening to music as much as I do I am sometime surprised that I like a song that I have never heard before and would never have listened to if it had not been played on the radio at that time. That got me thinking back in the way back machine in my head of growing up and wondering where my love of music first came from. I would have to say that it was from a force feeding on many long road trips. Those of you old enough to remember driving through parts of the rural southern United States can attest that there was not much selection to choose from back in those days, especially if you were sitting way in the back of the car and your Texas born and raised Father was controlling the radio. Needless to say my parents, both of whom worked at a fairly small college, had a wide range of musical tastes and so I was exposed to any and all sorts of music, either from them, their friends, my friends, my sister and/or her friends. So this song is about not prejudging any music or musician until your ears make the final call. Enough blabbing, I hope you all like it.

Don’t Listen if You Don’t Like It By Jeff Gilpin


November 15th, 2007




Intro


[A] [D] [A] [E] [D] [D7] [C]




Verse 1


Long a[C]go when I was growing up


On a [F]road trip I think


My [C]Dad had cranked the music up


So I [G]couldn’t sleep a [F]wink


Back then in the [C]hills of Carolina


They only [F]played Old Timey stuff


So I [C]hollered up to my [F]Dad and said


That [D]music’s pretty [G]rough…and he [G7]said…



Chorus 1


Don’t [C]listen


If you don’t [F]like it


I’m [C]sure you got better things to [G]do


Fall a[F]sleep, count the [C]road signs


Or do what[D]ever you want [G]to


But so [C]long as I’m driving this car


This [F]radio’s staying here


So [C]don’t listen [G]


If you don’t [C]like it [G]




Verse 2


I re[C]member thinking about that time


Just a [F]few years later on


I was [C]passing by my sister’s door


While [G]she was on the [F]phone


I [C]soulful voice was singing


[F]Whoa-oa-oaI feel good


So I [C]hung around and [F]listened


For as [D]long as I [G]could[G7]




Chorus 2


I [C]liked it


So I [F]listened


To a [C]song I’d never heard be[G]fore


[F]And the more of [C]it I heard


Made [D]me want to listen [G]more


That’s the [C]day I discovered


A [F]brand new different sound


And I [C]liked it [G]


So I [C]listened [G]




Verse 3


That [C]day I learned a lesson


I [F]never have forgot


There’s [C]many kinds of music


And [G]man I mean a [F]lot


So [C]if I got the chance


To [F]hear songs that were new


I’d [C]give the songs a [F]listen



And [D]here’s what I’d [G]do [G7]




Chorus 3


If I didn’t [C]like it


I didn’t [F]listen


But [C]if I did I’d listen some [G]more


It was [F]like someone [C]gave me


The [D]keys to the candy [G]store


I’d [C]try out music from all over


Find so [F]many that I’d like


But if I didn’t [C]like it[G]


I didn’t [C]listen [G]




Verse 4


Now [C]please don’t get me wrong


[F]I still had my doubts


Some [C]music I would leave alone


Not [G]caring what it was a[F]bout


Like [C]opera, I said no thank you


I would [F]pass on learning more


Un[C]til I first heard [F]Carmen


And [D]Torea[G]dor [G7]




Chorus 4


I didn’t think I’d [C]like it


So I didn’t even [F]listen


Un[C]til by accident one day I [G]did


[F]When I listened to the [C]music


Like a [D]light bulb came on in my [G]head


If I [C]hadn’t have ever heard it


I [F]never would have believed


But I [C]liked it [G]


So I [C]listened [A]




Verse 5


So [A]just because you may think


Some [D]music’s not for you


Don’t [A]make that final judgment


Un[E]til you know it’s [D]true


Re[A]sist your doubting thomasness


And [D]one day you might see


You [A]just might like that [D]music


Made by [B]people just like [E]me…[E7]but




Chorus 5


If you don’t [A]like it


Don’t [D]listen


I’m [A]sure you can find better things to [E]do


Go [D]read a book or watch a [A]movie


Hey maybe [B]even get a new tat[E]too


But [A]if on the off chance


You like the [D]music that you hear


Then keep [A]listening [E]


If you [D]like it…[A]



J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Don't Listen if You Don't Like It

I like it and I'd like to listen to it. Nice work Mr Jeff. As I mentioned in a previous post I like the fact that you structure your music with great variety. Being predictable as a musician/songwriter is very boring to me and you are most definately not boring. Groovy tune, thanks for sharing.
Peace and Guitars,
SouthPaw41L, Toney

Give everything but up.

Re: Don't Listen if You Don't Like It

Thanks Toney - This was a fun one to write too, so I guess I like it as well.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Don't Listen if You Don't Like It

Nice one jets smile. I think people put too much stock in the names that the market calls music, words like 'grunge' 'heavy' 'hard core', or in country music, 'cowboy country' 'hard country' 'country rock' 'country pop', its all just a marketing device really anyway. Use the names only to the extent to give you an idea of what it might be, but don't tie yourself to one and one only label, let your ears to the choosin'...
  So I say this: well said jets

All You Need is Love smile

Re: Don't Listen if You Don't Like It

Hi Jeff,

Nice one and a lot of truth in the lyrics, nearly caught me out with the key change though. I look forward to hearing it in the not too distant future.

Thank you,

Roger

"Do, or do not; there is no try"

6 (edited by jets60 2007-11-17 03:03:41)

Re: Don't Listen if You Don't Like It

Hey Reb and Roger - Thanks

Reb - I too agree that sometimes a song labeled as this or that might turn me away but it truly is eye opening hearing a song for the first time, really enjoying it only to find out you're heard about the song for a while but were turned off by the name of the song, the group or type of music it's been labeled.

Roger - I was going to mention the key change up front but I left it for a surprise for those who like them....or maybe I was hiding it from those who don't.  wink

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C