So I guess here's the defining moment where it becomes apparent that this is a concept album and not really a musical. There are now 2 songs that take place directly after the attack. Whereas I could sequence them "Your Name" then "My People" (to separate the alien songs), they kind of both have the same mood and musical purpose in a show. Can't really sink into 2 solo ballads back to back that both start as downers and end up more positive and forward-looking.
I went in a kind of strange direction with this one. Once I hit a critical mass of lyrics in which there was no mention of aliens, I decided to stick with it and complete the entire thing such that it could be entirely separate from the Gleebleverse. Along the way I even deferred any mention of their physical nature, eschewing phrases like "tipping the scales" if they're reptilian or "coming out of my shell" if they're arachnid, etc. In fact, I guess we now know they have hands and backs.
As a standalone song, it hits on subject matter that is very current and personal for me. I'm finding out just how much of what I called my "personality" is a mix of neurodivergencies, and that my difficulties in meshing with neurotypical people stem from that, while my ability to function is credited to masking. There's no such thing as being myself, and I wouldn't really know who that is if I tried. But there have been glimpses here and there (like my wife and daughter) of those that are like me, and with whom I could find my people. So I keyed off Globron's annoyance with his assigned people (from "End of the World") to drive a longing for the people of his choosing.
The orchestration was a challenge. After listening to a lot of very contemporary "I Want" songs, it surprised me how simple the accompaniment is through much of them. They all allow the orchestration to fill out near the end, but even the first choruses tend to be wide open and leave space for the vocals. Really had to rein it in and keep it subtle, for a while.
My favorite chord is the one under "kind". Maybe a Bdim7add9 (?), but the vocal note – an E – is none of the 5 notes in the chord. Literally using half of all the available notes!
lyrics
INT. PUB - NIGHT
Pub occupies left ⅓ of stage, full of rowdy aliens, celebrating their successful invasion of Earth. The remaining ⅔rds are a street with impact holes and damaged cars, but otherwise empty, lit by street lights. Globron sits at a table in the corner of the pub, alone.
GLOBRON
……Cold beer, warm cheer, and it’s easy. It’s so easy for them,
……And I just sit here where nobody sees me, ‘cause nobody sees me.
……Hand clap, backslap, and somehow they’re best friends with everyone in the crowd.
……Mugs clink, spilled drink, and how are they laughing so loud?
Globron gets up and leaves the pub while singing. The rest of the song takes place outside in the street.
……So I guess I’ll go, ‘cause I’ve seen this scene enough before to know
……In every corner of the world, you see the same thing play out a different way
……But in some dark corner of the world, could there actually be a pack for me
……To find, where I’m perfectly aligned with my folk, my kin, my kind,
……My people
……Picture me in, like, a song where they’re singing together and strong.
……I join that band and it’s like I belong there, because I belong there.
……Inspiration for being the being revealed by lifting this mask.
……Conversation: hey, how is that too much to ask?
……Nope, it’s time to cope, and to cross a bridge just far enough to hope
……That in every corner of the world, there’s this chance that I find the answer why
……I’m called to that corner of the world, where finally it’s ok for me to be
……In my corner of the world, with a song I’ve sung by myself among this and
……Every other corner of the world, feeling safe and free, all my friends with me,
……And find a peacefulness of mind, among my folk, my kin, my kind,
……My people
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