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If Only Our Cars Were as Green as the Trees

by Andy Getch

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1.
If Only Our Cars Were As Green As the Trees (intro) 01:29
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Chords: G - 320033; A - xo222o; Badd11/A - xo444o; C6/A - xo555o; Dadd9/A - xo777o; [G] If only our cars were as green as the trees [A] What will be the tipping point [Badd11/A] To make more EV [C6/A] boys [G] Ten years so much has changed [A] So much is still the same [Badd11/A] What is the counterpoint [G] When will EV's be for realz [A] Thats why I drive electric [Badd11/A] Gotta be on the flip side to see [C6/A] I'm an old-timer now [Dadd9/A] Here we go [G] If only our cars were as green as the trees (repeat and fade)
2.
Counterpoint 01:30
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[Bm(Em)] So tempting to provide the counterpoint So often I ask myself whats the point [Em(Am)] If they have already formed their own opinion [Bm(Em)] My counterpoint just leads to further division I'm happy to answer a sincere question To something specific or general information [Em(Am)] Happy to talk to someone with an open mind A pleasant conversation and keep it kind [Em(Am)] Also I'm happy to acknowledge the downsides of EV's [Bm(Em)] That don't work for many of them but work for me So I don't need to make a counterpoint Because after all what's the point
3.
Imagine Paul in a Spark 03:05
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Imagine Paul in a Spark Chords: B4/A - xo44oo; Cmaj7/A - xo55oo; G6/A - xo77oo;F#7add11 - 2443oo; Verse [D2] Paul has a need to get around but not so much cash these days [G2] Blew his record deal trash in the town [D2] His mind races towards an ADD phase [D2] Takes the bus to East Saint Paul A forgotten used car lot [G2] Public transit is faster than a crawl [D2] But expensive its not Chorus [A2] Imagine Paul in a Spark Still smokin, bless his heart [B4/A] Doesn't go out much after dark [Cmaj7/A] When Paul's still got a spark [A2] He'll go where he needs to go [B4/A] In the Minneapolis rain and three feet of snow Short enough and easy to park [Cmaj7/A] Imagine Paul in a Spark [D2] Picks out a lime Chevrolet Spark EV For three thousand dollars cash [G2] Running the extension through to window to charge the battery [D2] From the studio where he used to thrash From the studio where he used to thrash From the studio where he used to thrash Bridge [G6/A] I can almost hear him cursing When he looks at the output of his Forscan [F#7add11] No effin degradation No effin degradation No effin degradation [E] As he passes the gas stations He passes the gas stations [F#7add11] No effin degradation Repeat chorus No effin degradation (repeat and fade)
4.
For Realz 02:34
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For Realz Verse (sus shuffle) [D] Curb bumpers are weathered Rebar sticking out from the [C] renovated art center [D] Insignia is faded Employees are also boarding [C] for a salary traded [G] To work Chorus For Realz Where all the [C] cool kids bring their [D] EV's For [G] Realz Free charging with [C] vegan food and chocolate [D] smoothies Verse [D] Paul's on the corner stage playing Stomping his feet on the plywood while [C] he strums his electric guitar [D] While his Spark is charging He can smell the jalapeno [C] on his vegan burrito [G] That he ate during the last break Paul loves to sing Chorus Bridge [E4] Never seen anything like the [D4] EV videos [C4] Who Killed the Electric Car [B7] And drag races of EV's dusting [Am] Internal combustion [E4] Dozens of electric cars Charging on 240 volts in the parking lot feeling the breeze [D4] Wisps insects dancing in the glow like little folk stars Night nearing its end with one final burst of energy Chorus
5.
My Synapses Missing 02:41
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My Synapses Missing [E7] Cool kids are all here and no one is listening [F7] To me or each other or electric motors humming [G7] Stage is a little shaky I can't feel my right foot [F#7] Fingers are a little achy from [F7] barre chords I wish I [E7] could Chorus 1 [C7] Play my songs today I have something to [A7] say Even if they're not [D7] listening [C7] Getting dark I still feel the [A7] spark Of my synapses [D7] missing [E7] A standing gig anytime I want I can play here [F7] Bringing my old rig leaving behind my old fear [G7] That I'll forget half the words and muff half the chords [F#7] Driving my EV spark while [F7] Andy's got his cold [E7] ford Chorus 2 Thinking [C7] Why do I even try Man sometimes I just [A7] die These kids would be [D7] amazed [C7] 'Bout who I was in my day Now I sing new songs and just [A7] play Yeah now I've been [D7] replaced [B7] Wear my sunglasses cause I can't stand bright lights My synapses missing all intuitive insight The future still passes by who I might Have [A7] been Repeat Chorus 1
6.
Ten Years 01:12
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Ten Years Eadd11 - oo21oo; Gadd11 - 335433; Aadd11 - 557655; [Eadd11] Ten years of FAWM Ten years of 50/90 Ten years of NaSoAlMo Still not where I wanted to be [Gadd11] But where did I want to be That is the mystery Even to me [Eadd11] Ten years of songs Ten years of poems Ten years of free writes Mind dumps and clustering [Aadd11] So I get in my electric car Look back over the expansive landscape I have crossed Synapses firing [Gadd11] millions of electrons [Aadd11] All of the things that [Gadd11] I have made [Eadd11] So many have forgotten Do I do another Ten years of songs Ten years of electric cars Ten years of engineering What could go wrong
7.
Here We Go 02:07
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[F(C)] Turn on the air conditioning because [Bb(F)] sometimes we can't stand the humidity [F(C)] Our sunshower is a prism for [G(D)] everyone elses rainbow [F(C)] Not complaining because our [Bb(F)] location for electric vehicles in the city [F(C)] Sure beats having a charge locked motor in deep freeze [G(D)] while I'm shoveling three feet of snow [F(C)] I'm going to get a late start because I [Bb(F)] forgot to go get something to drink [F(C)] Watered down fruit juice to still have the flavor [G(D)] and not so much sugar [F(C)] Meanwhile give the high voltage battery [Bb(F)] time to top off, calibrate, and level the heat sink [F(C)] Press the button to start shift [G(D)] down in to low gear Chorus [C(G)] Here we go [G(D)] Here we go [Bb(F)] Here we go [F(C)] Here we go Bridge [Am(Em)] Suffering the misinformation believing fools [G(D)] I'm playing by a different set of rules [C(G)] Solar panel charged [F(C)] Living large [F(C)] Pull out into traffic feel that [Bb(F)] instant torque even my focus is zippy [F(C)] Foot off the pedal for regenerative [G(D)] braking all the way to the traffic light [F(C)] Ignoring all the dorks [Bb(F)] honking horns and acting snooty [F(C)] Because I'm driving on sunshine [G(D)] all the way home tonight Repeat chorus Repeat chorus and fade
8.
Everything Evolves 04:43
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Everything Evolves [A(D)] Maybe someday someone invents a car that runs on a tank of seawater [E(A)] Flowing to the heart in a medusa set of capillaries [Bm(Em)] So that emissions don't put our planet in a state of flux [A(D)] I'd like to leave a livable planet for my granddaughter's granddaughter [E(A)] Instead of thawed out polar ice caps putting Florida underwater from rising seas [Bm(Em)] While the fossil fuel mega billionaires are making big bucks Chorus [B4(E4)] I don't want to seem passive [Bm(Em)] Its just that protests are not my thing [B4(E4)] Writing letters to politicians [Bm(Em)] End up with the same old things [D(G)] Instead I got solar panels and drive electric [Cmaj7(Fmaj7)] Those are things that I can do today [Bm(Em)] I can't change the worlds profit motivated metric [D(G)] But I can choose my own way [Cmaj7(Fmaj7)] To save a little bit of the planet [A(D)] I've read that everything evolves or goes extinct and is gone [E(A)] Through ice ages and tropical phases [Bm(Em)] The graph looks like a heartbeat for the planet [A(D)] Goodbye dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, and mastadons [E(A)] One time ruler of their days [Bm(Em)] Gotta wonder if man is next Repeat chorus I hear mother earth [A(D)] I hear ya that internal combustion engines [E(A)] are so much more efficient [Bm(Em)] And fuel cells go the farthest [A(D)] Well electric motors and batteries [E(A)] have advanced and are cheaper too [Bm(Em)] Nobody really knows what is next Bridge [E4(A4)] I hear mother nature say I'll be back for more in 30 minutes or so I hear mother earth say I'll be back for more in 30 minutes or so But I'm not sure if I'm a part of her plan Or if geologic time for 30 minutes is more like 300,000 years or more I only have today and there's so much I don't understand About mother earth Repeat chorus Outro Meanwhile Everything evolves Everything evolves (Repeat and fade)
9.
EV Boy 03:14
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EV Boy Refrain [E] EV [B7] boy Verse [A] Driving from the house Quiet as a mouse Moving so [D] fast [A] Acting like he knows Which way the wind blows Using no [D] gas Repeat refrain [A] Reading those reports Critics out of sorts Don't under [D] stand [A] Didn't check their source Fake news of course Boring and [D] bland Repeat refrain Instrumental Verse/Refrain [A] At the charge station Tourists on vacation Say how does [D] that work [A] Just plug it in To fill it again Then put it in [D] reverse Repeat refrain Instrumental Verse/Refrain [A] Driving down the road Any which way to go Minne [D] sota [A] One final fling Cellephone rings Flash watches from the [D] sofa Repeat refrain
10.
I'm An Old-Timer Now 04:37
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Repeat progression 1 bar [Am] 1 bar [E] 2bars [Bmadd11] 2 bars [C#m6] 2 bars [Bmadd11] Chorus Show up on time Know your lines Don't complain Smile through the pain Laugh through the rain Write just the same Now its just the flip of a switch My mindset change a flip of the switch From off to on a flip of the switch I show up on time Even though I'm an old-timer now The drive to work is much shorter now And life is less wordy now I'm feeling less worthy yet more appreciated now I know my lines I'm an old timer now Repeat chorus My expectations have shrunk My manifestations have been thunk I don't have time for alcohol much less drunks I don't complain Even though I'm an old-timer now My mind is weary racing to all it can fathom Synapses overheating to a blaze Here goes another brain dump for monkey mind to abate Then I remember what Julianna said I'm an old timer now Repeat chorus
11.
On The Flip Side 01:58
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On The Flip Side Tenor banjo C5 F5 G5 repeat progression Look at the sticker Its not a guarantee If you want to get there quicker There is a stiff penalty If you want to condition the air Just for your comfort It may not seem very fair Thats the way it works buster On the flip side Driving electric is much cheaper If you want to change my mind You'll have to dig deeper Than the misinformation being spewed On the socials by luddites and haters Spending their lives watching twisted news To generate angry complacence Look at the sticker Its not a limit either Drive slower with the windows open You'll go a lot farther People focus on battery degradation Well ICE's get less efficient with age too Holding our noses at the exhaust pungent exclamation ewww They may be white with red hats but their cars spew black and blue On the flip side Driving electric is a lot more fun With true range To get the job of transportation done I'll plug in my garage and drive for a penny or two a mile Let the luddites and haters pay 10 or 20 cents a mile at the pump I'll drive by the convenience store and smile Hit the acceleration pedal and leave them with their exhausted fuel dump You go ahead and pay way too much for your gas we'll just charge in our garage
12.
My Passing Sad Dream EV 03:14
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[F(G)] My dream EV Knows everything about me My dream EV [G(A)] Splits traffic seams [F(G)] My dream EV Parts traffic like the red sea My dream EV Is green Chorus [Bb(C)] Ford Focus Electric discontinued in 2018 [C(D)] Smart fortwo discontinued in the US 2019 [D(E)] Worldwide gone in 2020 [G(A)] Here I am looking down the end of 2021 And a depleted EV fund For a Mustang Mach-E or something equally convertible and green [F(G)] Yeah there is an infrastructure bill with billions of promises of more charging stations Except that flows through the states [G(A)] where there are contrary administrations [F(G)] I don't feel like charging is going to get any better before our next driving vacation The route from here lets it bleed [G(A)] so its gonna be what its gonna be [Dm(Em)] So there goes my passing sad dream EV Between a chip shortage and a lithium Shortage and a budget I can't reach Repeat chorus [Dm(Em)] So there goes my passing sad dream EV Between angry luddites And wall market short selling types So there goes my passing sad dream EV

about

This album was entirely written during the month of November 2021 as part of the National Solo Album Month Challenge and helped along greatly by SWFL region writing activities as part of National Novel Writing Month. Per the challenge all songwriting, instrument playing and recording is my own. For me the focus of the challenge is to improve my songwriting. The recordings are rough demos as-is.

The title was inspired by my painting which also is the album cover. Reference photo was of my Smart Fortwo cabriolet charging next to a Mustang Mach-E, the first time I saw one in the wild.

credits

released November 30, 2021

All lyrics and music by Andy Getch
Instruments - guitar, acoustic bass, 12-string guitar, MIDI keyboard, ukelele, shaker, wooden spoons, tenor banjo

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Andy Getch Fort Myers, Florida

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