This song is track two on my first properly released album (You Wouldn’t Do That At Home). It’s another one of those that seemed to write itself, but started life as I wandered round the house playing my guitar, trying to find an acoustic sweet spot to record a different song. The little Em sus4 intro, into a C, with a capo on 2. The rest fell into place very quickly. I thought it sounded pleasant enough but I quite liked the words.
I wrote too many words for the end bit but kept them in, where they were. I did a reference to the darts/quiz show crossover, Bullseye, which seems to pass most people by. There’s a bit of Christmas as metaphor, and I made an effort to make the beginning sound like the start of something.
It’s obviously ironic. I mean, I thought it was obvious. I like things to be a little cryptic, though, like Roddy Frame or Elvis Costello. Not quite as opaque as Wire, though, who have lyrics like crossword clues. I also like the idea of the mystery target, like in ‘You’re So Vain’. Since it’s been out there, I’ve had many guesses as to who or what it’s about, but like many songs it’s an agglomeration. Or an abomination if you don’t like it. I bet you do though.
Enough people liked it enough to learn it and cover it which in turn drew the attention of PRS. I got some royalties as a result (thanks everyone!) and we had a few days in Paris on part of the proceeds. While we were there I had some sense of squaring the circle so we went to St Michel for an open mic where I played the song.