Here’s the lyrics as I scribbled them down…
This song is an imagined conversation between Amy and her father. I’ve used direct quotes from Amy – she became tired and suffocated by all the adulation, it became a vicious circle: she had to create new records and become ever more daring to make money, but the attention became too much for her – all she wanted when she began the whirlwind was to be accepted as a pilot, as a mechanic, as a woman equal in a man’s world.
This song is the age-old archetype of a daughter/son wondering if their father/mother is proud of them. I’m not sure what Amy’s relationship with her parents was like – it certainly became strained after her wedding to Jim Mollinson (she told them about it the day before; they drove all night to get to London for the wedding, and couldn’t get into the church because of the crowds), and her father had at one time, offered to pay for Amy to live in Canada rather than follow her dream to fly. Did she worry about what her parents thought about her fame and glory? Did she ever confide in her father about how it was all getting too much for her?
This song comes towards the end of the song cycle, and has a slowing down, self-reflective feel to it. I’ve used a F-G-C-Am chord progression, which is a common coda-out chord progression in songs.
Interestingly, I started the song on father’s day, and finished it the day before my father’s birthday. Read into that what you will.
I’ve filmed the writing process (I’ll up/download the films as soon as I find where I’ve packed the lead thingy), which started when I was in the middle of moving house, and finishing when the house move fell through and I became homeless. But I know my daddy is proud of me.
These first three films are me, rather bravely capturing myself as I try and coax a song from the ether. It was a very hot day, and yes, I was wearing clothes
and this is me trying out the lyrics to see if they scan… still needs a bit of work, but I have an idea of where I’m going with the song…
OVERHAUL Hey Daddy did I disappoint you? I never lived like you wanted me to My headstrong ways often made you frown Hey Daddy, did I let you down? But I've got adventure in my soul And I got it all from you You were once an adventurer, I got my dreams from you Look at me now, Daddy, look at me now The King of England has heard of me Daddy, are you proud? I never wanted to be ordinary I never wanted to follow the crowd My dreams were so much less than this But nothing ever goes as planned I wanted acceptance, instead I got glory Daddy, I hope you understand - Look at me now, Daddy, look at me now. They want the Legend, not the person, Everywhere I go the crowds are waiting Cheering Amy Johnson, Amy Johnson Daddy, I'm slowly suffocating Look at me Daddy, I'm not happy Happiness needs only three things A few good friends, a small place to live, And wings..... Look at me now, Daddy, look at me now I'd trade all my fancy dresses For a greasy overall And a plane that's crying, Crying out for an overhaul Like me, Daddy, like me.
amyjohnsonsongcycle 