This Is Why We Fight

Lyrics:

Usually I say what's going on in my mind
But I don't want to give you that satisfaction this time
This time I don't know how to say it 
Without sounding mean
So let me be by myself and then later we'll reconvene

If you let me go, I'll be better
But you wanna know, you want an answer
I don't have one so I'll just stare blankly at the wall
'Cause I have nothing nice to say so I don't say anything at all

Chorus:
That's not good enough for you
No, you want a reason
You push me into a corner where I can't run and so I bite
I don't wanna talk about it
But then you pry
And you wonder, but I know
This is why, this is why
This is why we fight

This is why, this is why we fight

Usually I know the cause behind my feelings
But every now and then I just get so darn sad for no darn reason
Can't you believe me with the few words that I spoke?
No, you push my buttons like I'm a bear that you just can't help but poke

And if you draw the words out, it'll be worse than
If you let them stay with me, in my person
I know that they're irrational, that's why I don't want to share them
I appreciate you asking and thank you so much for caring

Chorus

And you think you're doing me a favor 
By letting me let it all go (it's not gonna make me feel better)
But if I just walk away and come back then I'll know

That's not good enough for you
You want a reason
You push me into a corner where I can't run and so I bite
I never meant to hurt you, love
But you gotta learn that it's enough
That when I speak or when I choose not to 
You gotta know that I still got you

Chorus

This is why, this is why we fight
This is why, this is why we fight
This is why, this is why we fight
This is why, this is why we fight


Lyrics, Unpacked:

This song was inspired by a friend at work. We would take walks pretty much daily and talk about stuff, but there were some days when I just didn't want to say that much. He would try to "get to the bottom of it" insisting that something was wrong, or that I wasn't telling him something. And I was like, No, I just don't feel like talking right now. And then when he kept trying to get me, too, I said, "This is why we fight. You know what? I'm going to write a song about this and it's going to be called 'This Is Why We Fight'."

And then I did.

So the first verse and chorus are loosely about that situation. The second verse is honestly about PMS and when you experience emotions that cannot be explained, and instead of talking it out and come off sounding like a looney, you kind of really just want to be left alone until it passes.

A Pop Song, Perhaps?

I tried to write a song that could be generic and understood by the masses, ergo crawling into pop song territory. Back in November, I shared this song at the Nashville Songwriters Association International meeting. They were all sharing country songs, of course, and I was like, "You guys wanna hear my pop song?" A guy commented that I had accurately described the situation in every relationship, so in my head I was like, ok, cool, I can write relatable content. I then I never went back because 1) I don't write country and 2) even if I did, I would want to be the one singing it and not selling the song to some other artist. Kind of takes the singer out of the singer-songwriter IMO...

Anyway, the beat, lyrics, and dynamics of this song are what make it so fun. I just had to make a music video, starring me dancing around like a fool, because there are so many times that I'd be listening to this song in my car or in the bathroom while getting ready, and it just made me bop and jam.
You just can't help but dance along.
Even the camera man got into it a little bit (sorry, Mike). At least it got stuck in his head.

My First Full-Length Music Video

The music video for This Is Why We Fight shows soliloquy-style expression through different ways that people try to relax: chilling in the backyard, doing yoga, cooking, playing music, and dancing.
It mirrors what you may be thinking during your time alone; talking out past fights in your head and figuring out why they happened.

So enjoy the video of me cavorting around my yard and kitchen. It's been a while since I've goofed off on camera.

The "ATIONS" notecard next to my Converse sneakers at 03:27 was all Mike's idea. This Is Why We Fight is on my album Conversations, so it's cleverly Converse-ations.

And don't forget to watch the blooper reel!

Mike: I don't know how you're going to do a headstand.
Me: Well, we're just gonna shut up and try.
*Does headstand*
Me: Got 'em.