One More Figure
Almost everything in this song is true. Nobody was calling. I did go for a barefoot walk in the rain. And a super market grocer did give me that advice. Has there been a happy ending? That remains to be determined but I stand by the sentiment because it seems like the best way to live.
Marshall Thompson who played the keyboard part on “One More Figure” recorded his part in 2013 or 2014 when he was helping me unearth and organize and clean up these tracks, and in so doing resurrect and revive my pleasure in writing and recording songs. Marshall and I have had a bumpy road from The Previous to now but nobody has ever done me a bigger solid than he did when he put so many hours into helping me salvage this project from the shambles I left it in when I walked away from it for more than a decade. Oh yeah, and his playing on this track is pure joy!
Until the very final stages of producing the album this song was called “Happy Ending”. That’s probably a better title, though still not a great one. Luckily, I think the track is good enough that the lackluster title is only a minor flaw.
Lyrics
One More Figure
How was I to know this story would have a happy ending?
When I was feelin’ low I guess I musta been pretending
for the angels readin’ over my shoulder
Because there ain’t nobody callin’ on the telephone
but somehow tonight that don’t make me feel
quite as alone
as it did
just the other day
What was I thinkin’?
Now there’s one more figure in the picture tonight
One more figure in the picture
Tonight
So I go out walkin’ with the rain pourin’ down
my naked feet on the warm wet ground
and I wonder,
“Are the neighbors watchin’
and what do they see?”
Could it be me or just….
One more figure in the picture tonight?
One more figure in the picture
Tonight
Y’see I had me an epiphanal exchange with a supermarket grocer
He said, “Ya gonna keep that magazine?”
I said, “Thank you, no sir”
Put it back
on the rack
said, “I changed my mind”
He said, “If you can’t change your mind son
you can’t change anything
If you can’t change your mind son
you can’t change anything”.
That was the best advice I got all year
and now it’s perfectly clear
that there’s…
One more figure in the picture tonight
One more figure in the picture
Tonight
How was I to know this story would have a happy ending?
How was I to know this story would go slow?
Credits
Written by Andras Jones
Andras Jones – Vocal
Ford Pier – Electric Guitar
Marshall Thompson – Wurlitzer Organ
Keith Rose – Bass Guitar
Barry Mirochnik – Drums
Arranged by Ford Pier
Recorded by Marc L’esperance
Mixed by Sheldon Gomberg
Production assistance by Marshall Thompson
Purchase
$1.50