WITHOUT THE WORDS

Well, pretty much unreleased. It technically was available for 24 hours as a part of a LA Fire Benefit Compilation, but I’d bet that most of you have not heard it.

When we made WAGD, we recorded 13 songs. The 10 that made the record, early versions of “Who Do You Think You’re Talking To” and “Greatest Invention” and a song called “Without The Words.”

Whether it’s “Strangers Getting Stranger” from the Nothing is Wrong days or the version of “Picture of a Man” from the Stories Don’t End sessions, I often can’t remember why certain tunes of ours get left off records. Those would have felt fine on those respective records. The same is true in this case. Listening back now, this song would’ve played a nice role alongside everything else on WAGD. It’s simple enough - a light retelling of the wonders of *catching feelings*. We’ve all been there. A lighter lift compared to what most of the other tunes from that batch were getting after. And not to mention a guitar figure that’s still pretty fun to play. I think I stole some lines for songs that came along later.

Maybe it was just making sure the album clocked in around 40 minutes (the ideal length for one vinyl), or maybe my insecurity around there being no proper chorus or refrain to hang your hat on (making it feel unfinished in my head for some arbitrary reason), but whatever it was, the fact remains that it didn’t make the cut. I even remember Blake Mills (our producer for this record and my oldest friend) saying this was one of his favorites from the sessions. Now you get to be the judge.

Paid subscribers - please enjoy “Without The Words.” (And for all of you that don’t wanna take the plunge - look out for this one on the 10 year anniversary deluxe vinyl that has yet to be officially announced 😉)

One more fun fact - the last scene takes place with two people in a private Karaoke room slow dancing to a song neither were singing. So quite literally “dancing to the songs without the words.”

Looking forward to seeing what you think.