Song picture
Just an Instinct
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A biologically inspired love song.
songwriter folk songaweek project
Creative Commons license
Commercial uses of this track are NOT allowed.
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You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the artist.
Blues-influenced songster, churning out songs never-before heard about food, love, work, teaching Spanish, and more.
In an effort to get my music out into the world and to hone my writing practice, I'm starting a Song-A-Week project I'll attempt to release one brand new song per week for a year, starting today, Sunday, May 14th, 2006, and continuing through Sunday, May 13, 2007. Traditionally I, like most people, have written about love and sex — attraction, frustration, satisfaction, the works. As evidenced by the first song in my new series (about a job interview for a lame job), I'm trying to break out of this mold a bit more with my new series of songs... that said, I remain ever myself, and surely there will be more songs about love and whatnot.
Song Info
Genre
Acoustic • Acoustic Folk
Charts
Peak #1,066
Peak in subgenre #128
Author
Tom Hinkle
Rights
Tom Hinkle, 2006
Uploaded
July 25, 2006
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.9 MB • 128 kbps • 4:17
Story behind the song
I'd spent a lot of time with my 4-year-old niece who was had all kinds of animal books and is always asking questions about animal behavior and animal families. Then I read a William James quote about what instincts feel like -- long story short, it all came together in this song. It's also something of a manifesto against the "spiritual" metaphors that litter songs with this kind of tone ("soul mates" and what not).
Lyrics
Like a cheetah closin in on her prey Like a locust waking up after 20 years of waiting Like a pregnant praying mantis who just consumed her mate That's how I feel when I'm with you babe Chorus: There's nothing to be done about it Try as we might to stop and think There's no thought behind this kiss It's just an instinct They ask me how I know the timing is right Have I thought about the consequences Does a butterly think before it takes flight? Do birds calculate expenses? There's a billion dollar business tring to say This is something you can think and talk and buy books about You as might as well try and teach a rabbit how to read As try to put a thought between my mouth and your mouth Chorus How does a spider know how to use its spinneret Why do salmon swim back upstream How does a rattlesnake decide how close we can get That's how I know you're right for me Like a housefly who just spied a perfect piece of dung To lay her eggs and let her maggots feed That's how I felt when I first saw you come Into the room to sit next to me It's just an instinct, it's just an instinct. It's just an instinct.
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