This tune is part of a suite of tunes I've been thinking of as part of what I refer to as the "Better Late" collection, as in "better late than never," the "Vita Nova" attitude I've taken to writing songs these days. Interestingly, most of the Better Late tunes have themes akin to growing up (Charlie Brown), growing up late (The Best of Me), or not growing up at all (40 Going On 2o). The sub-theme is "starting over" (Unfinished Business).
Charlie Brown had a roundabout path to getting born. It started as just a snatch of melody intended to be sort of a fusion jazz instrumental. I was thinking maybe flute and piano (like some Chick Corea) because the melody seemed light and airy (lots of parallel sixths in the right hand of the piano). I started to call it "The Doogie Tune" because it reminded me of a TV theme that the incredible Mike Post wrote for a show that was on back then. Then sometime later - much later - I replaced the simple, two-chord bridge with a more, um, intriguing four-chord bridge.
Lyrics came next, I think. Since there was never supposed to be lyrics for the tune, there was never any inkling that the song would be about Charlie Brown, or anything else for that matter. The Charlie Brown connection most likely came from the left hand stuff, which was reminiscent of the immortal "Lucy and Linus" theme by Vince Guaraldi. So I was considering titling it something to do with Snoopy (remember, Snoopy plays stand up jazz bass!). Then "Charlie Brown, why the frown" seemed to fit really well with the first part of the first phrase. So then there is the question, isn't it? Why the frown, indeed? And there's the song.
There was another bridge coming now, as there was some story I still needed to include, plus it helped serve as a climax for a tune that really didn't have one. As a little jazz number with a groove, it didn't need one. As a song about Charlie Brown finally growing up, both the story and the tune needed somewhere to go.
By the way, my favorite line is the one about the blanket and the girl with a drink in her hand. That was one of those little moments where the lyric was just an isolated tidbit that laid great against the music, then ended up defining a lot of the rest of the story.
More later. We're off to our start!
