V1
Whoever said
That words can’t hurt you must have never had
A dictionary dropped down on their head
From a distance
The last I checked
That’d knock you dead
And I’m impressed
Cuz based on the available context
Well, I don’t think you were speaking in jest
I think you meant it
Because you signed it
And then you sent it
CHORUS
You coulda told me to get lost
It wouldn’t've hurt me so bad
You coulda told me to fuck off
I woulda prob'ly just laughed
But for all the days we spent together
And all the ways you could end a letter
I woulda thought you’d pick something better
But instead, you chose
“Best”
V2
Well, I confess
If this was just some ruthless kind of test
To see if I’d get uselessly obsessed
Well, then you nailed it
Cuz you passed it
And I failed it
CHORUS
You coulda told me to get lost
It wouldn’t've hurt me so bad
You coulda told me to fuck off
I woulda prob'ly just laughed
But for all the days we spent together
And all the ways you could end a letter
I woulda thought you’d pick something better
But instead, you chose
“Best”
POST
Oh, oh yes
I’d have never guessed
Baby, you chose “Best”
BRIDGE
Peace, love, sincerely, warmest regards, cheers, yours truly, X.O.,
Talk soon, later, thanks for reading, with all due respect...
Let me be direct
V3
Did you forget
How many times the two of us had sex?
Tho I would call it love making instead
At least a thousand
The last I checked
But who’s counting?
CHORUS
You coulda told me to get lost
It wouldn’t've hurt me so bad
You coulda told me to fuck off
I woulda prob'ly just laughed
But for all the days we spent together
And all the ways you could end a letter
I woulda thought you’d pick something better
But instead, you chose
“Best”
POST
Oh, oh yes
I’d have never guessed
Baby, you chose
“Best”
Aaron Lee Tasjan is one my favorite artists. I feel a kindred spirit to his songwriting, and lyrically he is right up there with all the greats. This cat makes me cry and laugh in the same song. Theo Katzman
Released in 2001, “The Convincer” is a gentle gem in the Nick Lowe catalog; an anniversary edition provides opportunity for rediscovery. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 20, 2021