A Valentine's Song and Small Story

Valentine's Day in grade school was basically stressful, a pain in the ass, and ultimately traumatic. You would have to give a valentine to everyone in class -- it was mandatory -- but the card's size or fanciness you'd give to each person was your decision. Neither my mom nor I were good at crafts, so I always had those sad store-bought ones that came in boxes of, I think, 20. The box usually consisted of ten shitty small cards, eight medium-sized ones, and two really big special ones. Those big ones would go to your best friends or maybe a secret crush -- if you had the nerve. I, being sort of a weirdo and not the most popular girl, had a really hard time choosing who would get what card. First of all, I didn't have one or two best friends for the really big ones. Secondly, the secret crush was an asshole, and I didn't want her to think that I cared. Most of all, I was worried that the classmates, whom I gave the small shitty cards to, would feel insulted and hurt. It was a no-win situation.

But what was worse was the anticipation of not receiving as many quality cards as most of the other girls. I didn't want to look like a loser. Let's say I gave Billy Bell (who I thought was the closest thing to a best friend) the big Cupid card, but in return, did not receive his prized card with the giant candied Valentine heart engraved with "Be Mine." What if my asshole crush, Shelly, got it? And you know what? It happened.

As an adult, Valentine's Day has been more benign and less worrisome. However, there is always that awkward moment in the beginning of a relationship. Do you give a Valentine gift? How good or expensive should it be? Will your present be too overbearing -- scare someone away -- or not up to snuff? One time I gave a great mix tape (of love songs) to this sweet boy I was just starting to see casually -- so I thought. In return, he handed me this silk case with really expensive looking pearl earrings inside. We were in our early twenties. It kind of weirded me out.

Now, the person who I am seeing presently and I have decided not to exchange gifts, and instead, just go to a really fancy-pants restaurant -- it's hard times for everyone. A dinner sounds great! But... what if all of a sudden a silk case or a giant candied heart is presented to me during dessert, as a surprise, and I have nothing? Maybe, I will have to have something wrapped in my purse just in case. What about a mix tape? It's the thought that counts.

Here is the closest thing I have to a nice Valentine's love song. It's from my new record (fan- funded and coming out April 14th). It's called "Sweetheart". My pal John Doe (of X and Knitters fame) provides the sweet harmonies.

Click the play button to listen and read the lyrics below.

Sweetheart
(Sobule/Eaton/Dickens)

If I was your sweetheart and you were my darling

I'd always remember the way you look now

Even here in this diner, your bright eyes shining

You're always smiling when you're by my side

And that man he's rude, he talks to you just like you were his wife, but I would be more kind

My coffee cup has been filled up for the seventh time

And you're so on my mind

If I was your secret and you were my keeper

I think we'd be happy and rarely be blue.

We'd run around laughing, maybe go out dancing

If I as your sweetheart and you were my darling

And all I'd ever want from you is that you would keep it true

And I'd write songs for you

And we'd go around the world to see all the disappearing things

And then we'd vanish too

If I was your sweetheart and you were my darling

I'd take off your apron

You've been a good waitress

Comments

[L1]

I think this I she best blog ever written, it covers so much. Valentine’s Day is a pain in my behind these days, and back in the grade school days it was a very traumatic time in the year. I never had a valentine to give anyone, there were a lot of kids in my family and the younger ones got all the good stuff. So just imagine coming to school and not having a valentine for anyone, but yet everyone is giving you something. Or how about when I did bring valentine gifts I always was worried that I didn’t have the good ones and that every one else’s were better than mine. Yeah those were some tuff times. But now a valentine to me is just the card and chocolate company’s favorite day of the year. They make a killing on how many of their items they sell, everyone in America know what day valentine’s day is, and I bet almost all of them participate in it one way or another. This valentines I didn’t get my significant other anything, I just took him out to dinner and shared a box of chocolate. I did almost exactly what Jill Sobule said she was going to do, and you know what we both saved are selves a nice chunk of changes that way. So the next time you bye a card or chocolate on valentines just remember it’s a big conspiracy there out to get your money. Bye bye.

[peachfuzz]

Love it.

[alwaysthere]

Love In The Air

Can you feel it ?
The pulse
The word
The gift that has been given to you and to me
Both here and hereafter
Oh...most definitely
Look
Look
For there is nothing up my sleeves
And yet !!
This is Alchemy's greatest trick
And a virtual magical fair
For when we care, really care
We put
Love In The Air

s.

[koreatownkid]

What a lovely Valentine's Day gift! The blog entry and the song. You're the bestest, Jill Sobule. The. Best. Est.

[Mort]

Happy Valentines, Jill.
We need you here at HuffPo a lot more!

[alwaysthere]

ka-boom !!
wounded in love
but is she who rescued me from the pits of hell
and yes I will suffer
but I will suffer well.

hey old friend

[The Albany Kid]

Jill Sobule is to Katy Perry as Scott Joplin is to Marvin Hamlisch.

[A1batross]

Man, I am looking forward to your new CD coming out in April! I sure hope this song is on it!

[AbstractionAction]

This is a really great idea. I'm not nearly so creative, so I just serenaded my honey with the best rendition of Steely Dan's "Peg" that I could come up with.

Probably should've taken a bit more of a cue from Jill... ;)

[phoebeT]

Jill always gets it so right! - American Song-stress extraordinaire!

[Cat Givens]

This is such the conundrum, and I adore the song.
Life can be so damn awkward, but if we just put glitter on it it's still pretty.

[davidly]

Gold.

[MikeGallivan]

Sweet song from a sweet lady!

Bittersweet story, but hey- that's life!

[Matthew Budman]

This song is a Really Big Special Valentine gift to all of us, Jill -- thanks!