dawnwriter

Dear Jukebox Creator,

Thank you for offering to write for one of these songs, all of which I love and will enjoy receiving a story about! Yes, I am requesting fic only for my primary gift, though if you are inspired to add an illustration as a treat, that would be fine.

I've highlighted some of the lyrics from each song that stand out for me, as my favorite bits, to do with as you like. Most of my selections are a bit moody or dark this year, and I'd like something that keeps to that tone.

Topics/tropes that I definitely do not want included are things like child abuse, child murder, rape, porn/pwp, a/b/o dynamics, bathroom stuff, and explicit domestic violence. I am okay with things like monsters, body horror, general violence and/or murder if it fits the story/song; romance, fantasy and sci-fi, and character studies are fine, too.    


I Ain’t The One - Spoon

Song: https://youtu.be/FjDj9JMpAP4
Lyrics: http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859543534/

When the man comes asking and looking for me
When the law comes knocking, knocking on me
I ain't the one (ah, ah)
No, I ain't the one
I ain't the one that you're looking for now
Yeah, I ain't the one
I ain't the one
So now I'm leaving you all behind me

The narrator says they aren't guilty, but I'm not so sure about that, heh. 

Watch Fire - Laura Veirs (ft. Sufjan Stevens)

Song: https://youtu.be/4hMXle6fRAw
Lyrics: https://genius.com/Laura-veirs-watch-fire-lyrics

There's no mistaking the wolf for the wind
He's been here before
And he'll be here again

A lovely little song about being out in the wilderness at night, and huddling towards the campfire. The narrator says "they'll be the good man outside the law" - so someone on the run, wrongly accused, perhaps? They're taking watch, so who is their companion? How close are the wolves, they can hear beyond their circle of light?

High Ticket Attractions - The New Pornographers

Music Video: https://youtu.be/ZAlHISTNbwY
Lyrics link: http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859541072/

This thing could go 2 ways
Won't be another exit for days
So pack a small suitcase
Anything else can be easily replaced

I love both the song and the video, but the video's portrayal of a high school getting wrecked, while exactly one student is attempting to ignore the chaos, is what I'd like to have focused on. There's a lot happening, from the two boys at the beginning starting a fight in the chemistry lab, to the girls destroying the mirrors and sinks in the bathroom, to everyone getting out their weapon of choice. It's all a pretty strong visual metaphor for what high school is like, so if you want to focus on any one of the kids and their story, or whether everything that happens is a dream or reality, I'm cool with that. 

Hug Of Thunder - Broken Social Scene

Song: https://youtu.be/n9ujF9s48Z8
Lyrics link: http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859551510/

In twenty holes how could I say
At what point I will gain perspective later on?

No, I had to survive it
By the soundtrack made of our short lives
Making sense of hologram ecology
I'll be up crying, nursing into grace and
Hiding in the pages adding up to me

The narrator seems to be revisiting their journals and trying to make peace with difficult things that happened in their past, as well as reconciling whether their memories of the events are completely accurate. Twenty holes could refer to a twenty hole harmonica, though one does not seem to feature in the song. I'd like to read something that captures the song's wistfulness, but also how you can get pulled back into a moment completely even just reading about it from what you think is a safe distance.    

Happy Birthday, Johnny - St. Vincent

Song: https://youtu.be/rGsz05t9Kek
Lyrics link: http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859558558/

The last time you called it was on New Years’ Eve
You asked me for dough to get somethin’ to eat
Since we last spoke, you live on the street
Yeah, I wouldn’t believe all the shit that you've seen

Happy New Year, Johnny
Is it 23?
Happy New Year, Johnny
Are the lights on the trees?

Our singer seems to miss Johnny a lot, even though he's been in and out of their life, while Johnny seems to resent their success. I'd like to read something about how they both got to where they were, and where they're both going, whether Johnny ever receives the narrator's well-wishes and how he feels - loved, mocked, guilty? Anything would be good.

Carin At The Liquor Store - The National

Song: https://youtu.be/eEe_yCVLQSc
Lyrics link: http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859556223/

So blame it on me
I really don't care
It's a foregone conclusion
It wasn't so bad, I wasn't that sick
Got taken by love, I wasn't that quick
Foregone conclusion
It's gonna be different after tonight
You're gonna see me in a different light
It's a foregone conclusion

This song is so sad and dark, and vaguely menacing. Tell me about the narrator and their obsession, and what has changed that Carin is going to see them differently, now.

Up All Night - Beck

Music Video: https://youtu.be/Tj08Ni3tklw
Lyrics: https://genius.com/Beck-up-all-night-lyrics

Now I'm feeling so far away
I see the colors and all the kids going home
Night is crawling into the day

I love this video, and the wild contrast of the explosive action with the cheerful summer pop song behind it. I'm interested in reading more about the woman who is rescuing the boy, and who they are to each other, or if she is in the business of crashing parties in full armor then later turning into a car.