I started writing 4001 in 2015 after a miscarriage. It was purposefully cryptic because I hadn't told anyone (other than my partner). When I revisited this song later in life, I decided to rewrite some of the lines to make the ideas more clear, including visual references like "pink positive sign". I performed this live for the first time in 7 years in 2022 -- the first time I was able to sing the high, belted notes again after quitting smoking -- and my dad told me he liked it. Daddy, always having been my biggest supporter and influence, is the reason it made it on the album! It was recorded live off the floor with me (acoustic and singing), my financee Grant (bass), and Max (drums) without a click track. The time signature/tempo changes leading into the choruses stressed me out, especially because we had never performed it together before, but Max and GG nailed it! This ended up being the only track on the album that I didn't mix (drums are hard and I wanted this album to be OUT, FINALLY). My professor from Seneca, Alfio Annibalini, took the reigns. Everything was live off the floor except the overdubbed harmony and electric guitar (Grant's handiwork). It is considered an explicit track even though you're unlikely to hear why -- in the middle of the second chorus I yell "FUCK!", which was an ongoing gag in the house while I was mixing (drums are HARD). It felt like it became part of the song, so I threw it in there. Plus, what's a Missy Bauman album with ZERO fucks??
lyrics
Must have changed my mind
Four thousand times
Four thousand and one
Something caught in my line
A pink positive sign
I lost to the tide
But if I could hold her
I swear I would hold her
Till the day that I die
And if I could keep in
All my broken pieces
Well why wouldn’t I
And it’s breaking in
Feel it like a kid
Breathe in
Breathe in
And it’s breaking in
We were only kids
Breathe in
Breathe in
Where something once was
Is now covered in dust
And idle fingers
But you were with me
And had no reason to leave
I stand by that
But if I could hold her
I swear I would hold her
Till the day that I die
But you were with me
And had a reason to leave
I stand by that
And it’s breaking in
Feel it like a kid
Breathe in
Breathe in
And it’s breaking in
We were only kids
Breathe in
Breathe in
credits
from Bruises,
released May 11, 2023
Music & Lyrics by Missy Bauman
Produced by Missy Bauman, mixed by Alfio Annibalini
Performed by Missy Bauman, Grant Gimpel (electric guitar, bass), and Max Bornstein (drums)
Recorded at Grant Avenue Studios with Amy King
these guys have everything great about modern indie-folk. gripping harmonies, beautiful lyrics, and amazing folks with the biggest hearts. Missy Bauman
A female voice that feels out of another century quivers over a folk harp on the 11 tracks that make up this exclusive video album. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 14, 2016
