G Turns To D

I rarely dedicate songs, poems, or essays to specific people. These are meant for the benefit or enjoyment of whomever might find them meaningful. Universality is my ultimate aim, because I've been a member of far too many groups who are so maddeningly insular that they assume everything must only directed be squarely at them. I do not isolate my identities, I give them space to flourish.

But I am going to do something different today. I've been reading about Ann Friedman's recent initiative to encourage and increase the number of women in journalism. I agree that the world of print media is still very much a boy's club. That being in the back of my mind this morning, I recalled a song that seems appropriate to the subject.

"G Turns to D" is written from the perspective of a jilted ex-boyfriend, perhaps even a bit of a Svengali. He's lamenting the fact that his former girlfriend, who he taught to play guitar, has now written, recorded, and released songs that are sharply critical of him. Still stinging from what he considers a betrayal, his final words are that she'll never have him around any more, should she need additional help. It's a bit of an empty threat, but it gives him some satisfaction to say it, nonetheless.

When concerns the real life of the actual songwriter, "G Turns to D", is very much autobiographical. At face value, it's a typical he said/she said sort of conflict. He claims she taught her the instrument, but she claims otherwise. On a larger scale, I'd be willing to safely wager that relationships like these, romantic or otherwise, are pretty common, regardless of vocation or passion. And it does highlight well the power dynamics at play in fields that are still male-dominated, music being only one of them. The attitudes expressed here are "How dare you!", "you owe me", and "you are nothing without me." I'm sure women in workplaces hear this all the time.




These songs are all about you
And I'm tellin' everyone
I'm doing fine without you
I hurt you but I helped you

You may think I've a lot of nerve
But I deserve some credit
Or at least an edit

Take out the part that breaks my heart
And makes me sound uncaring
If you eliminate the swearing
Then I could show my mother

That you can go from one chord to another

G will turn to D
You'll turn to me

And you'll say
You have done me wrong
I wrote these songs about it

She's aware it's all been done before
It's another song in this key
Yeah, but this one's about me
That all the validity she needs

Her criticism's brutal
But I don't really mind
Yeah, she's put it out on vinyl
But it's pretty hard to find, now to another

G will turn to D
You'll turn to me
And you'll say

You have done me wrong
I wrote these songs about it

I wish I'd never taught her how to play
I knew she'd get me I should have known
Now my hands are on the fretboard
In an unfamiliar way
And it's telling me

She's aware it's all been done before
It's another song in this key
Yeah, but this one's about me
I may not wanna hear the words to

G will turn to D
But if you take what you're shown
Learn on your own
Then everything you do
Belongs to you

But know that you are on your own

On your own
On your own
On your own


In any case, Ann, this one's for you. Best of luck!