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Sidekick to Superhero

from Shelter In by Ted Hajnasiewicz

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This one started as a bit of a goof. Everyone started posting pictures on their social media of their high school photo, and a current pic, as a sort of celebration of all our 2020 high school seniors who were robbed of some pretty great experiences like a proper prom, or graduation. I really loved the idea, but I tend to go dumb with things like that on social media. So, I posted a picture of Robin (Batman and Robin) as my high school photo, and BATMAN as my current pic.

Anyway, a friend of mine had a laugh, and said something to the affect of, “Sidekick to superhero, not a bad turnout”. Then in the next breath/keystroke, he said, “Hey you should write a song called ‘Sidekick to Superhero’’. So that’s what I set out to do.

Around this time, my grandson Weston had a spill on his bike, trying to pop wheelies (not on a slip and slide – I made that up), and got himself seven stitches – in exactly the same spot he got ten stitches a year ago – doing the same exact thing. He’s braver than I.

As we drove over to see the damage (and Weston showed us not only the stitches, but also how he CAN make the wheelie – braver than I…), I wrote the first verse.

But I could not think of anything that would continue the song, just about him. So, I just started writing about my dad – one of my biggest heroes. The rest came easy. Granted – some of the story is legend. I mean – I have no idea if he kept his friends alive in Vietnam? I just know he went. But legends are great, and it doesn’t diminish my love and respect for my pops.

This is a fun romp of a song. I was trying to re-create the raucous feel of Willie Nelson’s band on his live albums. I even had some fake “live audience” cheers on the original mix. A musician friend advised me how corny that sounded, distracting from the song. So, I nixed it.

My dear friend David Falbo played the sweet harmonica on this one, which pulls it together nicely. And my other dear friend Anna Carlon lended her sweet voice to this one on those killer harmonies.

lyrics

He took 17 stitches by the age of five
Tryin' to pop wheelies on a slip and slide
He put his arm into a big ole beehive
Cause the sweet is worth the sting

In his twenties he was sent
To go and fight a war
Without knowin’ or carin’ What he was there for
But he did what he had to
To stay and keep his friends alive

He went from sidekick to superhero
He kept his friends alive
But when he came back home
Nobody cared or realized

Made a family of five with his second wife
The last women he loved, The apple of his eye
His own beehive
And the sweet was worth the sting

And we'd watch them float across the floor
Effortlessly, In no particular order
Had a language all their own
And a rhythm only they could know

Sidekick to superhero
Oh, how he loved her so
With a love only they could know
When you know, you know, you know?

He was the king of dad jokes
As mama rolled her eyes
But we all knew in her heart
Was a big ole tender smile

And as I get old, I use the skills I learned
Long live the king, now it's now my turn
We all do what we know

Now, I'm a sidekick to a superhero
That part is true
Now I told you all I know
The rest is up to you

credits

from Shelter In, released August 15, 2020
Ted Hajnasiewicz - vocals, guitars, bass
Katianna Carlon - vocals
David Falbo - harmonica

Written by Ted Hajnasiewicz
℗ 2020 All the Angels Sing

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Ted Hajnasiewicz Minneapolis, Minnesota

Driven to write the perfect song, Minneapolis-born singer/songwriter Ted Hajnasiewicz performs with a magnetizing honesty and reflective tone that speaks to the very essence of the human spirit.

Check him out here:
www.tedhtunes.com ... more

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