In March 2020, Andrew [Saul] and I went into New York City to record some song play-through/explanation videos with Joe Pom. It was a typical session- long and late, but we were successful in capturing what we needed to. We are no strangers to late night drives, especially coming back to Jersey from the studio in NYC. Reflection, deliberation, and inspiration would often take place on those drives. I dropped Andrew off in Keasbey and headed the remainder of the trip down the Turnpike back to East Brunswick.
I got back to my parents house at an ungodly hour, and tried to make as little noise as possible. While taking off my boots beside my bed, the phrase “climbing into bed at 6am, insanity tells me to do it all again” came to mind, and I immediately wrote it down, then went to sleep.
I am not sure how long that line stayed in my phone notes, but around the same time I was fumbling around with an Asus2 chord and some versions of a lick based around it. At some point in the coming days or weeks, I sat down with one of my grandfather’s acoustic guitars and came up with the main skeleton of the chorus. I was reflecting on living a life in the arts, with all the wonderful experiences it brings, as well as the hours of sleep lost and the well-known drawbacks, recognizing that while it is something we need to do, caring for our mental health is paramount. Creating music, or art in any capacity is incredible- it enriches everything, but it is also very easy to get lost in chasing numbers, eyes, and ears. This song is a (love?) letter to the creative life, the ups and downs, and it encourages others to embrace their creative voice/vision. We don’t have a choice in the need to create, but like everything else- it comes with the need to find balance.That said, I am privileged to get to do this, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
lyrics
“Moth to the Flame”
B. Mahoney, A. Saul, J. McIntosh, J. Chang-Soon
Motel notepads and lukewarm coffee
Brooklyn to Brunswick, I could do it in my sleep, Overthinking
The fact of the matter is
We ride like the wind
The fact of the matter is
We ride like the wind
Ride like the wind
We all want to feel the same
Like a moth to the flame
So predictable they say
Didn’t ask to be this way
I’m climbing into bed at 6am
Insanity tells me to do it all again
Like a moth to the flame
I’m like a bad, bad penny I just keep turning up
I’m like a bad, bad penny I just keep turning up
You always end up taking shots
From folks who just don’t get the joke
Yeah, you always end up taking shots, shots, shots
From folks who just don’t
Folks who just don’t get the joke
We all want to feel the same
Like a moth to the flame
So predictable they say
Didn’t ask to be this way
I’m climbing into bed at 6am
Insanity tells me to do it all again
Like a moth to the flame
I didn’t ask to be this way
We all want to feel the same
Like a moth to the flame
So predictable they say
I didn’t ask to be this way
I’m climbing into bed at 6am
Insanity tells me to do it all again
Like a moth to the flame
I didn’t ask to be this way
credits
from We Go On,
track released February 28, 2022
"Moth to the Flame:
Written and Performed by Bobby Mahoney, James McIntosh, Andrew Saul, and Jon Chang-Soon
Recorded and Mixed by Joe Pomarico
Produced by Joe Pomarico, Bobby Mahoney, James McIntosh, Andrew Saul, and Jon Chang-Soon
Mastered by Doug Gallo
Album Art by RB Roe
Graphics by Madison Van Houten
Press Contact: Mike Cubillos mike@earshotmedia.com
Special thanks to Matthew Koerner, Jon Alba, Zach Kornhauser, Cooper Davis, Carina Duffy, Rebecca Stern, Hannah Greve, Zack Sandler, Gregory Schwartz, Zack Morrison, Jer Berkin, Matt Fernicola, Cate Thorn, and the whole Telegraph Hill Records Team
(C) 2022 Bobby Mahoney Music LLC
(P) 2022 Bobby Mahoney Music LLC and Telegraph Hill Records
supported by 4 fans who also own “Moth to the Flame”
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