Today’s Fable is a song by a fantastic artist named Sam Fender. I play a Fender Stratocaster, Sam is a great song writer with a great name! My PJ (Pen Jockey) mode is with his song Seventeen Going Under. Thoughts & Feelings on the other side of my writing practice, enjoy!

Seventeen Going Under
Song by Sam Fender
I remember the sickness was forever
I remember snuff videos
Cold Septembers, the distances we covered
The fist fights on the beach, the bizzies round us up
Do it all again next week
An embryonic love
The first time that it scarred
Embarrass yourself for someone
Crying like a child
And the boy who kicked Tom's head in
Still bugs me now
That's the thing, it lingers
And claws you when you're down
I was far too scared to hit him
But I would hit him in heartbeat now
That's the thing with anger
It begs to stick around
So it can fleece you of your beauty
And leave you spent with nothing to offer
Makes you hurt the ones who love you
You hurt them like they're nothing
Oh, oh
You hurt them like they're nothing
Oh, oh
You hurt them like they're nothing
Oh, oh
See I spent my teens enraged
Spiralin' in silence
And I armed myself with a grin
'Cause I was always the fuckin' joker
Buried in their humor
Amongst the white noise and boys' boys
Locker-room talkin' lads' lads
Drenched in cheap drink and snide fags
A mirrored picture of my old man
Oh God, the kid's a dab hand
Canny chanter, but he looks sad
God, the kid looks so sad
God, the kids looks so sad
She said the debt, the debt, the debt
So I thought about shifting gear
And how she wept and wept and wept
Well, luck came and died 'round here
I see my mother
The DWP see a number
She cries on the floor encumbered
I'm seventeen going under
I'm seventeen going under
Oh, oh
I'm seventeen going under
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
I'm seventeen going under
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
I'm seventeen going under
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh
Written by Sam Fender
Copy, Thoughts & Feelings by Johnny Christian
Thoughts & Feelings:
I listened to this song on early in the morning on the way to the gym. I didn't sleep the night before and that always increases my "emotionality". As I listened to this song, the music, tempo and progression were as moving as the words. I felt tears welling up as I listened to it. I remember 17, I remember anger, even now with 3 kids older than 17, I still remember the anger. Sam says "I spent my teens enraged." Johnny wonders if that has changed or if the confusion at the root of young anger, turned to exasperation of mid life? Either way, I will continue to fight the good fight.
I hope you find this song and listen to it today. Remember a time when you were angry, it doesn’t matter if it served you or hurt you. Remember it and let it fuel you now.
Be Good,
Johnny