“Fine On My Own” has become a special track for Trapdoor Social, specially after producing the track in an orchestral arrangement with “The Pride Of Mesa Ridge” High School marching band. A moving and highly emotional track, the arrangement creates a powerful message and radiates a sense of joy. The group recently opened up to us about the track and how the arrangement came about. You can also check out the video of the track below.
Fine On My Own started on my manager Bruce’s piano in Sherman Oaks. I often duck out from the fray at his parties to play or write. It started with the chorus melody, and eventually picked up lyrics and an idea of how the verse would feel. Those big instrumental hits informed the rhythm of the verses, and the finished verse lyrics and bridge came last, a month or two after I started writing it. This is actually a fairly typical process for me writing.As far as the song’s sound, FOMO started with me solo and picked up the rock instruments when Trapdoor Social started playing it on tour last summer. The marching band element came about after a visit to a high school band camp in Colorado Springs during that same tour. We made a great connection with these kids and a couple weeks later, the idea to feature them on a song hatched as I was driving the tour van late one night. I suggested the collaboration to my guitar player, Louie, who was the one other person awake at the time, and he said the song to do was Fine On My Own. Right away I knew he was right, and over the following 4 months I coordinated another visit, a written score for the marching band, a recording session, etc.The song is written from the perspective of a someone who is questioning their faith. The verses are variations on the theme of doubt, personal experience, and human exploration. The chorus is an affirmation that even in difficult times, one has the strength and independence to pull through. The song isn’t really about my life, but it is something I’m really interested in… With religion dominating so much of our culture and politics in this country, I think it’s important to be thoughtful about what we believe and why.
Life is running on low
But I know that I can make it if I
Climb up out of this hole
‘Cuz no one’s gonna save me this time
No god to strengthen my hold
This is my way to find
I’m fine on my own
I need this to hold me up
On Sundays I can’t get enough
But I love all the structure and grooves we have worn
Honest like in my cups
Survival’s my only love
And I won’t have no world that could end when I’m gone
What keeps us out of sin when there’s no fear of falling in
All these kids think they know how the earth came around
The lies I’d be confessing like a mind lost but a blessing
Everything we believed to this point has been wrong
[Chorus]
Now school me ‘cuz this party’s starting
Clues keep on marching on
But I go where the wind blows and question no one
Who told you gods were watching
Truth over shocking talk
All alone on this road you’ve been walking along
When light leaks through the trees you’ll hear the wise whisper of leaves
Tell you throw away what you own and forget what you know
But far gone in reflection you’ll be hard up for the lesson
We celebrate what we fear, there’s been science enough
And I know where to find what can save me
But am I living? My vision goes hazy
Give it time, gimme life! Is it worth trading?
Is it my mission? All this and I’m fading away
