Sidelines is now available on all streaming services. Listen using the links below, or head down to the bottom of this post to read the lyrics.

This song came from a songwriting challenge that one of the writers from the Ben Folds Songwriter Retreat suggested, which was, “Write a song with the month in the title.” It was November (2021), so my goal was clear: write a song with November in the title.

The song started out as “47 Novembers”, and then became “Sidelines (47 Novembers)”, and then became the final title as it is today, “Sidelines”.

Guess I failed the challenge! 😀

Hope you enjoy it.

Written, performed and produced by Brian Orr, © 2023.

Lyrics

It’s been 47 Novembers
My story seldom told
A day nobody remembers…when my
My bluff became a fold

It’s been 47 Novembers
Since livin’ in this cold
Gotta place between the vendors
A place where I’ve grown old

A man walks by
Does he notice my sign?
He turns his eyes
Out of sight, and out of mind

There ain’t no hope on the sidelines
Still hanging on at the sidelines

It’s been 47 Novembers
Once humble, now I’m bold
How the world has changed the lenders
Only plastic cards they hold

It’s been 47 Novembers 
Since living on the dole 
Spent a lotta time in the centres
Staring down an empty bowl

A man walks by
Does he notice my sign?
He turns his eyes
Out of sight, and out of mind

There ain’t no hope on the sidelines
Still hanging on at the sidelines

It’s cold, so cold, oh so cold
I give, I give, up my soul

It’s been 47 Novembers 
My body’s paid the toll
I drop the sign I’ve rendered
“Please pray for my soul”

A man walks by
He picks up my sign
I close my eyes
“Dear God”, I hear him cry

The lights flash bright
In this moment I feel fine
The blue, red and white
Rush on as I fly high

There once was hope on the sidelines
I say goodbye to the sidelines 

Words and music by Brian Orr, © 2022