Patty’s YA “Idol” Search

Posted Jun 13 2017, 1:52 pm in contest, music, The Way It Hurts, YA books

My new book, THE WAY IT HURTS, drops on August 1st. It’s a story about two talented teens who desperately want to become famous. He’s got a hard rock band called Ride Out and she dreams of a career on Broadway. But they end up becoming infamous because of a single viral tweet. 

This book was a lot of fun to write. Main character Elijah is the front man for his band and because every band needs some original songs to sing, I *coughs* wrote one. But here’s the thing… I’m not musical. Like, at all. I can’t carry a tune. I can’t even whistle. 

So if you’re musically inclined, here are the lyrics for THE WAY IT HURTS. Set them to a melody — it could be a cappella, synth, or maybe you have your own band — go for it!

TO ENTER: Send me an audio file of your entry. Email pattyblount3 at gmail dot com and put SONG ENTRY in the subject line. 

Me and my panel of judges (sorry, Simon had other commitments. Judges will be my family!) will choose one to be the official SONG for this book. I can’t promise you a recording contract, but I CAN blast your song all over my social media including in the official book trailer. Oh, and how about a copy of THE WAY IT HURTS? 

And a $50 iTunes gift card. 

Terms: U.S. only, please.  Entries must include the lyrics I’ve written, but you may change a word to suit the timing of your composition. As for genre, this song is NOT a ballad so nothing sappy. But country, rap, hard rock, folksy, ’80’s style, synth — it’s all good. The song is intended as a duet, with the second voice indicated by bold lines. Contest ends July 31, 2017 at midnight, Eastern time.

 

 

 

 

 

THE WAY IT HURTS by Patty Blount and ?? (your name here) 

 

(intro) It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts

It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts

 

(him) Don’t know how it all went wrong

Thought what we had was so damn strong

I showed you my heart, tore down my defenses

They said I’m a jerk, said I’m offensive

And you just turned away

 

(chorus) What can I say?

What can I do?

Everything I am means nothing much to you.

It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts.

I got nothing but my name

Nothing but my songs

Feelin’ so much pain but the words still come out wrong

It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts

 

(Her) You’re wrong and baby, I’m sorry.

but there’s a whole other side to this story.

The hell with the fame, keep all the glory

Just don’t turn away.

What else can I say?

What else can I scream?

The man that you are is everything to me

It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts.

 

(chorus) What can I say?

What can I do?

Everything I am means nothing much to you.

It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts.

I got nothing but my name

Nothing but my songs

Feelin’ so much pain but the words still come out wrong

It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts

 

(him) I watch you battle your way through the night,

Every little thing puttin’ up a fight.

I’ll be there next to you, just for you, for the rest of my life

Baby, I’m yours

          (Her) I’m yours

but this is too tough.

                  Yeah, things got rough

Why am I not enough?

                  I’m sorry I messed up.

What else can I say?

                  What else can I say?

What else can I do?

                  What else can I scream?

Everything I am means nothing much to you.

                  The man that you are is everything to me

It can’t get worse, this is the way it hurts.

This is the way it hurts

3 Comments