A few weeks ago, I wrote about the origins of one of my earliest songs, Mr. Juicy Fruit. A song that actually predates that one in being written (but recorded later) is Compromise. It was penned around the same time Mr. JF was up to his antics on stage with our iteration of the Jeanine Mackie Band, and ended up being one of the few originals NeMo and I performed with her, Sam (her husband) on keyboards, and Greg Woods on drums.

By the way, she has a new website just launched, which you can check out. NeMo and I are the “couple of neighbours” mentioned in paragraph 9 on the bio page. Greg didn’t live nearby but worked with Jeanine.

Compromise has gone through a lot of permutations: at least 3 key changes, and a rewrite as a blues shuffle eventually scrapped. I still think there are things to do with it, so consider it a work in progress (a duo would be nice, perhaps).

The premise is utterly simple: two different people with divergent tastes, yet one compromising for the other for love. Pretty universal stuff. The fun was coming up with the contrasting bits.

Compromise ©  1997 Félix and the Cats/R. Pelletier.
All rights reserved. [SOCAN/ASCAP]

verse 1
I like it black
You like it white
You say I’m wrong,
I know I’m right
You like caviar,
I can’t stand the stuff
You like it gentle,
I like it rough

verse 2
You make the bed,
I mess it up
You want a mug,
Give me a cup
I drink scotch whiskey,
You prefer wine
What’s yours is yours,
And what’s mine is mine

chorus
Every day is a new surprise
Our love may fall, or it may rise
But when I look into your eyes
I know that it’s worth some compromise

verse 3
You don’t like gamblin’,
I love the thrill
You say you can’t dance,
You know I will
You like to garden,
I kill your plants
I’m way too fast
And you want romance

chorus
Every day is a new surprise
Our love may fall, or it may rise
But when I look into your eyes
I know that it’s worth some compromise

verse out
Compromise, compromise, compromise… (repeat)