In 2022, my friend Amanda wrote on Instagram about how her dad was sick and she was afraid he was going to die. I got on a plane and, with no internet access, started texting myself lyric ideas for what ended up being "I'm Gonna Miss You." I was thinking about that Nick Cave song "I Need You," probably because Amanda is a huge Nick Cave fan (thanks for taking me to see him 10 years ago, Amanda!). I wrote it from her perspective, but as relatable and general as possible. Then I got home and messed around with vocal delivery for it. I don't know how to play piano, so I had to sing into my guitar tuner (to figure out what notes I was playing), then look up piano chords to figure out what notes to play on my Casio (first instrument I ever owned but still can't really play it!). Then I sent it to Amanda and she loved it and said that (along with her dad being healthy again) it needs a real piano, so I sent it to Ben Tan and he nailed the piano in one take. Unfortunately, his computer was making an awful hum which I asked Brian and Eric Heveron-Smith to help me try to remove. None of us could do it until I went to my girlfriend's uncle Steve Rizzo's studio and he generously fixed it up in about 1 hour.
I asked John Matthews if he'd try to come up with some orchestral stuff over it, and he sent over some great stuff that sounded too synthy, so I basically had Thomas record an approximation of it on his real-life cello.
lyrics
Ben Tan told me the chords he played on this recording were
C G Amin F x4
C G C F x2
F G C Amin
F G C
This is what I played when I wrote it:
(Piano, slow)
Gc
what do I need
gd
to say to you
ae
before I cant
fc
anymore
(same chords again)
I love you
and thank you
so much cuz I was born
(faster and more aggressive)
I never knew
how hard it is
having kids when I was young
I gotta show my gratitude
before your life is done
(up higher cg)
you did pretty good
dg
i'm still alive
gc-fc
I made it through my childhood
(again)
and I know
you always tried
as hard as you possibly could
(lower fc)
and i'm
(lower gd)
(up an octave cg – ce - ae – ac)
(lower fc)
i'm gonna miss you
and i'm
(lower gd)
(up an octave cg)
i'm gonna miss you
(same chords as beginning)
What would you like from this life before you go
is there anything I can do or anything I should know?
(faster)
theres one thing i've never had the courage to just ask you
it's scary but I might never get another chance to
(prechorus 2, slow down)
are you proud of me or sad
did I do ok or bad? (long pause then chorus)
I'm gonna miss you (x2)
credits
from I'm Gonna Miss You/True Love,
released August 4, 2023
Piano played by Ben Tan
Cello by Thomas Colgrove
Production by Steve Rizzo, Thomas Colgrove, and me.
Heartfelt without being cloying and playful while delving below the surface, the lo-fi indie of Metagirl embraces chaos and contradiction. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 7, 2023
