In May of 1992, Bob Spelled Backwards had what may have been the most productive week any fake band ever had, penning a solid 15-20% of their entire catalog during the annual week at Sunset Beach. The following year, we cut back on quantity to focus more on quality. The resulting "album", "ShishkaBob", is the realization of BSB's sound, and the pinnacle of our early work. The first song written is the appropriately titled, "Song One", which, by the virtue of it's title, became the default opening song in every set-list thereafter. It also leads off any recording it appears on, including Bob Spelled Backwards' bran new album, Hindquarter Headquarters: The Sunset Beach Booty Base Vol. 7".

So what the heck is this song about?

"Song One" is our tribute to any hip new indie band that manages to break their way into the mainstream, and the fleetingness of what the public finds "cool". REM was the specific inspiration for the song, but it isn't about them particularly. 

This song is a masterpiece of whatever it is that BSB does. The song is performed "in character" as an indie band that is experiencing the things the song speaks of. The music perfectly fits the mood that the fictional band the song is about is trying to portray, even to the point where the "inspirational part of the song" does actually have an uplifting feel to the music and lyrics. Essentially, it's a silly song about a band that takes itself too seriously, drunk on their newfound success.

Song One:

Look at us, we're on the stage, making you real depressed.
You give us lots of money, but we don't care, 'cuz it keeps us tastefully dressed.
Oohooohooh, we don't have to write real songs.

Here is the inspirational part of the song where we decide we can go on despite adversity, because we're existentialists.
And we got beer (we're drinkin')
And we got dope (we're smokin'')
And we meet our girlfriends in the car (we're in the car)
And all the kids think we're real cool (we're cool)
And we're gonna be on MTV (we're on TV)
And we're gonna sell out some day, but not quite now.

Oohoohoooh

Look at us, we're on the stage, making you real depressed.
You give us lots of money but we don't care, 'cuz it keeps us tastefully dressed
Oohoohoooh, we don't have to end this song.

Just last week, as the band was joking via email about recording an album entirely of sequels to our earlier songs, I jotted down lyrics to a sequel for "Song One" called, "Song Two: The Reunion Tour". This song catches up with the fictional protagonists 15 years later (real time!) as they've gotten back together after breaking up to do a reunion tour, because they're all now broke. It is not without irony that I wrote this in a reality where Bob Spelled Backwards has resumed recording, after a 12 year hiatus.

Song Two: The Reunion Tour

Look at us, still on the stage, now we are the ones depressed.
You gave us lots of money, but now we're broke, 'cuz we didn't smartly invest.
Ohooohoohooh, we never did write a real song.

Here is the inspirational part of the song where we decide to go on tour despite our breaking up due to creative differences.
And we're out of beer (not drinkin)
And we're out of dope (not smokin)
And the bank has repossessed the car (We're on the bus)
And all the kids say "who are you?" (You're who?)
And we'll never be on MTV (We're on YouTube)
And we'd like to sell out today, but we can't now.

Look at us, still on the stage, looking like we're depressed
You gave us lots of money, but now we're broke, 'cuz we didn't smartly invest.
Ohooohoohooh, We don't have to like this song.