The lyrics indicate that, like a musical variation, this is an ongoing and recurring thing ('ain't nothing new,' 'more of the same thing,' 'it's just a part of the pattern,' 'it's not as though I don't know the condition'). And in classical music, variations are when a part is repeated, but altered during the repetitions so, a minor variation would sound familiar, but darker than its major counterpart. The lyrics make reference to a 'sad composition' (probably referring to this song, which is likely in a minor key, too), and a 'blue situation'-the blues scale, which most blues musicians base their solos on, is a variation on the minor pentatonic scale. It's less common for a pop song to be wholly in a minor key minor tonality in pop music is usually used to provide contrast to the rest of the song: 'Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)' is primarily minor up until the car-revving part at the end, and the moody-sounding piano interlude in 'Piano Man' is minor, while the rest of the song trends towards major.

Minor keys are often described as sad, somber, haunting, or dark.

Think of 'Only the Good Die Young' or 'Uptown Girl'-or most pop music, really. Songs written in major keys tend to be described as positive or light-not always, but generally speaking. My InterpretationThere's an underlying musical pun here, too:īasic theory rundown: the most common two scales in Western music are the major and minor scales. No way to win when you've already been forgottenĭon't even hurt, it's a part of the pattern Pass me the wine, it's just a minor variation Until I'm through with this blue situation It's not as though I don't know that condition I'm ready for the next time it hits me again I'm getting to the point where I don't feel the pain Nowhere to hide and believe me I've tried to shake 'em Like a hungry pack of wolves when it's feeding timeĭon't even hurt it's been part of the patternīut still in all it's a small consulation

When troubles want to find me, I ain't hard to find Some days I have to give right in to the bluesįor what's been causing my bad disposition?Īnd nothing's fine, it's just a minor variation

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