This song, “Songwriters Kill Trees,” didn’t make the album, but looking back, it’s the first song I wrote towards it.

After finishing the EP, I found myself writing this against my will. It was poppy and not at all significant sounding, like the way I was trying to write at the time, and it confused me terribly. Even worse was that I wrote another right afterward, about being 23. When I finally accepted the way I was writing, I assumed that I would end up throwing Twenty Three out, and keeping Songwriters Kill Trees. But by the time it came to recording, this song was too old, too twee, and didn’t feel connected enough to my new writing.

Listening to this funny little recording (Tono and the Finance Company have always specialised in one-mic demos) you can hear how fun it was to play when it was new. You can also hear why I was falling in love with Logan’s guitar playing. He gave me two guitar lessons around this time, which have largely shaped the way I play solo now.

I’ve added the lyrics below, copied from a document last edited 31/07/09, as it’s hard to hear them.

The album goes to mastering this week, and I’m starting to think about singles - which songs, and when.

In that bin on the floor
are a dozen pieces of paper
crumpled into shapes
that look like my heart

But not one of them
could make this pain feel lighter
they could only duplicate it
in a dozen different ways

It would be okay
if I thought this heartache
could make me my first fifty K

Songwriters
kill a lot of trees
and you’re not helping if you won’t
tell me
why you don’t love me baby

I’ve tried everything
I keep refill under my pillow
and Post-It Notes
In my shoes and pockets

but even when I get close
to an angsty break up ballad
I throw it away
afraid you’ll never come back

this would be okay
if i was quasi-famous
and had Kirsten Morrelle waiting in line, well

Songwriters
kill a lot of trees
and you’re not helping if you won’t
tell me
why you don’t love me baby

Every time you click your fingers
the axe comes down
every time you turn down coffee
One less shelter for a monkey
And I’m drinking out of paper cups
until I get a hit out of you

Songwriters
kill a lot of trees
and you’re not helping if you won’t
tell me
you’re part of the problem
do you really want to be part of the problem?