FAWM: "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning"

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

1 day ago by @berni1954 · @kahlo2013

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

berni1954 +1

00:00

Liner Notes

Liz (@kahlo2013) wrote these fine lyrics about getting over some memories we were better off leaving behind, or getting rid of altogether.

I found myself singing the melody as I read the lyrics; that's always a good sign. So I asked for clearance to attempt to put them to music and she agreed.

Liz says: So grateful to @berni1954 for his generous gift of music for this lyric - the emotive melody and delivery with the capoed fret board conveys the sentiment perfectly!

INSTRUMENT; Home Made Tele Style Guitar Kit from Harley Benton. Recorded through a Behringer 69 Vibe Pedal

#capochallenge

Lyrics

INTRO: (Em) (D) (C) (Em) CAPO 7

V1 (Em) dust fills thought (G) spaces (D) trapped in my (Em) mind I (C) trip over (G) words you (D) left stacked be(Em)hind and boxes of (G) tapes (D) stuck on re(Em)wind as (Am) cobwebs of emotions (D) grown thick with time are left en(Em)twined

PC1 if (Bm) new hope sneaks in with (Am) soft quiet steps I (D) need more room to give it my best

CH I’m (C) clearing up my (G) heart - (C) wiping my place (G) clean re(C)moving cobwebs and (G) clutter and (D) unwanted debris I’m (C) letting past hurts (G) go - (C) throwing out all (G) pain re(Em)moving boxes and (D) letters of (C) un(D)wanted re(Em)mains

V2 (Em) by open (G) windows (D) so I can (Em) breathe I (C) read old (G) letters (D) you dared to (Em) leave tired floorboards (G) sigh (D) old bed springs (Em) heave with (Am) memories’ clutter scattered (D) near me it’s hard to (Em) believe

PC2 if (Bm) new love blows in (Am) on a quiet breeze I (D) need more room to let it roam free

CHORUS

Bridge I (Am) still bump into you each (Em) corner and crack I (Am) need to scrub you out to (C) get my life (D) back

PC3 (Bm) so many things (Am) I’ve now outgrown I’ll (D) throw them all out and make the space my own

CHORUS

(Lyrics by Elizabeth Petty)

Comments

@gwynjones 14h

Fantastic lyrics (as always) from Liz given a stirring treatment by Berni...great stuff!

@texocarmen 16h

Fabulous lyric removing both physical and mental clutter works perfectly with the vocal.

@mikeb 20h

Had to listen after seeing that song title! Wonderful thought-provoking lyrics. The electric guitar provides a unique background for such a lyric.

@acousticmaddie 1d

Haha As A swede I love this very much. We do do death cleaning in several ways. Mainly to avoid for our kids to have to take care of our clutter. But de clutter is also very important (for all) when it comes to who we surround ourselfs with. This is a great collab

@williamjames 1d

Tired floor boards sigh, dust filling spaces of thought, boxes and tapes stuck on rewind. Fantastic lyrics. so vivid. Wonderfully put to music too. The ending of the chorus is my favourite part. A great song overall.

@cola 1d

The title drew me in! This song does a good job of capturing the catharsis of cleaning and decluttering not only your physical space, but your mental one too. I particularly like the phrase "cobwebs of emotions / grown thick with time". Excellent collab, great work to the both of you!

@coolparadisoMod 1d

well blow me down, We found this term and did it last year it was very cathartic. "do we use it, do the kids wan tit, no out she goes Very well written. I like the slightly trippy delivery hits the nail on the head

@raspberry33 1d

You had me at "Swedish Death Cleaning". Great title, and good to see both of you back for FAWM 2026. Liz is great lyricist and collaborator (from personal experience in prior years!)

@billwhite51 1d

flawless melody carries th lyrics and bernis voice and guitar cuts open the words and brings out the feelings liz has put into them. possibly the best song i have ever heard on the theme of clearing out the rubble of the past from your house and your life.

@cts 1d

I've stated it many times in the past and I'll continue to make note of it until I'm no longer convinced it's true; Liz's lyrics have this incredible power. And you have come along and crafted a fine demo from her lyrics. I especially like the chorus; lyrical structure and the arrangement. It works so well. Y'all should collaborate more. Nice work!