When It's Ragged But It's Right
by @jeff9
Skirmish: Statue of Limitations (@atornberg)Liner Notes
#acousticonetake #singersongwriter #country First one of FAWM 2026 and for a skirmish. Started it about a half-hour into the skirmish but I think it was finished in about an hour including getting it recorded and uploaded to Soundcloud. Pretty crude, along the lines of its theme.
Lyrics
They called my name To come onstage A little open mic in a local bar A cold, cold sweat My vision blurred I probably should’ve just stayed in my car
I climbed the steps With my guitar And accidentally whacked it on the stool But I sat down And tried to think Hoped I wouldn’t freeze up like a fool
I strummed a G chord then I tried to sing It didn’t sound as awful as I feared it surely might They say three chords and the truth can be enough Hoped I could make ‘em think It’s ragged but it’s right
Sang three songs Nobody booed I considered that a big success I didn’t faint Or forget the words And I think I sang in tune...well, more or less
Then some guy Beside the stage Said I hope you’ll do another one tonight George Jones said And I paraphrase I know it may be ragged but it’s right
I strummed another G chord and I sang I didn’t sound as awful as I feared it surely might Sometimes three chords and the truth can be enough Some people like it best When it’s ragged but it’s right
Comments
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Great song to start with, Jeff. I was right there with you in that bar!
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Good song - simple but powerful in its emotional appeal. Great hook and bridge! Damn good for a quick write.
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I have lived this song - except I am much more ragged and much less right than you are. Nice song!
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Thanks, amigo.
Working on one for us.
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Such a pitch-perfect portrait of the artist's existence, coupled with a really top-notch performance. I could listen to your voice all day... "ragged but it’s right" is my new personal motto. Well done.
Wow, thanks for such encouraging comments!
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This captures all the feels of open mic perfectly. The only thing missing is unplugging your guitar before the sound guy give the thumbs up!
Ragged but Right is a mantra I'm going to write on my whiteboard!
Ha! That would be something I would do if I even had the stones to ever do something onstage. Thanks for the kind words.
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Love this! I can feel every emotion of the protagonist. “Whacked it on the stool” - yep that would have been me. Great start to FAWM!
Thanks, Kathy. And sorry I spelled your name with a C before.
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These days, I think everyone's allowed to be a little ragged, what with (waves hand at the world outside the window) and everything. And this perfectly encapsulates the performer's life; I have friends at all levels of the business who feel the same way. Nobody booed? That's a win, for sure!
Many thanks for the encouragement, Chris.
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What a song. Does not sound rough to ears at all. Sounds from the heart and in the moment. A wonderful story of overcoming inhibitions. That tag line of ragged but right is a great one.