FAWM 2026 / Song 2 Instrument: plastic soprano ukulele tuned high GCEA

I wrote a draft of the lyrics for this #silly idea while attending my very first IRL filk festival, OVFF, last October! And after experiencing my first in-person filk circles and concerts, I wanted to make it a sing-along song — so I made sure to repeat choruses after more verses than I would typically write. Of course, I wrote this in my songwriting notebook on graph paper pages. That’s what I like!

See all my originals here: https://tinyurl.com/seligsongs

#ukulele #singersongwriter #personwithukulele #girlwithukulele #acousticonetake #fuc #uke #acoustic #filk #worldukuleleday

Graph Paper

Some wordsmiths prefer a blank sheet and some find a typewriter neat Of course there are writers Whose words pour out brighter On napkins or laptops and I think that’s sweet

BUT I only like graph paper My lyrics look gorge in a grid I prefer to opine Inside boxes of lines And to look at them after I did

I’ve gotten some looks, as I write My notebook, to some, looks uptight, But blank makes me cranky And lined, to be frank, means The ideas just do not flow right

NO, I only like graph paper My lyrics look gorge in a grid I prefer to opine Inside boxes of lines And to look at them after I did

I’ve failed as a nerd, I’ve aspired To math levels I’ve not acquired My intellect’s finite But graph paper feels right With pen to it, I get inspired

SO, I only like graph paper My lyrics look gorge in a grid I prefer to opine Inside boxes of lines And to look at them after I did

There’s something so special, so rare About writing dreams inside squares I don’t feel constriction My creative friction Sparks right into fire when it’s there

OH, I only like graph paper My lyrics look gorge in a grid I prefer to opine Inside boxes of lines And to look at them after I did

Please do put me in a box But I won’t toe the line I’ll fit the round peg In the square hole Every time