By Deuce
Sometimes, it’s the little things in life that have the most meaning. Little exchanges, with other people, for example, can sometimes have the longest lasting impact. Little moments, indeed, can be precious, to say nothing of the little people who, with a little luck and a lot of love, may one day grow to be as big and as accomplished as the rest of us.
“They’re Just Little”, the latest single from musician and vocalist Michael Lusk, is a ballad about the little things in life’s path. More specifically, it’s a ballad about those aforementioned little people that are children. Not just any children, mind you, it largely sounds as though the singer is crooning about his own progeny. Still, the song is so well put together, thorough in its presentation, and heartfelt it might as well be a number for all children or, perhaps, the child in us all.
This little song is about three and a half minutes, during which time Lusk packs in some of the most affective lyrics you’re sure to hear in any song that length. He’s got the country-tinged Americana accent to present a winsome sense of phrasing to the vocals. But even if you were simply reading his lyrics on paper—or in this review—they’d still assert themselves with meaning.
He readily espouses lines like “I question your choices and why you went that way/but I’ve got my heart attached”. Other poignant lyrics include “we both know their right/that doesn’t drive their helpless tears away at night”. With such phrases, what he’s actually doing is rendering the tough moments in childhood—which sound all the more tougher for a caring patriarch in adulthood—over an easy tempo, heavily piano-fused track that was tailored for just such intricacies and emotion.
I mean, he makes a vow that “I’ll be there to hold their hands ‘til God says I must go”, which is certainly not your typical fare for pop songs (get it) or most any other type. What enhances these lyrics is not only his vocal chops but the music. The acoustic guitar, for instance, largely plays the background to the melodic piano, but still manages to steal the show during the hooks and the outro. With the strings soaring and the vocalist pouring out his heart, no one can deny this tune’s authenticity.
