Not Today

Blues rock, grounded shuffle shifting to a half-time bridge that builds into double-time drive; dry close-mic one-take vocal, hushed and intimate in the verses, powerful full-voice male baritone with soft chorus harmony pads and gang-vocal shouts on the hook; single palm-muted guitar riff, slide guitar fills and solo, featured harmonica, electric bass, room-mic drums and tambourine backbeat; overdriven tube amp, tape saturation, spring reverb, 1970s analog texture.

bass drum stomps

[harmonica fill]
[harmonica solo]
Not Today
[Verse 1]
Today’s child wants just one thing:
None of the work that the day might bring.
Minimum effort, no sweat to spare,
A throne on the couch and a vacant stare.
[harmonica fill]
Nothing’s good and nothing’s new,
Nothing they’ve got time to do.
“Leave me alone, just go away!”
A master of rude with nothing to say.
[slide guitar solo]
[Pre-Chorus]
Making a fuss over nothing at all,
Shrugging it off while the sky starts to fall.
The moon could crash in the old town square—
They’d roll their eyes: “That’s just not fair!”
[harmonica fill]
[Chorus]
Oh no! Not today!
Can’t be bothered anyway!
Get up? What for?
Turn the light off, shut the door!
Oh no! Not today!
Got no plans—let’s keep it that way!
[slide guitar fill]
[Verse 2]
Sister had a baby—big news today!
They barely looked up, had nothing to say.
“A boy or a girl?” “Don’t give a fuck.”
Then back to complaining about their luck.
[[harmonica fill]]
Mother called, she needed a ride,
Couldn’t be bothered—left her waiting outside.
Father called, said, “I need a hand!”
Rolled their eyes—“When will he understand?”
[acoustic guitar fill]
[Pre-Chorus]
Making a fuss over nothing at all,
Shrugging it off while the sky starts to fall.
The moon could crash in the old town square—
They’d roll their eyes: “That’s just not fair!”

[Chorus]
Oh no! Not today!
Can’t be bothered anyway!
Get up? What for?
Turn the light off, shut the door!
Oh no! Not today!
Got no plans—let’s keep it that way!

[Verse 3]
Breathing’s automatic, so that’s all right,
Eating’s worth the effort when it tastes just right.
Something sweet to drink, something easy to pour,
Water’s on the menu, but it’s just one bore.

Behind the wheel, driving everyone insane,
Won’t let you merge, won’t give up a lane.
Cut every corner, dodge every queue—
“Why take the long way? That’s something you do!”

[Bridge — double-time, building]
“Just five more minutes, just leave me be.
Why does everybody keep on calling me?
The world keeps turning; it’ll be okay
If I do nothing for another day.”

[Guitar Solo]

[Final Chorus]
Oh no! Not today!
Can’t be bothered anyway!
Get up? What for?
Turn the light off, shut the door!
Oh no! Not today!
Got no plans—let’s keep it that way!

[Outro]
Get up? What for?
Turn the light off, shut the door!
Oh no! Not today!
Let’s keep it that way!