Song Story: Admission Ticket

When someone came to see my live show, we were talking over drinks and they suggested, 'Wouldn't it be good to have another song following "Empty Seat" and "Stayers" that reflects on the events of this year?' I had actually been thinking about something like that vaguely myself, so I kept that idea in the back of my mind.

Time passed, and one day in September.

Before the live show, I went to buy a betting ticket. At the WINS. I could have easily bought it on my iPhone, but for some reason, I suddenly felt like buying a physical 'betting ticket'.

Then, the live show that night was full of people I hadn't seen in a long time—both the performers and the audience. I felt a lot of nostalgic sensations, thinking, 'This is really nice.' Thanks to everyone, I've been doing acoustic shows here and there, but it had been a long time since I really felt the 'sound of a band' in my body.

I've gotten completely used to being online, and while that has its own conveniences, I realized once again that 'live' is something else entirely. It's not about which is better or worse. It's about the fact that both have their own distinct 'goodness'.

Like everyone else, we've spent time enduring many things, and while we aren't quite at the point of saying 'everything is okay now,' we are slowly, slowly getting things back. I think there are many different opinions on whether or not to come to a live show, but I think that a ticket you receive after deciding to come, especially after a long time, carries a lot of weight. The longer you've waited, the heavier it feels.

Once the 'issued betting ticket' and the 'live house ticket' linked up perfectly in my mind, the words just started pouring out. I probably finished writing it in one night. The story works from either perspective, but since the song title 'Voting Ticket' wouldn't quite fit, I decided this was the right place to land... It's that kind of song.

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Admission Ticket

I thought, it's been a while
The weight of this single piece of paper
I realized once again
How precious it is

I thought, it's been a while
The scent that reaches me when I open the door
I realized once again
How comforting it is

It's not that I had forgotten
But I was able to receive it with a fresh heart
The things I truly wanted
I found myself cherishing even more

I thought, it's been a while
This sound that resonates in the pit of my stomach
I realized once again
How much it makes me tremble

Only the container shines
If it falls, it shatters beautifully
The things I truly wanted
Are not so easily broken

I thought, it's been a while
This time I spend with you
I realized once again
How much I have been longing for it