Colin Meloy's Machine Shop

Colin Meloy's Machine Shop

Share this post

Colin Meloy's Machine Shop
Colin Meloy's Machine Shop
Lost Songs Preservation Project: Half A Mind
Lost Songs

Lost Songs Preservation Project: Half A Mind

Yoinked from 2002

Colin Meloy's avatar
Colin Meloy
May 26, 2023
∙ Paid
70

Share this post

Colin Meloy's Machine Shop
Colin Meloy's Machine Shop
Lost Songs Preservation Project: Half A Mind
16
1
Share

Going back through my old notebooks, I found this half-forgotten fragment of a song sandwiched between the first drafts of “Billy Liar” and “I Was Meant For The Stage.” It shares very little with either of those songs, which is probably why it got kicked to the curb so quickly. I recall returning to it many, many times over the years, trying to coax something great out of it, but was never moved enough by the results to actually finish it.

So here we are in 2023, twenty years after the fact, and I figured, shit, it’s not leapt into being so far, might as well just give it its due. I did some light revising, wrote a second verse, threw together an arrangement and called it good.

Here’s “Half a Mind”:

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Colin Meloy's Machine Shop to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Colin Meloy
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share