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The Show Must Go On

from Finding My Balance by Jen Midkiff

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The physical CD of Jen's third full-length solo album, "Finding My Balance".

    Includes unlimited streaming of Finding My Balance via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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about

I usually preface this one briefly with the disclaimer "This is not about any of my current employers...but is ABSOLUTELY about some of my PAST employers". Sparked when a musician friend relayed a story she had read, where someone complained that he felt Alanis Morrisette never wrote any good songs anymore and someone needed to dump her, hard, so she would write more of the great breakup songs he liked best. And I just thought. . .why would you think it was okay to wish suffering on someone so that they will produce something you want?? And then I thought about all the times I felt valued only because finding someone else would have been more work for the employer. . .If you think you're hearing a bit more attitude in my voice than usual on this song, you're not imagining things!

lyrics

The Show Must Go On

All the world’s a stage
and all of us are just players
but if you can’t fill the role
then we’ll find someone else

so you’d better appear
to have your act together
Because the show will go on
with or without you

Does anxiety negate the things I know?
Am I only worth the things I can do?

“How are you?”

I’m fine (though the headaches are pounding)
yes I’m fine (I’m so hungry that I’m dizzy)
sure I’m fine (when everything just hurts)
but I’m fine (‘cause if I’m not fine you’ll replace me)

better play your part
you know what you should say
you know just how you should act
you know exactly how they think you should look

but if that’s not you, well then
find somewhere else to be
‘cause we only need polished cogs of
this particular size

the cast is set, the lines are waiting, lights and camera
and you’d better be able to deliver

so I’m fine (because the only acceptable answer)
is that I’m fine (because you really didn’t want to know)
so I’m just fine (all you care about is can I still work)
yes I’m just fine (for certain narrow values of that word)

you don’t wanna know
if things are breaking inside me
as long as I can keep up
the act

and all you really care
is that you don’t have to audition
someone else to understudy
for my role

and if my brain doesn’t function just like yours does
you say “different” but I hear “broken”, “lesser”, “worse”

so I’ll say I’m fine (in my head I’m beating on the walls)
yes I’m fine (can’t ever let you see me fall)
sure I’m fine (like I’d ever trust you with this)
of course I’m fine (because I can never afford to not be...just fine)

the show must go on
the show must go on
the show must go on
the show must go. . .on

credits

from Finding My Balance, released November 3, 2023
Jen Midkiff: harp and lead vocals
Eric Distad: bass guitar, drum programming
Sunnie Larsen: violin and backing vocals
Lauren Oxford: backing vocals

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Jen Midkiff (she/her) image

Jen Midkiff (she/her) Noblesville, Indiana

Harpist and singer Jen Midkiff is a performer and educator in the Indianapolis area. From early music to folk to pop standards, Jen has too many musical loves to pick just one!

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