The music for "Be Careful" was written on February 14, 2013. The opening guitar riff which is also repeated later in the song was inspired by Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy". While both guitar riffs are actually rather different, I used a similar guitar triad chord sequence for "Be Careful". What makes it differ from "No More Mr. Nice Guy" is the fact that it uses arpeggios, while the Alice Cooper tune doesn't. By the time I started recording the Mission Of Mercy version of "Be Careful" on March 18, 2013, I had already finished 14 songs for the Mission Of Mercy album. With 6 tunes left to produce for the album, I was planning on recording nothing but rockers for the rest of the way.
I wrote the lyrics for "Be Careful" on March 20, 2013. The lyrics for this song were written while I was building a connection in the music industry with a company called A&R Select. This was when I was pushing hard for radio airplay on the Mission Of Mercy album. A&R Select really liked Plaid On Flannel, but they required an admission fee to pitch my songs to radio stations, music supervisors, publishers, etc. I paid the fee and I had a fatalistic attitude towards it at the beginning. As if it wouldn't work out. Because I didn't trust these guys to be honest. So that's when I wrote the lyrics to "Be Careful". I had an ambivalent feeling of optimism and pessimism towards the situation. And that reflected in the lyrics to "Be Careful". "On the television tonight" and "Think I'm gonna be in a flick" were hopes that my music would garner television and film sync placement licensing. That didn't end up happening. But at least I got internet radio airplay and I did a few interviews. The bass guitar in "Be Careful" dances around quite a bit. It's one of the better bass guitar sounds on the Mission Of Mercy album. The chorus for "Be Careful" features lots of cowbell.
I finished recording the Mission Of Mercy version of "Be Careful" on March 27, 2013, and the entire Mission Of Mercy album was released on May 20, 2013. After I moved to Toronto from Peterborough in September of 2013, the Plaid On Flannel band started on February 15, 2014 as a 3-piece. "Be Careful" was part of the first batch of my original songs that I brought to the band. It became a concert staple for us, and we would often close out shows with the song. Telling people to "be careful" on their way home. Hinting for them to not drink and drive.
Keyboardist Jen Doyon joined Plaid On Flannel the next year on February 22, 2015. We continued playing "Be Careful" live, and Jen's backup vocal harmonies really helped elevate the song's energy. After releasing our Rising Above EP in 2016, we decided to record a new version of "Be Careful" for our Get On! EP. That EP was released on August 28, 2017. "Be Careful" is a straight up rock and roll song that has done well at shows, but I've basically retired the song from POF's live repertoire. With the song being featured on 2 Plaid On Flannel records anyways, I know it will still live on.
lyrics
Words and music by Nolan Randall
On the television tonight
Gotta put up a great big fight
Flying high in the airwaves
From my evening prayer phrase
To something that doesn't seem right
The telephone is off the hook
Look at the people the blind man shook
If there was more of an angle
Maybe we could all handle
What seems to be halfway crooks
Next time be more careful
Before you go into it the wrong way
An invitation to something and it's better than nothing
No matter what the clients say
Think I'm gonna be in a flick
Can they make it all sound so slick?
Is there more to the quandary?
Cleaning my dirty laundry
Are they trying to play a trick?
There's nothing like a sense of hope
Moving along in my jumping rope
It's okay with me, that's why I gotta believe
That's why I wash my hands with soap
Next time be more careful
Before you jump into it the wrong way
An invitation to something and it's better than nothing
No matter what the people say
Next time be more careful
Before you go into it the wrong way
An invitation for something
And it's better than nothing
What the hell am i gonna play?
Next time be more careful
Before you jump into it the wrong way
An invitation to something and it's better than nothing
No matter, no matter, no matter what they say
Next time be, next time be, next time be careful
Next time be, next time be, next time be careful
Next time be, next time be, next time be careful
Next time be, next time be, next time be careful
Plaid On Flannel is an alternative indie blues rock act from Toronto, Canada. With 80+ original songs recorded since 2011,
singer-songwriter Nolan Randall has remained the sole constant member of the band. POF's music is known for guitar riffs/solos, memorable hooks, catchy melodies/harmonies, evocative lyrics, & superb musicianship. While keeping a focus on originality and songwriting quality....more
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