From Rachel Kolar: The song is about three different lovers from my past. One in New York, another in Los Angeles and the last in Barcelona. During this time in my life I was drinking quite heavily and living and learning through experiences in a fantastical but often dark state of mind. Once I removed the booze from my life, fare thee well, I could see these stories I held onto, the tales that I told, and live on past them.
From Robert Kolar: Rach had this great verse melody idea and lyrics. I immediately was drawn to the western tinged bluesy rock & roll feel of the sketch. By some divine hand I just started playing this strange guitar riff and it fit like a glove. I basically inverted the chords and played the 3rd of the root instead of the 5th but still used the blues hammer on and off style of playing. There was something modern but still old timey about it. I felt like it needed a strong chorus so I pulled out the line "Tales That I Tell, Fare thee well" from what she had scratched down and found the melody to suit it's repetition. I had been listening to a lot of Chess Records recordings and was particularly fond of Howlin' Wolf, Memphis Slim and early Etta James recordings. I was hoping to try and bring some of that soul into the song.
Tales that I Tell
Well I gave him the world my eyes open wide
He left me at prom, cheated and lied
The girl was mean and empty and bland
But I still wear his ring on the finger of my hand
These tales that I tell come from days not so swell
When love wet the ground not looking I fell
My luck shot to shit but I've still got my wit
So I quit the drinking, my heart's opened a bit
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Fare thee well
Now silver spoon guy wears a blazer and tie
Women in high heels, too many to decide
I threw my bottle straight at this head
Man I wish I woulda chose his best friend instead
These tales that I tell come from days not so swell
When love wet the ground not looking I fell
My luck shot to shit but I've still got my wit
So I quit the drinking, my heart's opened a bit
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Fare thee well
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Fare thee well
Mr. Pretty of the city never one to have wit
Night came around we just couldn't quit
A wife, a girlfriend, neither was me
So I packed my bags and moved from the sea
These tales that I tell come from days not so swell
When love wet the ground not looking I fell
My luck shot to shit but I've still got my wit
So I quit the drinking, my heart's opened a bit
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Fare thee well
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Fare thee well
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Fare thee well
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Tales that I tell
Fare thee well
