Blame Jimmy

Nothing real is relevant any more
Just the lies and manipulation
You get on your regular train
They change the name of the station

I thought it was an evil curse
Crunching my life into reverse
Collecting victims every hour
Now I know it's my superpower

 CHORUS
Blame Jimmy
For your bad behaviour
Blame Jimmy
Your self-esteem saviour
Blame Jimmy
For desperate validation
Blame Jimmy
Protect your reputation

 I always aim to travel light
But end up carrying their baggage
Start the day a decent man
Then suddenly I'm a savage

I thought it was an evil curse
Crunching my life into reverse
Collecting victims every hour
Now I know it's my superpower
 

  CHORUS
Blame Jimmy
For your bad behaviour
Blame Jimmy
Your self-esteem saviour
Blame Jimmy
For desperate validation
Blame Jimmy
Protect your reputation
 

 BRIDGE

Sleep well on my hell

Act out your triggers

Ignore your traumas

Don’t do the work to heal

No need for you to heal

(Because you can…)

 CHORUS x 2

Blame Jimmy

Blame Jimmy

Blame Jimmy

©Russ Zimmer/Jim Shomos 2023

A bunch of people inspired this song, from childhood to recent years. The longer I’m on this planet, the easier it is to accept my mistakes and apologise. Yet this bizarre pattern of being blamed for other people's actions stalked me through various moments in my personal life and career.

At one stage I actually began to wonder if my aunty had cursed me as a young teenager when she screamed - in front of dozens of relatives leaving a church wedding service - "Jimyyyyyyy, I blame you for this", for something her son had instigated. (Inspiration for title).

Then in early 2023 I flipped it. Absorbing other people’s blame is my superpower. If people can't deal with their issues, or work on healing from their traumas, they can blame me. 

Some of the lines also sadly reflect the wider world where lies and manipulation have become more common and public. From weak political and business leaders to gutless online trolls who won’t take responsibility for their words or actions.

The only way this lyric could work was with a melody that ran counter to the heavy words. Russ nailed it from the first draft. I love every bit of musical magic he’s brought to this song. His haunting guitar in the intro and bridge, the sweet melody, hooky chorus, and gentle vocals that a therapist would envy. So, if you can’t get this song out of your head, blame Russ! But if you don’t like it, you know who to blame…