My Gen X Playlist: One Step Forward and Three Steps Back – dodie

I was standing in our shower and noticed it needed new caulking where the wall met the floor. Now if you’ve been a reader of this blog for awhile, you already know I’m not handy at all. In fact, I’m the exact opposite of handy. I am an unhandyman, if there is such a thing. As I mentioned before, we know a retired Cal Tech scientist that is the neighborhood handyman and a lifesaver to those who are challenged in this area like me. He tackles things big or small. The question that I grappled with was, Do I give him a call?

I was proud of myself by ignoring my instincts and taking up the challenge. After all, our handyman has been encouraging me to give things a try. After watching a dozen YouTube videos and a trip to Home Depot, I was ready. Surprisingly enough, I did a decent job and didn’t make a mess of things. I sometimes surprise myself when I don’t F things up a bit. This victory qualified for a big flex in the mirror. OK, that didn’t really happen, except for maybe in my head. But it felt really good.

Riding that high, I next looked around for other things to tackle. That didn’t last too long and I ended up opening an ice cold beer and watching the game on TV instead. If I could make a small improvement in myself, I’d try to chisel off the prefix in my unhandyman title to make our Cal Tech scientist proud. That, plus an occasional arms raised victory lap wouldn’t be too bad.

If you witnessed any of my past DIY attempts, you’d understand they never go as smoothly as this one. I think for every one success, I may have a handful of near failures. This reminded me of the chorus in Olivia Rodrigo’s One Step Forward and a Three Steps Back. Sounds like my home DIY project track record. The only thing is I’ve never heard Rodrigo’s original version of the song. I stumbled upon dodie’s cover version on YouTube, so I’ll go with this one for the playlist.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Called you on the phone today
Just to ask you how you were
All I did was speak normally
Somehow I still struck a nerve

You got me fucked up in the head, boy
Never doubted myself so much
Like am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?
I hate that I gave you power over that kind of stuff

'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy? I don't understand
No, I don't understand

And maybe in some masochistic way
I kind of find it all exciting
Like which lover will I get today?
Will you walk me to the door or send me home cryin'?

It's one step forward and three steps back
I'm the love of your life until I make you mad
It's always one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy? I don't understand

No, it's back and forth, did I say something wrong?
It's back and forth, going over everything I said
It's back and forth, did I do something wrong?
It's back and forth, maybe, this is all your fault instead

It's one step forward and three steps back
And I'd leave you, but the roller coaster's all I've ever had
Yeah, it's one step forward and three steps back
Do you love me, want me, hate me, boy?
I don't understand
No, I don't understand