It took me 23 years from start to finish to complete the process of writing this song. Here's the story.
It was 1995. I was at my friend Dave's house in Hermosa Beach, California. We were hanging out watching football...it was Sunday morning. Out of his roommate's room came this beautiful young girl, still getting dressed, looking pissed off, running out the door. My friend's roommate, Shawn, came out a couple of minutes later. Now, Shawn is not the best looking guy in the world. And on top of that, Shawn was always kind of an asshole, especially to women. Never physically abusive, but he just wasn't very nice. And yet, he was always with someone beautiful. And different. I don't think I ever saw him with the same girl twice.
So, this day, I asked him. I said "Shawn. What is the deal. Every time I see you, you're with someone way more attractive than you. And you're always kind of a dick to them. What gives?"
He turned and looked me and just said: "Nice guys sleep alone". And he went back to his room.
And so begins this long journey for a single song.
Now I wasn't pleased with his response in any way. But it struck me that in some way, he may be right. At least I should explore this. And those words stayed with me the entire day. So, when I got home later, I wrote it down. And soon came a set of lyrics that built around it.
The first half of the song is based on Shawn doing just fine with his theory. The second half of the song is me not doing so well, and thinking that his way may have some merit after all. In the end, I couldn't bring myself to be that guy. Could it be...that nice guys sleep alone?
The problem with this song was that I could not find the music to go with it. The phrasing of this is odd...I was at a period as a songwriter where I wanted to be wordy, and I wanted to come up with interesting phrasing. But I just couldn't make this one work. I could not find it.
And so, "Nice Guys Sleep Alone" found its way into my book of lyrics. Unfinished. I would try once in a while, but I could not make it work. Eventually, I stopped trying altogether...for a long time. But I kept the lyrics. You know...just in case.
And then, just the other day, I was thumbing through my big book of lyrics, and stopped at this one. I looked at it for a minute, then started playing. It came immediately. Just as if I had right then rolled the lyrics and music together out of my head. It clicked. It worked. And so, 23 years later, I finished my song.
The lesson here? Don't give up. On your art. On yourself. On what you want to accomplish. Be it a goal. Or a piece of art. Or a song. Keep it around. You never know when the time will be right to bring it all together.
And so...here it is. 23 years after it was started, the finally finished song.
NICE GUYS SLEEP ALONE
Words and music by DINO ROMANELLI
My friend Shawn he never sleeps by himself
He says a different woman every night
Is good for his health
He says nice guys sleep alone
Nice guys sleep alone
He's always lying to them and he treats 'em like dirt
Next day he's got one cooking breakfast for him
Wearing his shirt
He says nice guys sleep alone
Nice guys sleep alone
I never found it in my heart
To be so cold
But it'll probably keep me by myself
Until I get old
Nice guys sleep alone
Nice guys sleep alone
I met a girl, I fell in love, I treated her like a queen
She told me that I was the nicest guy
That she's ever seen
You know nice guys sleep alone
Nice guys sleep alone
One day she met a guy who acted like he just didn't care
She broke up with me and where he went
She would follow him there
Nice guys sleep alone
Nice guys sleep alone
But I'd rather die lonely
Than end up with a girl
Who wants a lover who's cruel
And keeps her life in a whirl
Nice guys sleep alone
I never found it in my heart
To be so cold
But it'll probably keep me by myself
Until I get old
Nice guys sleep alone
Nice guys sleep alone
Nice guys sleep alone
© Affordable Music, BMI
