2025 Competition Entry:
Side Door by Eric Paetkau
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Genre
Folk
Artist
Co-writer(s)
no
Performer(s)
Eric Paetkau
Description
Sometimes life has plans you didn’t expect (and sometimes, more smiles).
Bio
Two-time JUNO nominated singer-songwriter Eric Paetkau frequently tours North America and infuses his audiences with beautiful melodies, poignant tales, and pure joy. As he floats through original songs, old favourites, and even a silly kid track or two, the coziness becomes palpable. Add some stories from an incredibly varied life, and you can’t help but be drawn into a world that touches hearts, young and old.
In the classical realm, Eric was the former conductor of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and the Group of 27 Chamber Orchestra. He’s appeared in concert halls worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and LA’s Disney Hall as a guest conductor and violist.
In the classical realm, Eric was the former conductor of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and the Group of 27 Chamber Orchestra. He’s appeared in concert halls worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and LA’s Disney Hall as a guest conductor and violist.
Lyrics
I left the side door open
And felt a gentle nudge
It kept me falling forward
Toward the place I’d misjudged
I figured it’d be okay
Despite my confused state
But just before I landed
I heard a frantic wait
Wait
Won’t you come back to the place it all began
Won’t you take a peek and look inside
Won’t you pay back all the time it took to heal
And put all pleasantries aside
If I could have it both ways
I’d hear the side that won
And try to understand
Its point and tragic pun
Maybe it’d be different
For a little while
A different scene
A few more smiles
I’d laugh at the endless grind
And shout at the passing joke
And leave the placemats stained
Or give it to some other folk
Scrap the notion one would care
Break down the door, and scream at the passing fair
Won’t you come back to the place it all began
Won’t you take a peek and look inside
Won’t you pay back all the time it took to heal
And put all pleasantries aside
And felt a gentle nudge
It kept me falling forward
Toward the place I’d misjudged
I figured it’d be okay
Despite my confused state
But just before I landed
I heard a frantic wait
Wait
Won’t you come back to the place it all began
Won’t you take a peek and look inside
Won’t you pay back all the time it took to heal
And put all pleasantries aside
If I could have it both ways
I’d hear the side that won
And try to understand
Its point and tragic pun
Maybe it’d be different
For a little while
A different scene
A few more smiles
I’d laugh at the endless grind
And shout at the passing joke
And leave the placemats stained
Or give it to some other folk
Scrap the notion one would care
Break down the door, and scream at the passing fair
Won’t you come back to the place it all began
Won’t you take a peek and look inside
Won’t you pay back all the time it took to heal
And put all pleasantries aside
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