2025 Competition Entry:

Side Effects of Love by Tracy Weinberg

Genre

Blues

Co-writer(s)

no

Performer(s)

Tracy Weinberg – dojo (resonator-banjo) and lead vocal
Gretchen McMahon – electric guitar and supporting vocal
Scott McMahon – bass and percussion

Description

Many of my songs are inspired by a phrase or two that catch my ear. I liked the phrase “the side effects of love” immediately and wrote the song soon after. It made me think of my past and present loves and wonder what side effects they may have had.

Bio

Tracy Weinberg was introduced to music at an early age by his older brothers, who had a nice collection of 45’s from the late 1950 and early 1960s. He grew up in the Chicago area near Ravinia Park, which featured live music in the summer; as a teen he heard the Chicago Symphony, Ravi Shankar, Iron Butterfly, Jesus Christ Superstar, and most everything in between. Taking up banjo at age 16 because “everyone else played guitar,” he adapted it to fit his eclectic musical tastes. His biggest musical influences include Louis Armstrong, Leon Redbone, Tom Waits, Cab Calloway, and Bela Fleck.

Tracy began writing songs in high school and college but took a long break to concentrate on his career as a teacher/educator. After two decades, he rediscovered his passion for writing and performing, playing at open mics in the Central Texas area. In the last decade, he has truly found his musical voice and has become a prolific songwriter, busy performer, and bandleader.

He has released three albums of original material, Mountains of Dreams, (2012), The Other Way Around (2016), and the upcoming Another Saturday Night (April 2025), which combine clever, thoughtful lyrics with top-notch instrumental accompaniment.

Tracy currently performs solo and with his band, Tracy Weinberg and Friends, in the Central Texas area, playing in many venues in San Marcos, Wimberley, Gruene, New Braunfels, Lockhart, Austin, and beyond.

Lyrics

Ready and willing, eager to please, nervous and sweaty, weak at the knees
Every time I think of you, love calls the tune I’m dancing to

Whenever I look into your eyes, I get lost in thought, I’m mesmerized
By the shade of your skin, the shape of your lips; the sweet memory of our first kiss

I sink like a stone, fly like a dove; nothing sits right then it fits like a glove
You’re the only one I’m dreaming of – must be the side effects of love

Usually I’m self-assured, but now my tongue is tied, can’t speak a word
I’m holding fast, going slow, really not sure which way to go

Though I feel giddy, I’m wound up tight; hard to relax, can’t sleep at night
Willing to walk to the ends of the earth; I’ll do anything to prove my worth

I sink like a stone, fly like a dove; nothing sits right then it fits like a glove
You’re the only one I’m dreaming of – must be the side effects of love

Call the doctor, call the nurse, each hour in love is getting worse
Here’s what they told me, and I quote, “Love doesn’t need an antidote”

There’ll come a time we’ll understand what happens with a woman and a man
Until that day, there is no doubt, better to love than to live without

I sink like a stone, fly like a dove; nothing sits right then it fits like a glove
You’re the only one I’m dreaming of – must be the side effects of love


Written and © by Tracy Weinberg, Mountains of Dreams Music, BMI

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