This is about a breakup, but it's not what you think.
Many, many people have contacted me and taken me to task over my blithe use of a word I didn't understand was something horrible. Most of them have done so with utmost gentleness, and for this I am grateful.
I am breaking up with the word Gypsy.
It does not mean what I and many other poor fools wish it did.
I am so very sorry. I have done wrong, and I repent of my ignorance.
Those of you who have contacted me, thank you for doing so with such eloquence and kindness. From this point, I shall work to be certain that I deserve it.
In order to properly execute this breakup, I may ask you all for help. Here is what I would ask you to do if you are willing.
-Previously I have incorporated the word Gypsy into my bio, websites, taglines, and press releases. I have attempted to hunt down all of these instances and correct them, omitting the word. If you should run across at a web site or social media platform over which I may have direct control and you find it there, please contact me directly via email (and not in comments here, thank you, as I may not catch it) and let me know. For my sake please keep your message as civil as you can. You have my gratitude. sjtuckermusic at gmail dot com is the account I check most frequently.
-As of this moment I can think of only three pieces that I have written and released, and one that I've not written but have recorded and released, in which I used the word Gypsy in lyrics: "Lady Vagabond", "Taglio", "The Gaselli", and "Storm". If there's something I'm forgetting from my catalogue of songs that you know of, please contact me directly via email. See above.
-If you have thoughts on any of this that you wish to discuss with me directly, I want you to know that you will be utterly safe in doing so. My goal is to proceed from this point with respect and to do better- that means that anyone who contacts me about this issue who wishes their words to be kept private, for any reason, needn't worry. One of my many regrets connected with this is that of the people who've contacted me about my use of the word, only two have responded to me when I've written them in turn. The two follow-up conversations I've had have been indispensable, and I am very grateful for them. Please, please don't be afraid to talk to me. See above for my email address.
Let's all be civil in comments here, as I know that this is the kind of thing that can spark heated discussions. For my sake and for all, please be kind when you type. I promise to do the same.
I want you all to know that I am not doing this to get attention. I am not doing this to gain any increase in public opinion, number of likes/subscribers/followers/what-have-you. I am doing this because I feel that it's right, and I should have done it years ago.
Apart from this post, here is what I have done so far. There are many bright spots in this list.
-I have written new lyrics to replace the ones I composed in error. If and when I perform the songs of mine in which the word Gypsy appeared as written, I will perform them with these new lyrics or I will not perform them at all.
-Tricky Pixie will be back together again shortly, and we'll make time to have a similar discussion when we see each other again, about retiring or re-imagining other pieces in our repertoire (and aspects of our promo) that want correcting.
-Yesterday I located all of my audio backups from recording sessions over the years. This means that I have what I need to rerecord/re-edit "Lady Vagabond", "Storm", "The Gaselli" and "Taglio".
-I have disabled downloads and my own direct sales of "Lady Vagabond", "Storm", "The Gaselli", and "Taglio". It's going to take some time to get the songs pulled from iTunes, Amazon, and the bigger distribution companies. It may take even longer for me to replace them on future print runs of my CDs. But I am taking those steps.
-As mentioned above, I have worked to pull the word Gypsy from all promo efforts over which I have direct control. I will continue to work on this, and I will not use the word in my own promo in future.
Again, I have done wrong, and I apologize.
Thank you.
I am breaking up with the word Gypsy.
It does not mean what I and many other poor fools wish it did.
I am so very sorry. I have done wrong, and I repent of my ignorance.
Those of you who have contacted me, thank you for doing so with such eloquence and kindness. From this point, I shall work to be certain that I deserve it.
In order to properly execute this breakup, I may ask you all for help. Here is what I would ask you to do if you are willing.
-Previously I have incorporated the word Gypsy into my bio, websites, taglines, and press releases. I have attempted to hunt down all of these instances and correct them, omitting the word. If you should run across at a web site or social media platform over which I may have direct control and you find it there, please contact me directly via email (and not in comments here, thank you, as I may not catch it) and let me know. For my sake please keep your message as civil as you can. You have my gratitude. sjtuckermusic at gmail dot com is the account I check most frequently.
-As of this moment I can think of only three pieces that I have written and released, and one that I've not written but have recorded and released, in which I used the word Gypsy in lyrics: "Lady Vagabond", "Taglio", "The Gaselli", and "Storm". If there's something I'm forgetting from my catalogue of songs that you know of, please contact me directly via email. See above.
-If you have thoughts on any of this that you wish to discuss with me directly, I want you to know that you will be utterly safe in doing so. My goal is to proceed from this point with respect and to do better- that means that anyone who contacts me about this issue who wishes their words to be kept private, for any reason, needn't worry. One of my many regrets connected with this is that of the people who've contacted me about my use of the word, only two have responded to me when I've written them in turn. The two follow-up conversations I've had have been indispensable, and I am very grateful for them. Please, please don't be afraid to talk to me. See above for my email address.
Let's all be civil in comments here, as I know that this is the kind of thing that can spark heated discussions. For my sake and for all, please be kind when you type. I promise to do the same.
I want you all to know that I am not doing this to get attention. I am not doing this to gain any increase in public opinion, number of likes/subscribers/followers/what-have-you. I am doing this because I feel that it's right, and I should have done it years ago.
Apart from this post, here is what I have done so far. There are many bright spots in this list.
-I have written new lyrics to replace the ones I composed in error. If and when I perform the songs of mine in which the word Gypsy appeared as written, I will perform them with these new lyrics or I will not perform them at all.
-Tricky Pixie will be back together again shortly, and we'll make time to have a similar discussion when we see each other again, about retiring or re-imagining other pieces in our repertoire (and aspects of our promo) that want correcting.
-Yesterday I located all of my audio backups from recording sessions over the years. This means that I have what I need to rerecord/re-edit "Lady Vagabond", "Storm", "The Gaselli" and "Taglio".
-I have disabled downloads and my own direct sales of "Lady Vagabond", "Storm", "The Gaselli", and "Taglio". It's going to take some time to get the songs pulled from iTunes, Amazon, and the bigger distribution companies. It may take even longer for me to replace them on future print runs of my CDs. But I am taking those steps.
-As mentioned above, I have worked to pull the word Gypsy from all promo efforts over which I have direct control. I will continue to work on this, and I will not use the word in my own promo in future.
Again, I have done wrong, and I apologize.
Thank you.