Singled Out: Amy Dalley's [One Finger Shy Of The] Peace Sign

"One Finger shy of the peace sign"-- I had that phrase written down in a notebook about seven times. It was circled three times. So I had thought about that one line for a long time. I could never figure out how to write the rest of the song though. Then one day I was talking to my friend and co-writer Tyler Hayes (along with Scott Ledger). She was going through a RE-break up ( you know...when you've broken up several times but it just never takes). He would always worm his way back in. She needed a big goodbye. A finale. One final "F U" and she could be done. She needed a plan. And I was just the one to help her, especially since I already had the perfect line to get us started!

Now, we are sweet, Southern girls, and there are certain rules of etiquette that must be followed for the big... goodbye. The big... I-never-wanna-see-you-again-and-this-time-I-mean-it. The big... well, you get the idea...

Rule number 1: You don't scream "F**k You, you stupid A** hole!" while making crazy hand gestures in the middle of your yard in the middle of the night, no matter how bad you want to. (The exception to this rule would be if there was alcohol involved in any way leading up to big event, then all bets are off, just deny it later.)

Rule # 2 : Slam him with sarcasm. You SAY you are not coming undone and that you've got nothing but love THEN you tell him he puts the F U in fun (and imply that he shouldn't worry his pretty little head about it.)

Rule# 3: Smile continuously. It scares them a little and makes them wonder what might be coming next.

Rule # 4: Say one thing while doing another. Example: SAYING you aren't trying to fight, KNOWING that is exactly what you are doing. Again, throwing them off their game is key when going for the big ending.

Rule #5 : And the most important rule of all... sweet Southern girls are always innocent. I mean, after all ...all you are doing is saying goodbye (just one finger shy of the peace sign).

To review...

Be sweet. Be sarcastic. Smile. Mean it when you tell your new ex-lover where to go.