My next Fiona Apple selection comes from a tribute album released last August honoring the career of Don Heffington, a Los Angeles drummer and songwriter who died of leukemia in 2021.
That album, titled Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’, features 20 tracks by artists who knew and/or worked with Heffington, including Jackson Browne and the actor John C. Reilly.
I can’t find any examples of Apple and Heffington recording together, but I suspect their connection is tied to the Largo nightclub in L.A., where both artists have regularly performed.
‘Lately’ is one of two songs Apple contributed to the tribute album. The song originally appeared on Heffington’s self-released 2016 album Contemporary Abstractions in Folk Song and Dance.
Lately I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout you, baby
I can’t keep my mind on other things
People say it’s best to let your thoughts run free
But mine spin ’round in tight concentric rings
Those stories that your confidants have told me
They don’t inspire confidence, my dear
Maybe you should go your way and I’ll go mine
And wait until the coast is mostly clear
[Pre-Chorus]
But deep inside, I know I’ll always love you
It’s like a light that’s shining from above
It’s got me thinkin’ I’m no good without you
Those arms of yours still fit me like a glove, so
[Chorus]
Lately I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout you, baby
My mind should really be on other things
But waiting’s such a lonely way to spend your time
Just wonderin’ what tomorrow’s gonna bring
[Interlude]
Lately, I’ve been thinkin’ about you
(Just about you, baby)
My mind should really be on other things
(Just about you, baby)
People say it’s best to let your thoughts run free
(Just about you, baby)
But mine spin ’round in tight concentric rings
(Just about you, just about you, just about you, baby)
Those stories that your confidants have told me
(Don’t tell me stories)
They don’t inspire confidence, my dear
(Don’t make me feel so good)
Maybe, maybe you should go your way
(Maybe you should go your way and I’ll go mine)
And I’ll go mine
(Maybe you should go your way and I’ll go mine)
Then we’ll wait
(Wait until the coast is finally clear)
Until the coast is mostly clear
(It’s ever clear, it’s ever, ever, ever clear)
Let’s say you
[Pre-Chorus]
But deep inside, I know I’ll always love you
It’s like a light that’s shining from above
It’s got me thinkin’ I’m no good without you
Those arms of yours still fit me like a glove, so
[Chorus]
Lately I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout you, baby
My mind should really be on other things
But waiting’s such a lonely way to spend your time
Just wonderin’ what tomorrow’s gonna bring
[Outro]
Just wonderin’ what tomorrow’s going to bring
Meet Me In Montauk 
We’ve been to the Largo a few times for comedy shows (most recently to see Marc Merran). Such a great venue. I’m sure seeing Fiona Apple there would be quite special.