music journal

I wrote a little song about walking in the woods with the kids (which you can read about here). the tune (so far) is a straight-up rip-off from a tune Death Cab’s new ablum (which I just got and enjoy). so here goes:

walk in the woods (tune: death cab’s Grapevine Fires)

(Am) last day of (C) spring
a walk in the (G) woods
a little (D) fresh air
might do us (Am) good
the three of (C) us
a walk in the (G) woods
a walk in the (Em) woods
 
decend the hill
at a quiet pace
stop for each bloom
in this magic place
decend the hill
at a quiet pace
at a quiet pace

(a walk in the woods…) Am C G D
 
came to a tree
across the way
the brightest bird
a red and black display
he flies away
as the day turns gray
as the day turns gray
 
climb the hill
to find the falls
splash some rocks
bounce off the walls
somewhere I hear
the red bird call
the red bird call

(a walk in the woods…)
 
it’s getting dark
the long day ends
lets hold hands
while we ascend
head back home
as better friends
as better friends
 
 

I’m not qute a fan (yet) of Ben Gibbard and DCFC, since I havent heard much yet. but I think I’ll like it once I get a chance to check his stuff out. he had a good quote about songwriting that brings out what I’ve felt about writing songs. it seems like there’s an unwritten rule that you shouldnt be able to understand a song for it to be good? like for some reason for something to poetic it needs to be obtuse? these days I prefer straightforward. so does Ben, it seems:

I decided a handful of years ago that I just want to write songs that you can understand as soon as you put the record on. There’s no need to veil what’s happening in the song the way I used to.

My goal as a songwriter now is to simply write some memorable turns of phrase. The reaction I’d like from every song I write is, “Wow, I listen to this song, and it’s about such-and-such, and there’s this lyric in there that’s just awesome.” At the end of the day, that’s what I want.

later in the article there’s this bit, which I’ll consider a cautionary word. I guess he’s OK with it like this, but I find it quite sad although I feel drawn to this at times. I pray I’ll never put music or anything else this high on the pedestal:

…music is the most important thing in my life. It’s more important than anyone else could ever be. I don’t want to be overly dramatic and say it’s the only thing that gets me up and keeps me going. But people in your life come and go. As you go through your life, you make friendships, you break friendships, you have relationships. Music is the one thing I’ve always been able to rely on. So why wouldn’t it be the most important thing in my life?

from this article in Paste Magazine.

I’ve had lots of musical dreams over the years. I keep most of them to myself. one that I’ve always thought was rather attainable is to play music together as a family. sometimes we do a little and it’s usually a good time.

long ago Michelle played guitar. in fact she played a whole lot. but that really was before we met, and while I’ll always be grateful that she brought a nice guitar into the mix, I’ve been a little sad that we havent played much together. there’s been a couple memorable exceptions involving church music, but nothing that ever lasted. it’s mostly been because health issues got in the way of her playing, but also I guess she lost interest. meanwhile my interest has been soaring.

so I wrote her the “Be My Nancy” song, and it seems to have struck a chord, so to speak. during our weekend getaway we worked on songs together, figuring out harmonies and a little bit of arrangements, and we were both excited about the results. so I burned her a CD of my songs (most of which can be found on this blog) and she’s been listening for harmonies and such.

then came word of our neighborhood coffee shop hosting a family music/open mic night, and that got us going a little more. so we practiced “My Aya” and “Be My Nancy” with me on lead vocals and octave mandolin, and her on harmony vocals and guitar. and if I do say so myself, I think we sound pretty good! it’s a little bit of work finding that sweet spot, since neither of us are naturally good at finding harmony (like some friends are). but once we find it, I’m really liking the results. anyway, we did our songs at the coffee shop, and they were well received by the very small audience.

so it really is a little dream come true to be able to make music together, and I’m hoping we can keep it up. I’m still amazed that I can put down songs that I enjoy singing, and it’s even cooler to do it together. so hopefully soon we’ll record some stuff for a little album to share. whatever happens with all this, we’re thankful for the gift of being able to dive into something we both enjoy together.

here’s another old Chattanooga story that I’ve tried to put in song. I think I want to add more to it, but here it is so far:

Here’s a rough demo MP3

His name was Ed Bass
He needed that road done fast
There wasnt a way around
To the south side of the town

The old warehouse was in his way
Georgia said it had to stay
But Ed was the kind of man
To take things in his hands

(chorus)
So grab your axes and your shovels boys
Here’s what we’re gonna do
We’ll take that darned old building down
We’ll split it right in two

As the night began to fall
Ed’s bulldozer attacked the wall
Soon a band began to play
And South Broad was on its way

They worked all through the night
So Georgia couldnt put up a fight
Round midnight Ed drove through
That old warehouse torn in two

After this Ed stuck around
20 years he led this town
and he should always renowned
for taking Broad street all the way down
(to the town of St. Elmo)

here’s an article about Ed and this escapade

here’s a song that’s a bit of a tribute to Norman and Nancy Blake, a legendary husband and wife guitar/mandolin duo. it’s also a little about marriage and how much I love making music and living life together. this is just a draft that could use a lot of editing and perhaps some consolidation and additions.

here’s a rough demo mp3

Be My Nancy

(chorus)
I’ll be your Norman, if you’ll be my Nancy
I’ll pick out a simple tune, nothing all too fancy
If I try the melody
Will you sing sweet harmony?
If I’ll be your Norman, will you be my Nancy?

Will you play a steady beat?
Sweet runs voiced in a different key.
Pick out notes that intertwine
Two hearts, one song: that’s oh-so-fine

We can sing some happy songs
About our little home where we belong
Or maybe a tune about long ago
When things were simple and life was slow

I might never pick too good
But honey I hope it’s understood
That if you’re playing by my side
Sweet music rings out far and wide
 

here’s an edgier one inspired by similar stuff that resulted in the last one. I’ve got something of a tune in my head…kinda blues/rock, but we’ll see what happens.

here’s a rough demo mp3

I wanna tell you something and I’m hoping that it’s true
I wanna tell you baby how much I love you
I wanna look into your beautiful eyes
But baby I’m afraid I’ll be telling lies
 
Because baby…I’ll give you my heart
But honey…I need a new start
Yeah baby…you know I wanna love you
The problem honey… is that I love me too
 
You know that I’ve been trying to get it all just right
But the part that should be dying keeps putting up a fight
I wanna tell you honey that I’ll give it all to you
With a broken heart like this what’s a boy to do?
 
(chorus)
 
Now honey let me tell you I meant just what I said
But now I start to see this old skin is hard to shed
I wanna promise baby that I always will be true
But baby I believe there’s some work to do
 
(chorus) 

Here’s a song for Michelle. I’ve got the tune (with the octave), just need to record a decent version. it’s a reflection on what we’ve been learning about our marriage recently. still needs some refinement, but here it is:

here’s a rough demo mp3

you’re my mystery
I thought I could see
I thought I had it all figured out

you’re my mystery
I see that I cant see
I thought that all these little thing would add up to a lot

now I dont know just how to love you
when once I thought I did
I’m not sure how much I know you
but now I know:
you’re my mystery 

I’m your mystery
I want you to see
you’ll never have me all figured out

I’m your mystery
And I hope you see
my heart is yours and hoping you’ll unlock it with your key
 
you may not know just how to love me
I’m praying that you’ll try
you may not know how much you know me
but now you know:
I’m your mystery

I’m praying for some grace and mercy
my heart it needs new eyes
to see your true eternal beauty
and so we know:
we’re a mystery

I’ve been a big fan of the band Vigilantes of Love since my freshman year of college (thanks Todd!) and they’re one of the few I’ve liked for a long time. it’s been a long journey for the band, some of which is detailed in this interview with Bill Mallonee. the interview made me pretty sad to see Bill so bitter at this point. his stuff will stand the test of time I believe, but it’s hard to see a musical hero on hard times.

anyway, in listening to some of their stuff lately (Slow Dark Train, Audible Sigh), and considering Bill’s lyrical style, I’m struck how often he makes sure to leave a strong thought at the end of the chorus or line. a lot of his songs revolve around a particular idea, and he encapsulates that idea in a short phrase that he drives home at the end of the line of the chorus (usually). sometimes this is the name of the song, sometimes he names the song from another snippet in the lyrics, leaving you something else to think about.

I suppose this isnt a revolutionary idea, but I thought it was good to note how effective it can be in creating a hook, using emphasis and repetition. I tried it a little with my latest song I wrote last night (”Mystery”). hopefully that’ll be ready to share in a little while.

so I guess I had my songs-with-words phase for a while, so now I’m back to some instrumentals. I tried some alternate tunings on the octave tonight, doing ADAD (”normal” is GDAE, although I’ve been playing ADAE for a while). anyway, here are 2 versions of my ADAD jam. they’re both pretty much just improving around a general idea.

loud version

quieter version

I got asked to play for a little local function, and I was happy to help out. it didnt turn out all that well though. in fact it was a bit of a disaster. actually I thought my playing/singing went OK, but the problem was I was pretty much the only one who could hear it. no PA, but that would’ve made it worse probably. it was in the community rec center gym, and there were kids running and screaming on the other half, so it was pretty much the worst possible “acoustics”. I’m guessing outer space or under water may have been better. they wanted “background music” and that’s certainly what they got.

so I did a couple songs, pretty much no one noticed. well one guy asked later if that was lute or a mandolin or what? I didnt even bother getting out the guitar for the other songs, as I got interrupted by announcments on a bullhorn (that no one could understand anyway).

oh well…maybe next time will be better.