|
Post by Michael Messer on May 4, 2024 16:36:47 GMT
It varies - sometimes I have the lyrics before the music and sometimes the other way round. I am currently writing a song that I have no idea where it will end up, but I just keep chipping away at it, and day by day it is starting to form a shape. I have a rhythm/groove that I am writing it to fit, but that may and probably will change at some point.
Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on May 4, 2024 17:32:24 GMT
Mitch, The Twilight Zone found its way into the title track of my current album , Mostly We Drive...
Sitting in the front seat in the twilight zone
Riding down the highway to the next milestone
The tarmac shimmers in the midday sun
Is this the way to glory or should I turn and run
©Michael Messer 2024 - Knife Edge Music / Peer Music UK
Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 4, 2024 17:36:58 GMT
case in point-read an interview with Paul Simon where he said that the initial transcript of Bridge Over Troubled Waters had left him underwhelmed. he put it on the back burner for a while until he realized that another tune waiting in the hall would go perfectly with it as an outro. that song got spliced in around the 3 minute mark, starting with, "sail on silver bird".
so save your failures, they are really all just winners waiting for their chance to get into the game.
...Funny how my memory slips when looking over manuscripts of unpublished rhyme, drinking my vodka and lime... "A Hazy Shade of Winter"
mitchfit
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 4, 2024 17:44:50 GMT
^^^^ at first i thought that riff COULDN'T HAVE gone UN-noticed.
which gets heard first, the words or the music?
endeavor to persever, mitchfit .
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 6, 2024 15:14:30 GMT
Now that the holidays have come They can relax and watch the sun Rise above all of the beautiful things they've done
Go to the country, take the dog Look at the sky without the smog See the world laugh at the farmers feeding hogs Eat hot dogs
What a pity that the people from the city Can't relate to the slower things That the country brings
Time itself is bought and sold The spreading fear of growing old Contains a thousand foolish games that we play
While people planning trips to stars Allow another boulevard to claim a quiet country lane It's insane
So the subtle face is a loser this time around Here we are in the years Where the showman shifts the gears Flags become careers Children cry in fear "Let us out of here"
mitchfit
|
|
|
Post by archtopeddy on May 6, 2024 17:04:07 GMT
which gets heard first, the words or the music? If there's a good riff at the beginning (and there are thousands of 'em!), you'll probably listen to and know the song by that riff even before you hear the first word. Example -- and just one of many -- Mother and Child Reunion.
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 7, 2024 0:39:01 GMT
different paths to the same destination
mitchfit
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 11, 2024 2:31:28 GMT
Janis Ian---
Would you like to learn to sing? Would you like to sing my song? Would you like to learn to love me best of all? Anyone can learn the words And the melody's so plain This is my song to bring you back again
I'll teach you how to sing and dance With a song and dance routine And when the party's over You can fall in love with me
Would like to learn to tango? Do you dance the light fandango? Teach you how before we're done Anyone can make it two Any two can turn to one And the melody's lost before the song's begun
Well, we sound so good together And so poorly sung alone Your harmony's an open breeze Into my sheltered home
I can teach you how to sing and dance With a song and dance routine And when my party's over You can fall in love with me
Maria Muldaur---
Midnight at the oasis Send your camel to bed Shadows painting our faces Traces of romance in our heads
Heaven's holding a half moon Shining just for us Let's slip off to A sand dune, real soon And kick up a little dust
Come on, cactus is our friend He'll point out the way Come on, 'til the evening ends 'Til the evening ends
You don't have to answer There's no need to speak I'll be your belly dancer, prancer And you can be my sheik
I know your daddy's a sultan A nomad known to all With 50 girls to attend him They all send him Jump at his beck and call
But you won't need no harem, honey When I'm by your side And you won't need no camel, no, no When I take you for a ride
Come on, cactus is our friend He'll point out the way Come on, 'til the evening ends 'Til the evening ends
Midnight at the oasis Send your camel to bed Got shadows painting our faces And traces of romance in our heads
Oh, come on, oh, come on Woo, hoo, hoo, yeah, oh, yeah
It's A beautiful Day---
White bird in a golden cage On a winter's day, in the rain White bird in a golden cage Alone
The leaves blow 'cross the long, black road To the darkened sky in its rage But the white bird just sits in her cage Unknown
White bird must fly, she will die
The white bird dreams of the Aspen tree With her dying leaves turning gold But the white bird just sits in her cage Growing old
White bird must fly or she will die White bird must fly or she will die
The sunsets come, the sunsets go The clouds roll by, and the Earth turns slow And a young bird's eyes do always glow And she must fly She must fly She must fly
[Instrumental Break]
White bird in a golden cage On a winter's day, in the rain White bird in a golden cage Alone
White bird must fly, she will die White bird must fly or she will die White bird must fly, she will die
White bird must fly
Tina Turner---
You must understand, oh, the touch of your hand Makes my pulse react That it's only the thrill of boy meetin' girl Opposites attract
It's physical Only logical You must try to ignore that it means more than that Oh
What's love got to do, got to do with it? What's love but a second-hand emotion? What's love got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
It may seem to you that I'm acting confused When you're close to me If I tend to look dazed, I've read it someplace I've got cause to be
There's a name for it There's a phrase that fits But whatever the reason, you do it for me Oh
What's love got to do, got to do with it? What's love but a second-hand emotion? What's love got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken? Ooh
I've been takin' on a new direction But I have to say I've been thinking about my own protection It scares me to feel this way Oh
What's love got to do, got to do with it? What's love but a second-hand emotion? What's love got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken? (What's love?) Got to do, got to do with it What's love but a sweet old-fashioned notion? What's love got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
(What's love got to do?) Ooh, got to do with it (What's love but a second-hand emotion?) What's love got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken? (What's love?) Ooh, ooh (Got to do with it) Got to do with it (What's love?) But a second-hand emotion
mitchfit
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on May 11, 2024 9:17:04 GMT
Great songs, all three. I don't know who wrote the Janis Ian song, but Midnight at the Oasis was written by David Nichtern and What's Love Got To Do With It was written by Graham Lyle & Terry Britten.
Tina Turner was an amazing artist, right through her career she produced masterpieces. A favourite of mine from what I call Tina's second career is her recording of the Tony Joe White song, Steamy Windows.
Simple lyrics, but so effective.
I was thinking 'bout parkin' the other night We was out on the back road Me and my baby was just gettin' right All systems on overload Radio blastin' in the front seat Turning out the music fine And we were snuggled up in the back seat Making up for lost time
[Chorus] Steamy windows Zero visibility Steamy windows Comin' from the body heat
[Verse 2] You can wine and dine with a man all night With good intent But there's somethin' about a confrontation on the back road Breaks down the defense
[Chorus] Steamy windows Zero visibility Steamy windows Comin' from the body heat Steamy windows It ain't nobody can see Steamy windows Comin' from the body heat
Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 11, 2024 21:51:44 GMT
^^^^ what MM said!
ooops, very negligent to post lyrics without credits.
It's A Beautiful Day band members David and Linda LaFlamme wrote "White Bird"
Janis Ian wrote >most< of her own songs, including "When The Party's Over". she has won 2 grammy awards. she has been nominated for 10 grammys. she has also written commercial jingles, including songs for McDonalds, AT&T, Budweiser, and Coke. looked for songs she wrote for them to no avail. likely due to contract stipulations.
"they'll buy up all your rights and all your wrongs"
"I wrote my first song at 12, was published at 13, made a record at 14, had a hit at 15, and was a has-been at 16. So, 'At Seventeen' means more to me than you can know."
both are Janis Ian quotes...
mitchfit
|
|
|
Post by tomgiemza on May 12, 2024 15:27:41 GMT
Many times "lyric videos" are boring, this one is brilliant:
Cowboys used to write the best funny drinking songs like She's Got A Drinking Problem (and It's Me) by Gary Stewart or She Burnt a Little Roadside Tavern Down by Johnny Russell. Although, this kind of humor used to be very popular in British folk music also.
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 12, 2024 18:12:13 GMT
^^^^ IMO, country music got infected with political correctness about 2010, but seems to be recovering lately.
country boozing songs may be gone but not forgotten--written by Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick.
sang by Willy and Toby:
mitchfit
|
|
|
Post by richclough on May 12, 2024 18:56:35 GMT
Speaking of drinking songs, here’s one of mine Just a little drink Verse 1 Working in that office had really got us down So on Friday evening we went out to paint the town And we danced and laughed and drank in all the pubs and bars Eyes wide in the city lights, dodging round the cars And sometime after midnight, I think I lost my way Friends and colleagues, hangers-on had fallen all away And at four a.m. in Soho, I'm afraid I must confess I was arrested dancing in the road, in a top hat and a dress...singing... Just a little drink to take the edge off Just a little drink to ease the strain On days when life cuts like a knife All you need's a little drink to numb the pain The sergeant at the station seemed like a pleasant chap He said you'll soon be on your way and slapped me on the back But then produced a bottle from his bottom desk drawer And I had a couple of glasses, and then a couple more? He said Rich I have a problem, lots and lots of unsolved crime Can you help me clear it up? So I signed the dotted line And I think that all the constables had had a dram as well They were harmonising sweetly as they chucked me in the cell...singing... Just a little drink to take the edge off Just a little drink to ease the strain On days when life cuts like a knife All you need's a little drink to numb the pain The next thing I remember I was standing in the dock They'd taken away the top hat, but let me keep the frock And the judge was looking at me with an evil stare Said I've never seen such a villain as that drunkard over there Now here I am in prison for years and years and years, Where it's hard to get your hands on brandy, wine or beer So, me and the lads make rotgut whisky in a hidden still, And the prisoners, guards and governor drink it with a will…singing... Just a little drink to take the edge off Just a little drink to ease the strain On days when life cuts like a knife All you need's a little drink to numb the pain It’s here… spotify.link/zZYVc3cTxJbCheers!
|
|
|
Post by mitchfit on May 12, 2024 19:10:54 GMT
"We Three"--Written by: Sammy Mysels, Nelson Cogane, Dick Robertson.
first heard this song in an olde jukebox at a mom-and-pop [Mr. & Mrs Browning] bar and grill within walking distance of a marine hydraulics outfit i worked for on the docks of Ballard, Washington in the mid 1970s. the drive to where i lived on the hillside across I-5 from Boeing Field was about 15 miles, and i learned it only took about a half hour to drive there if i spent about an hour eating at their business until the overwhelming traffic of then Seattle had died down.
in the "Ink Spots" trademark sing+talk+sing style, a great blues lyric resides. perhaps even the prototype of what is called "doo wop" music of the 1950s and the currently mostly non-melodic rap music genre. anyways, loved it and still do. "Fred Sanford" AKA Redd Foxx sang intro into the Ink Spots' tune "If I Didn't Care" many times in Sanford and Son TV series. would guess he loved them also.
seems many others felt the same way---below shamelessly pilfered from WIKI "We Three" entry:
The Ink Spots version was recorded in July 1940 and released on Decca in October (b/w "My Greatest Mistake")
Dolores O'Neill recorded "We Three" with the Bob Chester Orchestra on 14 August 1940 in New York City Ella Fitzgerald, who would later record with The Ink Spots, also recorded the song for Decca in 1940
Brenda Lee recorded "We Three" for her 1960 Decca album This Is...Brenda. Bob Dylan has performed the song in concert three times, twice in 1986 and once in 1988.
Country singer Wayne Hancock covered "We Three" on his 2001 album A-Town Blues. Paul McCartney included the song on his 2012 album of American standards, Kisses On The Bottom with Canadian pianist and singer Diana Krall.
mitchfit
|
|
|
Post by littlebobby on May 13, 2024 9:55:36 GMT
Chris Whitley was quite the poet.
There's a dirt floor underneath here To receive us when changes fail May this shovel loose your trouble Let them fall away Well the mist shall be your blanket While the moss shall ease your head As the future is soon forgotten As the dirt shall be your bed There's a dirt floor underneath here To receive us when changes fail May this shovel loose your trouble Let them fall away
And:
Wake up early on the sacred ground Searchin' the scrapyard for my dirty crown, I been walking A very long time
Baby child up on your mama's knee 35 angels looking after me They been watching With eyes so wide
In a sea of steel I seen a golden glow Screaming the message anyone could know Like a walking translation on a street of lies Singing this scrapyard lullaby
I'm gonna take my time for her riches Wait for the diamonds to ripen in the ditches Of love around here Things are never as they appear
Got a natural pear in my calloused hand Saved for the girl who could really understand What it takes to see The gold from the alchemy
From a rusted hood I seen the stars fall about Screaming the message anyone could find out Like a walking translation down a street of lies Singing these scrapyard lullabies
Hush now baby dream sweet things Mama gonna bring your anvil some wings She will let it go You won't even know
Cause the chrome do rust and the dust do shine Broken could be golden in its very own time You can be sure You won't even know what for
Now I'm down in the junk on a darkened day Searching through the prizes others throw away Like a walking translation on a street of lies Singing these scrapyard lullabies Wake up running on the sacred ground 35 angels leading her around, like a Walking translation down a street of lies Singing this scrapyard lullaby Singing this scrapyard lullaby
|
|