And so the madness that is February begins...I am going to post all my songs in this thread so as not to clog up the forum. Comments, tips and suggestions are as always much appreciated.

Song number 1
My first song was inspired partly by a post I saw on Facebook the other day and partly by one of my favourite singer-songwriters that Donald put me onto - Townes Van Zandt and his song Techumseh Valley.



The band:


RealTracks in style: 1036:Bass, Electric, NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 2335:String Quartet, Rhythm PopHall Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1595:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Pop8thsSteady Ev 065
RealTracks in style: ~1676:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 065
RealDrums in style: NashvillePop16^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
RT1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065

Chords and lyrics
Capo 2

Em C
G
Raised in a small town
C Em
Loved boys and dogs and also old things
G
Museums and houses
C D
and unfamilar roads and what they bring

Em
And how she always yearn for
G
the love of a boy
Em
But they would only use her
G
like a worn out toy
D
thrown away

Chorus
G
Those diamond blue eyes
D
burned into your soul
Am
Damaged in the center
C
where hope had left a hole
G D
They say that she had a way with people
Am C D
But I say they had their way with her

G D Am C

G
She learned to let go
C Em
Never waiting for one of them to stay
G
They used her and left her
C D
Left her all alone to find her way

Em
And wander she did
G
From beds both big and small
Em
No-one that can claim her
G
There's no-one there at all
D
Anyway

G
Those diamond blue eyes
D
burned into your soul
Am
Damaged in the center
C
where hope had left a hole
G D

really nice song. sad story.

Good job writing on this. Introspective lyrics.

Wow - really well done, Joanna I particularly enjoyed the lyrics here. You painted a vivid story extremely well, and it definitely helped the music behind it hit harder. And of course, your voice here is flawless! It was really awesome to see you do this live too.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Really good, Joanne! Great write and performance, love the harmonies!

Really nice vocals and harmonies. Like the smooth melody. Love Townes VanZandt's music.

I can't help but notice that it looks like we use the same mic! It's a good one, isn't it? We used to use it to record our radio plays and voice over samples with it. But -- back to the song! This one really resonated with me and I was very moved by this song. Thank you so much for sharing with us!

Awesome vocal, lyric and backtrack Joanne. Loved it

Herb - Thank you. I always appreaciate you commenting on my songs.

Deryk. Thanks.It is getting easier to do the videos as I go along so I am going to try and keep doing them for FAWM.

BlueAttitude - My harmonies are something I have been working on recently so I appreciate the comments.

Donna - Thanks. Van Zandt left us too early like so many wonderful musicians.

Ember - the mic is a samson meteor USB mic. Very simple setup that works quite well for these types of projects.

Scott - Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it.

Song Number 2 - The Eye of the Storm



These lyrics were provided by Arhtur Rossi.

The band:
RealTracks in style: ~518:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1403:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Soul70sWarmHeld Ev16 100

Chords and lyrics:
Capo 3

(D) We are still fine and we are still young,
all that we ever want is just to have some fun
(Em) we know that it won´t last forever even here and now
and (D) still it travels on forever here we are now
And (G) life goes (D) by so (A) fast
in the (G) eye (D) of the (A) storm…

(Chorus)
We are…
(D) flying and fal (Bm) ling,
dying and ca(G) lling…
we were dying from the (A) day we were born…
We are…
(D) shifting begin (Bm) ning
drifting and spin (G) ning…
but we´ll never (A) forget… the eye of the (D) storm…

(D) So us Let´s live it up and let us live for now,
we know that there´s no other way no other way how
(Em) one could change their fate, it won´t happen yet
and (D) still you see that we´re not yet there we're not done yet
there is (G) still a (D) lovely (A) sun
in the (G) eye (D) of the (A) storm…

We are…
(D) flying and fal (Bm) ling,
dying and ca(G) lling…
we were dying from the (A) day we were born…
We are…
(D) shifting begin (Bm) ning
drifting and spin (G) ning…
but we´ll never (A) forget… the eye of the (D) storm…

Joanne,

Two very good songs to kick off- Diamond Blue Eyes is a powerful story. Really liked those lyrics!
Your production process must be finely tuned to get these songs down ( with harmonies,of course!) in quick order.
The simple video presentation gives a nice live feel.

Robert

Hi Robert

It is getting easier to make the videos. All I do is record on my iPhone while I am recording the lead vocal. I have my chords and lyrics loaded onto
www.mysonglist.com playing on my iPad mounted just below my iPhone.

I record a few takes of the lead vocal into RealBand using the usb mic and into the iPhone at the same time. (I don’t bother to video record me singing the harmonies). Then I choose the best take of the lead vocal and record some harmonies, mix it down and produce a wav file of the audio. I then bring the audio and the video into Videopad, line them up and mute the audio from the iPhone.

The harmonies is something I have been working on. I always struggled to sing live harmonies and this method is helping me with that too. I just choose a string on my guitar to sing the harmony to (so say the melody is generally around the G string on the guitar, I choose the B string and sing the harmony around that string, all the way through the song. So say the song goes from G to Em, I just sing the B note. When it goes to C, I sing the C.

I learn the harmonies by singing the song from start to finish along that string and then slowly turning up the volume on the lead vocal. I then record the harmony all the way though and simply cut out the parts where the timing had gone a bit wonky.

Then I repeat the process choosing a different string on the guitar. In that way I end up with lead vocal and two harmonies.

Here is song number 3. It is called "The Same Old Clouds"



I used the good old "ice cream" chords on this one mainly because those are the only chords I can play on my ukulele

The band:
RealTracks in style: ~1136:Bass, Acoustic-Guitar, FolkSwing Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~1142:Ukulele, Strumming FolkSwing Sw 110
RealTracks in style: 2715:Guitar, Nylon, Background SwingBrent Sw 110
RealDrums-TambourineSwing8ths

Lyrics and chords:
(G) You look to the east
(Em) I yearn for the west
(C) when we are together
we (D) argue what is best

(G) why are we still quarrelling
(Em) why do we still fight
we (C) want to be different
we (D) want to be right

(C) But if you (D) think about it

(G) we all wish on the (C) same blue moon
(D) make love under the (G) same dark sky
we bask bask bask on the (C) same burned earth
and (D) everybody sees the same old clouds pass (G) by

You can speak in colours
(Em) I talk black and white
the (C) Gaps can make us whole again
dis(D)tinctions make us right

(G) if you see it logically
(Em) its hard to point the blame
(C) Things that make us different
(D) make us all the same

(C) AND if you (D) think about it

(G) we all wish on the (C) same blue moon
(D) make love under the (G) same dark sky
we bask bask bask on the (C) same burned earth
and (D) everybody sees the same old clouds pass (G) by

Joanne,

Listened to Song #1 - really nice. Good melody, simple and memorable, and a good lyric. Really nice production for the song type, too. Well sung, well mixed. (Townes is great inspiration...).

Will try to catch up on the rest later.

fj

Hi Joanne,

I'm listening to song #3 as I type this.

I love the ukulele. It's a great fit with these lyrics.

The lines, "Things that make us different, make us all the same" are stunning. They had me thinking quite a bit after the song had finished.

All the best with FAWM. I so admire you for taking that on.

Best wishes for the journey,
Noel

Hello, Joanne. I listened to the first song. Lots of great lines in this one. The production is well-done and your vocal heart-felt.

much enjoyed.

Listened to all three posted.

There's a lot to like in them...even if they weren't so rapidly written!

I like the way you are presenting them with live video.

Nice!

J&B

PS The uke is supper cool!

Floyd, Noel, Janice and Bud and Lawrence. Thanks for listening and commenting. I appreciate it.

I hit a bit of a "road block" the other day when another FAWMer sent me some lyrics that I just couldn't do anything with (no matter what I tried). I eventually recorded a rather dark Elvis Costello "I want you" type of thing which was rather awful and I wont even post here or on FAWM.

Anyway Sam is on a roll and just listening to the marvelous stuff he is delivering helped motivate me to get back in the saddle. So here are the next three.

The first one is just a little bit of fun (and rather suggestive for me!). It is called "Hey Hey What do you say"



Lyrics
Hey hey what do you say?
lets get away
Why should we stay?

My my how we can fly
just you and I
if we only try

Hey leave a little light on, leave an little love on for me
Baby gotta get our love on, gottta get a light on for me

Oh oh what do we know
where this will go?
if we dont go slow

Hey Hey is getting late
hey sugar hey
what do you say?

chorus

oh oh its just you and me
I like what i see
What will it be?

Hey hey come into my bed
The nights still ahead
You hear what I said?

Tracks:
RealTracks in style: ~592:Bass, Acoustic Bluegrass Doc Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 2546:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm OldTime Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: 2545:Banjo, Clawhammer, Rhythm OldTime Ev16 110
RealTracks in song: ~~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealDrums in Song: PopAmericanEv^1-a:SS 1/2 BB, b:Snare Half BB

The second is a classic country song around the "She has no luck with men and has turned into an alcoholic" type of thing. No video for this one as I followed my normal production technique which included using a pop filter, comping the vocal from various takes, tuning the vocal and not playing the guitar while recording vocals, (all of which make making a live video type thing a lot harder!)

So here is the soundcloud link.

HE'S TAKEN TOMORROW

Lyrics:
She walked through the door
and sat at the table
looked out of the window
there were tears in her eyes

Said I thought I had found
Someone who is able
To give me the love I
I always thought 1 deserved

and i think I know
whats coming my way
I think I know
what she's going to say

And the circle turns on
and each time it goes
It leaves her more broken
And everyone knows

The tide always turns
And the water runs out
he's taken tomorrow
And he's taken her heart

She looks in her handbag
I'm wondering why
pulls out a mirror
and looks in her own eyes

And then changes her mind
and pulls out a bottle
I make out a shudder
as she tries to hold out

and i think I know
Whats shes going through
and i think I know
What I need to do

Tracks:
RealTracks in style: ~700:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~365:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1875:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 085
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat
RT363:Pedal Steel, Background Ev 085
RT689:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 085

Last one for now..

These lyrics were submitted by the incredible lyricist Liz Petty. Just a sweet little lullaby..

LOVE SONG SINGS

Lyrics and chords:
(G) (D) (G) (D)
light of (Em) stars
take (D) hold
shine (C) away
glow..(G) bright

stay (Em) strong
be (D) bold...
be (C) soft...
to(G)night

oh...(C) light of stars
shine ton(D)ight

C
ohh..oh..
(G) star lights (C) shine
(Em) dream wings (C) fly
(G) love song (D) sings
(G) sweet lull(D)abies

(G) love song (D) sings
(G) (D)

V2
wings of (Em) dreams
take (D) hold
fly (C) away...
soar (G) high...

stay (Em) strong
be (D) bold...
be (C) free...
to(G) night

oh..(C) wings of dreams
fly to(D) night
ohh..oh..

(G) star lights (C) shine
(Em) dream wings (C) fly
(G) love song (D) sings
(G) sweet lull(D)abies

(G) love song (D) sings
(G) (D)


V3
song of (Em) love
take (D) hold
sing (C) away
play (G) nigh

stay (Em) strong
be (D) bold...
be (C) kind...
ton(G) ight

ohh.. (C) songs of love
sing to(D)night

oh..(C) wings of dreams
fly to(D) night

ohh..oh..

(G) star lights (C) shine
(Em) dream wings (C) fly

(G) love song (D) sings
(G) sweet lull(D)abies

(G) love song (D) sings
(G) dream wings (D) fly

(G) as star light (D) shines
(G) for you to(D)night

(G) love song (D) sings
(G) sweet lull(D)abies

Tracks:
RealTracks in style: ~518:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~542:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dreamy Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 2820:Harp, Rhythm ClassicalSlow8ths Ev 085
RT1814:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CelticAir Ev 085
RT2511:Violin, Background PopEvenHigh Ev 120 (1TrackStringQu

He`s Taken Tomorrow is a real heart tugger - well told story with a chorus that sounds like classic country . The organ works well and your vocals beautiful... they`re pretty good on the spontaneous Hey Hey too;jumping into an unfamiliar style a good way to loosen the cogs!
I`m a big lullaby fan: Love Song Sings is gorgeous and my favourite of these three ...ooh those overlapping vocal lines just floated me away.

Robert

Joanne,

Love Song Sings sounds great. You've captured the lullaby feel really well. It's a very restful sound that you've created. Kudos to you and Liz!

Regards,
Noel

Hi, Jo !:))

I listened to all of them
and they are all good
and you sound excellent on
all of them !

If I have to pick a favourite
I guess it would be Love Song Sings !!

Good luck with FAWM !!!!
Keep my thumbs up for you !!

Cheers
Dani

I had a little bit of "fawmus interuptus" when I went to Egypt with 12 wonderful ladies from university and from school. What an amazing trip and definitely one that I can recommend. For those who are Facebook friends there are some quick videos I made on my page.

So the long and the short of it is that I don't think I am going to get to 14. (I also had someone contact me about producing a few songs for her...so now I guess I am a producer, starting on Monday!!)

Anyway, here are two that I wrote today. The lyrics were provided by the wonderful and prolific Liz Petty.

AH HA MOMENT

Lyrics:
V1
when you realize
cola with chocolate ice cream
tastes better than
root beer floats

when you realize
rainbows with summer down pours
are better than
either alone

C1
it's a little ah-ha moment
one that takes us by surprise
just a little ah-ha moment
ah-ha that brings delight

V2
when you realize
others' needs joys successes
are better for
all to own

when you realize
hard work that brings real change
is better than
what is known

C2
it's a little ah-ha moment
one that takes us by surprise
just a little ah-ha moment
ah-ha that brings delight

V3
when you realize
women open hearts to give
are better for
love to grow

when you realize
passion with lifetime lovers
is better than
leaving home

C3
it's a little ah-ha moment
one that takes us by surprise
just a little ah-ha moment
ah-ha that brings delight

it's a special ah-ha moment
one that takes us by its weight
a very special ah-ha moment
ah-ha that brings us strength

it's a little ah-ha moment
one that takes us by surprise
just a little ah-ha moment
ah-ha that brings delight

Tracks:
RealTracks in style: ~1136:Bass, Acoustic-Guitar, FolkSwing Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~1142:Ukulele, Strumming FolkSwing Sw 110
RealDrums in style: NashvilleBrushesHillbillySwing: a: Sidestick, Brushesb: Brushes, Stick
RT2706:Ukulele, Rhythm FolkSwingBallad Sw 085

Here is the second one I wrote today. Lyrics by Liz Petty.

I WOULD HAVE

V1
remember the time
we waterskied in the rain?
had I known it was the last time
I would have gone around again
I would have jumped more wakes
I would have

V2
remember the time
we swam in the Adriatic Sea?
had I known it was the last time
I would have jumped from thirty feet high
and would have swam until moon rose
I would have

C
I would have loved you
more fully and fiercely
I would have taken
more vulnerable risks
I would have let you in closer
I would have opened my soul deeper
as we kissed

V3
remember the time
we made love beneath August stars?
had I known it was the last time
I would have let down my guard
and kissed you slowly
I would have

V4
remember the time
we parted but promised to return?
had I known it was the last time
I never would have agreed to those terms
I would have asked you to stay
I would have

C
I would have loved you
more fully and fiercely
I would have taken
more vulnerable risks
I would have let you in closer
I would have opened my soul deeper
as we kissed

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: ~700:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~365:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1875:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 085
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat
RT363:Pedal Steel, Background Ev 085
RT689:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 085

Feedback from someone on FAWM said "I Would Have" would be much better with just piano and strings so I just quickly substituted the tracks and produced this version. Completely different! Isnt BIAB amazing?

I WOULD HAVE (PIANO VERSION)

Hi Joanne, Nice to hear of your wanderings. What a great adventure. Love this song "I Would Have" has a really great message. My favorite is your first recording with all the other instruments. Of course it's my personal preference of a more folky country sound. Nice vocals also.

Time to get a few more in...This one is for all you drummers out there.... Wonderful lyrics written by John (I dont know his surname yet) who goes by the name "oneslowtyper" on FAWM.

This one was alot of fun putting together.

NOBODY KNOWS THE DRUMMER

Lyrics:
(V1)
Learns to play when he was young - tin cans and some lids
wants to be a drummer... just like his Daddy did.
Was told about the old days... good times and the bad
Said nothing beats a drummer, but at times you're driven MAD...

So why be a drummer....
You'll end up giving more than you’ll gain
You have the heartbeat of a drummer
More concerned with tempo than with fame


(V2)
You want to be a drummer... your visions are so grand
You sit behind the others, even though it is your band
And if you hit the big time, money and some fame
The fans know every member... but not the drummers name…

(Chorus)
So why be a drummer....
You'll end up giving more than you’ll gain
You have the heartbeat of a drummer
More concerned with tempo than with fame

(Bridge)
The singer's in the spotlight – belting out some rhyme
All the band depends on you, to keep them all in time
then the set is over ladies are enthralled
Thats when the singer gets first pick - you just get last call........

Solo

(Chorus)
So why be a drummer....
You'll end up giving more than you’ll gain
You have the heartbeat of a drummer
More concerned with tempo than with fame

Does anyone know... the drummer's name…………..

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: 2421:Bass, Acoustic, RockabillySlapBoomChicka Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 2777:Pedal Steel, Background TrainBeatEddy12-key Ev16 090
RealTracks in style: ~595:Fiddle, Rhythm Bluegrass Doc Ev 100 (Shuffles)
RealTracks in style: 668:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SouthernRock Ev 085 (B:steady)
RealDrums in style: BoomChickaEv16^07-a: Rods, Train, b: Simple Kick, Snare

Joanne,

I Would Have is a fine song - in both versions ( I`d give the nod to the solo piano version show casing the lyrics and capturing the wistful feeling a liitle more).Your cowrites with Liz Petty are outstanding.

Robert

Joanne,

Some really nice songs here. I particularly like I Would Have. I think I prefer the piano version. More intimate, and fits the lyrics better to me. I always look forward to hearing your songs. Great job of "cranking them out"!

Steve

Hi Noel, Robert, Steven, Donna and Dani

Thanks so much for listening. Only two more days to go (4 more songs still though...)

Here is song number 10 and I think it is my favourite. These lyrics were also provided by John (Oneslowtyper) and were incredibly easy to sing. Sometimes simple is better. Only two realtracks in this one.

ONE PIECE

Lyrics:
You took a piece...
And passed it around
You left a fragment...
On the ground

He's only pieces...
He is not whole
You took a piece...
And left him cold

What is a man...
If he's not whole
He's just a footnote...
In somebodys tome
He's not the whole man...
He was before...
He lost a piece...
When you closed the door

Solo

You took a part...
Of what he could be
A little fragment...
And now he bleeds

He's just a half-note...
In somebody's song
When you're half a man...
Where do you belong

What is a man...
If he's not whole
He's just a footnote...
In someone's tome
He's not the whole man...
He was before...
He lost a piece...
When you closed the door

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: 1036:Bass, Electric, NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
RealTracks in style: ~702:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Spirited Ev 065