All The Nothing I Want

"That doesn`t make sense" my 10 yr old commented, reading the title to this song. He wasn`t impressed with my " some good things don`t make sense" response, but the guy in this Retire In Paradise tale seems to be getting the hang of it.

Style is _CELTHOP.STY (Celt-hop Sw16 Celtic w Drum Loop)

RealTracks in style: ~2475:Bass, Acoustic, HeldSimple Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1837:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGrooveHeld Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1412:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticHornpipe Sw16 070
RealTracks in style: 2206:Bouzouki, Rhythm CelticHornpipe Sw16 070
Loop in Song: HipHop\Old School - biggie_beat_85d drums sw16.wav
RealDrums in style: BrushesBoomChickSlowSw16: a: Brushes Smoothb: Brushes Boom
lots of loops



All The Nothing I Want

when you can explain your dream last night to me
I`ll tell you how got to Eden from the scrap heap
a crank with a permanent toothache
a suitcase and the watch they gave

not one of your Ten Best Boutique Hotels
my house is all tin broken bricks and shells
between the temple and the tangle
snoozing where cobras dangle
in this heaven of green
under the red Flame Tree

standing in the rain til the crazy washes off
night takes wing to a chorus of frogs
I`ve got time
I`ve got time
for all the nothing I want

its a long way from all I once aspired
a tidy lot on the Truman Show where I`d retire
among totems taboos and demons
I`m painting girls like Gauguin

`til monks throw my worry lines
on the burning ground fire I`m resigned
like a toddler with a toy plane
I`ll tinker with my songs in the slow lane
where the sea`s as blue as the sky
another stranger in the Land of Smiles

standing in the rain til the crazy washes off
night takes wing to a chorus of frogs
trying to read the signs for left and right
children stare even dogs take fright
I`ve got time
I`ve got time
for all the nothing I want

© Robert Cordrey Oct.2018

Wonderful images. More wonderful because I get it. "Standing in the rain till the crazy washes off".

That style was a great choice/find as it has many of the poppy, percussive elements of Issan. Your vocal is meditative and the song form dreamlike. Chok dee, my friend. Loved this.

Lovely song Robert. Loved the frog croaking. Cool chord structure. Some very cool sounds going on in the background. The dissonant Bouzouk ticking was very cool. Super vocal and mix sounds great on the headphones.

Super song and a fantastic write,

I don't get a lot of it I"m not ashamed to say

but I love the images playing in my head

"I`ll tinker with my songs in the slow lane"

this line made me smile right away

`til monks throw my worry lines
on the burning ground fire I`m resigned
like a toddler with a toy plane

crazy good writing

loved the overall sound

Kenny

This song had some really beautiful imagery. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.

Interesting story. Being recently retired I can understand the time, the cleansing, the appreciation of place and relocation.
Well done.

Robert

Lovely imagery and a nice melody. Some inspired instrument choices and sounds. Enjoyed the vocal and all the elements of the song came together really well.
Very nice work all round.

Peter

Nice work Robertkc, The different elements really glue well together and the instruments are layered nicely. That guitar tone is very warm! The Bouzouki is a very unique and great vocals too. Looking forward to hear more!

Nice work Really inventive, and definitely a unique listen. Extremely imaginative - loved the progressions, and your vocal delivery on this. The aura of the tune is really cozy - can't think of a better way to describe it.

You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing!

I think it was your comment on having Western & Thai music playing in L&R speakers that made me give the impossible synthesis another try on this; if only I could find a vst for that cool electric guitar sound that all the Luk Thung music has.
I know you get it...I wrote this `cos I can`t wait to get back to it!

Robert



Thank you, Scott!




Kenny,

You made my day with those comments - so good to know its not too obscure!

Robert

Nice chord changes and melody and cool imagery as always, Robert.

Some of it went over my head to be honest, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment.

Favorite line:

"not one of your Ten Best Boutique Hotels
my house is all tin broken bricks and shells
between the temple and the tangle
snoozing where cobras dangle"

And I also liked the reference to the Truman show!

One of your best vocals I think and production sounded good too.

I know I'm always in for something unique and original when I listen to one of your songs, and this one is no exception, well done.

Thanks for listening, Ember!



I`m glad you found the story among the images in this...and wish you a happy retirement!

Robert

I think Scott was reading my mind - I couldn't have expressed my thoughts better. That was a really cool listen!!! The lyric, the vocal, the mix, the band - all spot on. Nicely done.

Alan

Thank you for the listen and positive comments, Peter!



Joe,
It surprised me that the bouzouki somehow works when I steered this towards SE Asia!
Thanks for your thumbs up!

Robert

It makes sense to me Robert!! Really cool song here!! Some wonderful lyrical images and a passionate vocal. Really, really like this!! I remember telling my daughter I wrote a song for her and her brother (she was about 9 or 10). She was very excited about it. I played if for her and she said "that doesn't make any sense". Maybe it will to her someday. Great stuff here!! Take care. Greg

Deryk,
"cozy" yes, I guess that fits the guy in this song. Glad you liked it!

Dave,
Writing about another culture with details you are always risking being obscure.
I appreciate your careful listen and am happy some lines resonated.
With all this jumping around between styles its unlikely I`ll get pigeonholed!

Robert

I don’t remember ever hearing such an East meets West song being posted hear. Retirement dreams of jungle and beaches. A haunting vocal and wildly dissonant sounds and effects make this a compelling listen. Not to mention the challenging artful lyrics. You are certainly inventive and I always look forward to your offerings. Nicely done, Tom

An interesting grouping of instruments and a cool sound.

A thought provoking write. Nice vocal and a good mix.

I enjoyed the listen.

Robert,

Very nice retirement dream!
Wonderful song!
Your vocal is very hunting.
It is certainly dissonant a little bit as music theory, but bouzouki and the other additional loops are very comfortable.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Robertkc,

Really like your vocal on this—subdued but compelling; and an inviting melody. Poetic and engaging lyrics—love the “time for all the nothing I want” line, notwithstanding the opinion of a ten year old, who likely knows better than all of us! From a production standpoint—and this is totally subjective—I’d like to hear this a little cleaner, sans some of the effect you have going on. Just something to thing about—use or lose.

Really liked my listen here. Well done!

Kind regards,

Deej

"`til monks throw my worry lines
on the burning ground fire I`m resigned
like a toddler with a toy plane
I`ll tinker with my songs in the slow lane
where the sea`s as blue as the sky
another stranger in the Land of Smiles"

Wow, that is striking and hard to shake loose. Great write and hits home for us two retirees. And quite the title/hook!

The band and the mix are very much in concert with your emotive vocal.

We've thrown the bouzouki in several productions and have always been impressed by how well it seems to find its place.

Strong and memorable production!

J&B

Thanks, Alan!



Greg,
I`m glad you understood.
Many of us songwriters toil in obscurity - with the faint hope that our kids will one day
"discover" Dad or Mum`s talent! In the interim I`m going for the bliss in retirement.

Robert



Tom,
I tried using a Thai folk instrument on an earlier song- you got it right, they can be "wildly dissonant"! I`m happy my tinkering with styles keeps you coming back.

Robert



Floyd,
Thank you for your listen and likes.

Robert

Shigeki,

I`m glad you enjoyed my musical retirement dream!

Robert



Thank you, Deej.
I get why you`d find some arrangement effects not to your taste. I could have done it much simpler... but since living in SE Asia I`ve had this bug about trying to do East meets West, so had to get it out of my system.
I appreciate your listen and comments.

Robert

J&B,

I`m happy you found something in this that translates to the retirement choices you`ve made and appreciate the positive comments.
I just listened again ( always leave them for a week after mixing to freshen the view on returning) and I`m not happy with the chorus vocals now. Something about a swing beat I fight with on vocals.
Oh well...back to this later.

Robert

I'm late to the party so everything that I wanted to say already has been said. All I can add is that I really liked those lyrics. They took it over the top for me.

Great write!

Robert,

A really lovely song. Great lyrics.
And we like the bouzouki and we love.... the frogs

Rob and Anne-Marie

Rob & Anne-Marie; Glad you enjoyed this (those frogs are waaay more deafening than they sound in the song!)

Mario; Thanks for giving this a listen and commenting.

Robert