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TLDR

INSPIRATION and DEVELOPMENT
This song is my response to our group songwriting challenge to use the chord progression C - G - D - A - E featured in 'Hey Joe' by Jimmi Hendrix. You can see K-Dub Ya’s response to that challenge here.

I was inspired by the Neil Finn penned song 'One step ahead' by NZ band Split Enz which inspired the bass, rhythm guitar and synth parts - the latter being a nod to Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner. For those interested, here is a link to One step ahead where you can hear the wonderful synth work by Eddie Rayner.

Lyrically, the song is about how my wife and I made sacrifices (not purely financial) from our younger years - a classic 'hare and tortoise' tale, thus giving rise to the thumbnail pic used. The style of music has a [?] feel to it, and while the message of the lyrics is a positive one, I can sometimes look back on my past with feelings of grief or loss that I will not live those times again. The guitar solo is used to move time ahead quickly through life events, and this is also reflected in the bridge 'Time can move at two speeds – sometimes fast, and meanwhile slow'.

RECORDING
Style is _FRAGMNT.STY (Fragment Torpid-Strum Slo Grunge) - tracks with strikeout were not used.
RealTracks in song: 1009:Bass, Electric, HardRockThrash Ev 085 – replaced by my bass
RealTracks in style: 667:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SouthernRock Ev 085 (A:sync)
RealTracks in style: 3736:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungeSlowDistPower8ths Ev 080
RealTracks in song: 5020:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockSlowChugAB ev 90
RealTracks in song: 4157:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModCountryPopSoftPowerChug Ev 090 - replaced by my rhythm guitar
RealTracks in song: 3348:Guitar, Electric, Soloist HazyBallad ev16 070 – used during Solo and chorus 4 only with 'Doubler' impulse response using ReaVerb
RealDrums in style:RockSouthernEv^1-a:Snare, Open HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Other RealTracks used in song:
The following synths were only used in sections of the song:
VERSE 2
2582 Synth Rhythm Muted Melody Ev16
CHORUS 1
2265 Synth Bell Pad Rhythm 80s Pop Melodic Ev
2267 Synth Bell Pad Rhythm 80s Pop Melodic Ev
VERSE 3
2326 Synth Background JazzFunk Lead Ev
5047 Synth Rhythm Hyperwave Edge 16 Pulse Ev16
5051 Synth Background PinkLights Bendy Melodic Ev16
SOLO
2581 Synth Rhythm Pop Bell 8ths Ev
CHORUS 2
1742 Synth Rhythm Modern Dance PopRave Strings Held Ev
BRIDGE
5045 Synth Rhythm Hyperwave 16 Stabber Ev16
5046 Synth Background Hyperwave Simple Melodies Ev16
CHORUS 3
2746 Synth Rhythm AltHipHop Pad 8ths Ev16 – Chorus 3
CHORUS 4
2746 Synth Rhythm AltHipHop Pad 8ths Ev16 – Chorus 3
1749 Synth Rhythm Modern Dance PopOctave 16ths A-B Ev

My recordings used in song:
Rhythm guitar – chugging style + double in Bridge
Guitar tremolo in Bridge
Bass – with low pass to remove fret noise
Vocal doubled, but second set -7.5db and 18% left
Harmony vocal in Verse 3

Mixed and arranged in Reaper.

LYRICS
(Lyrics and chords in attachment)
VERSE 1
Though it took its time and I sacrificed so much
It’s given all I touch
I don’t have to pretend, it’s all worth it in the end

VERSE 2
Walking by my side, you kept the dream from red
The wound was in my head
Scars will start to mend, it’s all worth it in the end

CHORUS 1
Seems such a long time ago, what did we see? What did we know?
Appearing such a long way to go, who would we be? How would we grow?

VERSE 3
Playing hard to get, our pockets filled with hands
But it wasn’t sands
We never were to bend, it’s all worth it in the end

CHORUS 2
Seems such a long time ago, what did we see? What did we know?
Appearing such a long way to go, who would we be? How would we grow?

BRIDGE
Time can move at two speeds – sometimes fast, and meanwhile slow
Love can also take its time and moving quick will turn out fine for all

CHORUS 3
Seems such a long time ago, what did we see? What did we know?
Appearing such a long way to go, who would we be? How would we grow?
Seems such a long time ago, what did we see? What did we know?
Appearing such a long way to go, who would we be? How would we grow?

Cool song, Andrew. Definitely captured that Split Enz vibe. The Finn brothers are amazing.

Super theme and lyrics. A very clean arrangement, though I can see/hear that a LOT of work went into building the sections. It all fits together seamlessly and sounds GREAT.

Love your vocals and vocal FX chain on this. Quite a lovely sound and worth repeating in my opinion.

Another bright, shiny pop gem. Love it.

Andrew,

You have an amazing ability to create these pop wonders. This is an awesome song and performance. Love the arrangement and mix as well.

So well done!

Bob

Pretty cool song, even though I wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first.
But it really grows on you.
A good story of life well told (and sung) in a slightly mysterious way.
Interesting (and I mean that in a positive way)

Hey, Andrew. I liked it right away! The unusual placement of chords, the synths, pulsating beats, the different sounds. It made me think, Wow! I'd like to try that!
John

Good song. I liked the subject matter, a worthy topic if ever there was one. Enjoyed my listen.

Thanks Ron! Finn Brothers ‘Everyone is here’ album is a cracker! I was pleasantly surprised after auditioning the identified synth tracks and choosing what-went-where how well they worked. There is some magic in those tracks that I cannot take credit for, but they added a great deal to the song.
Thank you so much Bob for your comments! I have always wanted to write songs that listeners will like, but also aware that the styles I write in are not in everyone’s cup-of-tea.
Thanks B.D.! As I think I said in my song summary, I look back on the years that have whizzed by with joy, relief, and some sadness, so I knew I needed a style that was not going to be all sweets and bubbles. I do like to write oblique lyrics that can be interpreted in different ways, and sometimes I luck it with lyrics that have a meaning even better than I intended.
Thanks John! When the songwriting task was set, I did scratch my head how I was going to break away from the distinctive sound of ‘Hey Joe’ from that chord progression, but I think it’s taken on a life of its own.
Thanks Rob! I am ever so grateful for the cards I’ve been dealt and how we’ve played them.

Thank you all for listening and your comments!
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

The intro is a great homage to the Enz and One Step Ahead in particular. I really love the wall of sound with all the various synth tracks…and there were quite a few! A very “life in review” song lyrically and set to a very mysterious tone that you wouldn’t normally associate with a reflective song. I hear what you’re saying about feeling a sense of loss that you won’t have those times again. It’s a period of life that flies by in retrospect and we wish we could have spent more time in the moment. But better to have had those times and the memories, than not at all. It was interesting and eye opening how each of us interpreted the progression in totally different ways, it makes you wonder how much mileage there is in just one chord progression. This was good to hear through your studio speakers too, the audio impact you get from higher output speakers is well worth the investment. A good song and write Andrew, sung and played well…it was Worth It In The End.

Kind regards.

PS. Thank you for adding my link…it feels like double dipping!!

I really like the song, which sometimes sounds like a lament, certainly linked to the harmonies that underpin it. Beautiful work.
Laurent

Hi Andrew, these songs remind me of English pop songs from the 70s. I can't remember the names of the bands or singers anymore, only the feelings I had about them. They were special, their stories too, and the vocals were typical of that style. And you imitate that in an amazing way! Very well done, the lyrics too!

You either love it or you hate it! Well, I love it... right now ❤

Hans

Thanks Lee. Sometimes I don’t want the memories to come back - particularly of things that I cringe at - stupid things said and done. But other memories - I can sometimes get quite emotional.

I genuinely look forward to the ‘reveal’ when the three of us show what we’ve come up with - such differences, but such delights!
Thank you my friend.

Thank you Laurent - ‘lament’ is an apt word because there certainly is that aspect to my memories, amongst other grateful emotions.
Hi Hans! I don’t set out to imitate those vocal styles, but having grown up in the 60s and 70s, I was immersed in it for so long that it probably comes of its own volition. And I’m appreciative that you love it right now!

Thank you all for listening and commenting!
Andrew

Andrew, a story set to music that I can relate. Great vocal, backing band, mix, but the lyrics took it over the top for me. I believe some of your struggles make ours. A great song.

Cool song, Andrew. I like when you guys are doing the same challenge. Much fun. Excellent lyrics from the germ of an idea. OH, YES!! It was defoinitely worth it. Looking back on those times with a sense of grief that they are gone is a testament to how important and good they were in the development. I also enjoyed the lethargic pace as if to keep the past in the present, which you've done very well. Much enjoyed.

We had to go and listen to those song references. Cool journey.
We like everything about this.

For us the arrangement is stellar and difficult to imagine the amount of thought that went into it.
So many changes on each verse with the synth, etc.

This is a fine mix and your instrumental/vocal performances are standout.

We get the English pop vibe that Hans mentioned and it is well done.

Great narrative and a very supportive video.

Thanks for the interesting back story.

Excellent listen and watch!

J&B

PS: Great narrative ... something we've seen with friends.
J&B has been through tough times with aging and now passed on parents but never had a single issue between the two of us.
For 46 years. We like to say we won life's lotto. Noel noted our use of that phrase and wrote a song about it years ago.

Thanks for listening Mario. I don’t want to over-emphasise the challenges. In the main, I’ve (we’ve - my wife and I) had a very good life, and very happy at where we find ourselves - just hoping in our years ahead that we can think and act beyond ourselves and help others. I hope my music plays a small role in that.

Thanks Marty! I think I can speak for the three of us - me, K-Dub Ya (Lee) and Mike (not on this forum) that we look forward to our session roughly every 5 or 6 weeks - and always pleasantly surprised by what each of us come up with. Our next challenge is to write a song that tells a story. I suspect there’ll be a couple of song posts arising from that.
Thanks J&B! Well done on your 46 years! It really comes through that you two are a good team and enjoy spending time together and doing the same things. My partner - Alison - and I just recently celebrated 41 years of marriage and we couldn’t image not being together.

Thank you to all for listening and your comments!
Andrew

Andrew

Superb
Love that bass
And your vocals

This sounds like a track from the end of the Beatles era- written and sung by John Lennon
Not sure there are better compliments than that

Really enjoyed that

.fj

Indeed, there are not. Thank you so much Floyd! While I am sure my song is a poor imitation, for it to remind you of that era and music is a wonderful thing.
Thanks for listening!
Andrew