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One of my very oldies - my records are unclear, but the verse melody and chords were written somewhere in 1981 - 82 when I was 19 or 20, and about 4 years into playing guitar. After rediscovering it in March 2024 in an old songwriting book I had in my archives, I ditched the original lyrics because they were 'naff' - obviously meaningful to me at the time, but upon reflection, trivial in the scheme of things. However, this song evoked a sentimental melancholy, so I have chosen to use this sentiment (looking back on my past) to inform the new lyrics. Besides the words, the music section containing the title is new, as is the arrangement.
Lyrically, the title 'March from early November' assumes a lifetime is expressed in the calendar months of a single year, and I wrote 'looking back on March' (late teens/early twenties) from my current position in early November (my sixties).
The first verse dwells on some clumsy things I have said over the years that still make me cringe. 'Left it at the railway station' refers to these as unresolved matters. The verse ends with 'choose another line' - wanting to avoid putting my foot in my mouth again.
The second verse deals with finding a balance between passions and loves that are sometimes competing for time and attention. I was writing songs and playing music in my teens and twenties, and I could have allowed this to occupy my time, but I chose to focus on family, work and financial security and push musical interests to one side ('I thought the hill was too hard to climb, so I settled for a lesser view; truth be told my time was running short'). Now in my later years, I have the joy of returning to music ('I rediscovered climbing gear I used to know') while having the joy of family around me and seeing their own lives develop, but at the cost of my health that impacts on my ability to 'climb'. However, I wouldn't have it any other way.
This feeds into the third verse/chorus where I express the joy that relationships bring, despite pain, loss and hardships.

Musically, I play bass, guitars and sing, and programmed the strings on my M-Audio Oxygen 49 or maybe even in a midi track in Cakewalk, which I now listen back to and realise there is too much attack on each note. The drums and piano remain from the BIAB style used. My vocal is stretched on the high notes - outside my range so I tried falsetto with limited success. Because my vocals can sound thin and airy, I usually triple record to fatten it up with 2 of the 3 panned left and right and dropped back in volume to sit behind the main vocal.

****** BIAB Song Summary *************
Style is _OUTING.STY (Outing Bright Indie Guitar)

RealTracks in style: 3501:Bass, Electric, NashvilleRadioBalladAB Ev16 075 - replaced by my bass
RealTracks in style: 2808:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm SoulfulPop16thsMike Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 3654:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking IndiePickingBright Ev16 075 - replaced by my guitar
RealDrums in style:NashvilleEven16^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

*******************

LYRICS

INTRO

VERSE 1
Left it at the railway station - it cost me dearly that’s for sure
My careless attention distracted by wanting more
Not sensing the import, I was lost in the moment
I pride myself in being a sensitive soul
I try to be discreet and use my words with prudence
But I find myself digging a bigger hole

CHORUS 1
I cringe every time I remember
I’m hoping it’s forgotten well
Looking back on March from early November
I am wishing I can switch to another line

VERSE 2
I thought the hill was too hard to climb, so I settled for a lesser view
Truth be told my time was running short
I put my effort into things that give me a glow now
I know they will preserve me as I’m growing old
I’ve rediscovered climbing gear I used to know
But my fingers are rigid and my eyes are cold

CHORUS 2
I’ll celebrate the things I remember
I’m hoping I’ve got something to tell
Looking back on March from early November
I am hopeful I can lift these limbs up high again

VERSE 3
I can see the road before me will one day end, but I’ve still got a way to go
My shoes are worn and my eyes are growing dim
I’ll persevere with hardships that are giving me pain
They remind me of the good years that filled me with joy
Won’t complain that I’m thirsty while I stand in the rain
And I’ll look back with warmth on my times as a boy

CHORUS 3
Holding dearly people I remember
And nodding to the ones I have lost
Looking back on March from early November
I am hoping I can hold their hands in mine again

OUTRO