Soundcloud: Tongue-tied YouTube: Tongue-tied DEVELOPMENT I wrote this in 2017 on guitar, which isn’t unusual in itself, but I probably do most of my song development in Band-in-a-Box, then sing and play it on guitar to ensure its ‘singability’. My recollection is that I was inspired by 'The Hard Way' by Thirsty Merc and the chord extensions they used in that song. While the songs are completely different, it motivated me to write this song. The title ‘Tongue-tied’ came to me while I was working out the chords and melody and I kept it as I felt it was going to be a useful concept for writing the lyrics. Once I had the melody, I put the chords into BIAB and chose a style. Here is the BIAB file rendered to mp3. Soundcloud: Original BIAB MGU Regarding the lyrics, some of them can best be described as ‘oblique’ – meaning they only have a thin connection to the theme. In fact, just last week, I was still wondering if I should try and replace some of these lines, so in order to avoid effort, I asked Copilot AI what it saw as the connection between these lines and the main song concept. It responded …
“Your lyrics are rich with poetic imagery and emotional nuance, and the oblique lines you’ve marked beautifully reinforce the central theme of being “tongue-tied”—emotionally overwhelmed, inarticulate, or hesitant in moments that demand vulnerability or clarity.” Thank you AI, you sycophantic devil, you! Copilot’s full interpretation of each line is included in the attachment.
I made a partial recording in 2018 after completing the lyrics, then in 2022, recorded my bass, rhythm guitars and added layers of vocals - probably too many layers. My vocals were a bit flaky, so I always intended to come back to them. In this 2025 remix, I add piano, smarten up the mixing of the vocals and add a guitar solo outro. The guitar solo is the sort – pinching one of my own phrases – ‘Rhythm guitarist decides to have a crack at lead guitar and lead guitarist shakes his head’. I decided to make the intro vocals acapella (I think that's what it's called) – also influenced by another Thirsty Merc song ‘My Completeness’, which IMHO is an absolute banger.
BIAB SUMMARY While there is not much left of the BIAB band apart from the drums, I have included a link (above) to Soundcloud where you can hear my original chords and melody in the BIAB MGU file. Style is _RCKWLZM.STY (Rock Waltz w/ Muted Electric Gui) RealTracks in style: 778:Bass, Acoustic, PopWaltz Ev 085 (B:energetic) RealTracks in style: 861:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockWaltzSustainHeld Ev 140 RealTracks in style: 858:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockWaltzMutedSteady Ev 140 RealTracks in style: 856:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Rhythm RockWaltzStrumming Ev 140 RealDrums in Song:PopRockWaltzBrushesEv: a: Brushes b: PopRockWaltzBrushesEv M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKV using Spitfire Audio LABS Autograph Grand instrument SE X1 Condenser mic 2 x lead vocal tracks 9 x BV tracks Recorded and mixed in Reaper. On the first recording, I had used ReaTune to manually pitch correct all BV tracks (yes, it took ages!) but took it all off in the final render as it did nothing.
LYRICS INTRO
VERSE 1 There’s some things unsaid, so it goes It’s a quiet wind that runs between the trees When one ship passes by, one cloud in the sky Always moving, always changing but never alone
VERSE 2 The stream – down from the mountain it flows There’s joy in friendship - everyone agrees When the players play as one and the marathon is run Together, lonely never, free and found
PRE-CHORUS 1 Though I want to say it loud My throat is gagged and bound Can I ever? Will I never? Will I freeze?
CHORUS 1 I don’t know what to say, I’m lost, yes I’m tongue-tied I know it’s only words they’re the only words I know You say you never hear me say – my heart’s so hard to find a way The stakes are high, you call my bluff My good intentions just ain’t quite enough But you’ll ease me through the tough times when I’m tongue-tied
VERSE 3 There’s a time when all things must said But it’s not a place I’m comfortable being in Why do the words I want to say quickly slip away If the truth be told, yes it must be told, yes it must
PRE-CHORUS 2 Words will fail me, disengage me Thoughts will come and then escape me (n.b. I should have gone with 'assuage me') Floundering and listless on my knees
CHORUS 2 I don’t know what to say, I’m lost, yes I’m tongue-tied I know it’s only words they’re the only words I know You say you never hear me say – my heart’s so hard to find a way The stakes are high, you call my bluff My good intentions just ain’t quite enough But you’ll ease me through the tough times when I’m tongue-tied
Well that opening was really interesting, it really didn’t give any indication where the song was going to go and for a moment there I thought perhaps there wasn’t going to be any lyrics at all. How did you go about compiling and producing that sound, it’s almost a mesmerising chant. I really like the intro and whilst it set the opening mood, I was left wondering why there wasn’t a reprise, either in the middle or at the outro. I don’t suppose it had to be and that’s where artistic expression comes into songwriting and as listeners we shouldn’t be anticipating what the musician is going to do, even though we naturally do. Your vocals were steady and measured throughout and the backing Vox were excellent. The lead guitar on the outro was also really good, you needn’t worry about that. Another good write, Mr.Dee.
Andrew, another very hummable rock gem. Like your vocal ensemble in the intro and transition to the main song. Cool BGVs. Super lead vocals. These doubled tracked vocals are a bit of a change of sound, but I like them a lot. The BiaB drums work fine, and very fine playing by you everywhere else, most conspicuously in the guitar outro. Sublime stuff.
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Well that opening was really interesting, it really didn’t give any indication where the song was going to go and for a moment there I thought perhaps there wasn’t going to be any lyrics at all. How did you go about compiling and producing that sound, it’s almost a mesmerising chant. I really like the intro and whilst it set the opening mood, I was left wondering why there wasn’t a reprise, either in the middle or at the outro. I don’t suppose it had to be and that’s where artistic expression comes into songwriting and as listeners we shouldn’t be anticipating what the musician is going to do, even though we naturally do. Your vocals were steady and measured throughout and the backing Vox were excellent. The lead guitar on the outro was also really good, you needn’t worry about that. Another good write, Mr.Dee.
Thanks Lee! I recorded the intro with 9 tracks - 3 x 3 - so I mapped the chord progression with the notes in each chord and worked out the high, mid and low notes of each chord and worked out the notes each set of 3 could take with minimal movement - I think this technique is called ‘voice leading’? Three takes per note were to smooth out any vocal deficiencies and to provide depth. It is the very same stems from the intro copied and pasted sitting under each chorus. Thanks for listening! Andrew
Andrew, another very hummable rock gem. Like your vocal ensemble in the intro and transition to the main song. Cool BGVs. Super lead vocals. These doubled tracked vocals are a bit of a change of sound, but I like them a lot. The BiaB drums work fine, and very fine playing by you everywhere else, most conspicuously in the guitar outro. Sublime stuff.
Thanks Ron! I’m reasonable happy with the guitar solo. Listening back, there are a couple of phrases where I wished I had used hammer on and pull off rather than picking each not - to add some smoothness to it. I learned a new lick trick for this solo and pretty happy how it came out. I think I need to experiment with different amp and fix settings to understand how what I hear ‘live’ translates to the recorded results. Thanks for listening! Andrew
Andrew, this is an outstanding song. Great vocal. Loved the background aahs. The guitar lead fits like a glove; you should play more leads. You picked the perfect backing band for this song. Super mix also. An outstanding song.
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Liked this a lot, Andrew, especially the chorus. The intro was fine, but felt detached from verse one - something to musically connect them would be nice. Vox good, lyrics good, a fine outing here!
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Andrew, this is an outstanding song. Great vocal. Loved the background aahs. The guitar lead fits like a glove; you should play more leads. You picked the perfect backing band for this song. Super mix also. An outstanding song.
Thanks Mario for your generous comments! I don't have a lot of 'licks' in my lead toolkit, so I tried to base a lot of the solo around phrases in the chorus melody. I heard someone say once to play lead like you want to sing it. Given I am not a quick singer (syllables can trip me up), that suits me fine. Andrew
Liked this a lot, Andrew, especially the chorus. The intro was fine, but felt detached from verse one - something to musically connect them would be nice. Vox good, lyrics good, a fine outing here!
Thanks a lot Rob - I'm glad you liked it. The original recording had the full band playing with the intro BVs, but I felt it was a bit much, so I muted all the band then brought the drum fill in to lead into the verse. I recognise there is not a lot of melodic movement in the intro ATM. If I revisit, one idea to build more connection might be to put a subtle chorus instrument melody over the intro (the intro is the chorus chords) so there is some familiarity with the chorus when it reappears. Andrew
Ooooo Ooooo Oooo I like your ooopening, and then hte rest of the song really jumped out as an wonderful mix of the opening and the melody you brought to it. I understand what TM Bob is saying about in connecting them, but you did exactly what I would have done. Drums. Man, that video is perfect to accomany the lyrics. You extend the definition of tongue-tied, and didn't stutter once.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
Hi Andrew, I listened to this earlier on youtube and then just now on Soundcloud. I have to say I liked it more the 2nd time around. It has a kind of nostalgic rocker feel. I hear Beatles; I hear Thompson Twins. I like oblique lyrics (think Michael Stipe) because the listener gets to impose a unique and personal meaning to them.
Just popping back to add... I'd heard the progression you used in the beginning somewhere somewhere before. I couldn't pin it down, it was such a distant memory. Now I remember! It's the Beauty School Drop Out song from Grease!
Ooooo Ooooo Oooo I like your ooopening, and then hte rest of the song really jumped out as an wonderful mix of the opening and the melody you brought to it. I understand what TM Bob is saying about in connecting them, but you did exactly what I would have done. Drums. Man, that video is perfect to accomany the lyrics. You extend the definition of tongue-tied, and didn't stutter once.
Thanks Marty! Glad you liked it - and the video. When I found the stock footage of people standing frozen in crowds, I yelled ‘Yes!’ No stuttering, but I did have a minor lisp when I wath younger, and tho did my wife, but mosthly dithappeared for both of uth. Andrew
Just popping back to add... I'd heard the progression you used in the beginning somewhere somewhere before. I couldn't pin it down, it was such a distant memory. Now I remember! It's the Beauty School Drop Out song from Grease!
Hi Beth! I remember that song. I had to go and listen and also look at the chords on Ultimate Guitar. Unfortunately (fortunately for me) there are NOT a lot of similarities in the chord progressions of the two. My progression jumps out of the key signature quite a bit more than Beauty School Dropout. However, they do sound similar. I think the similarity in sound is aided by the 6/8 time signature and the comping of the piano in both songs which were prevalent in songs of the late 50s and early 60s - which is what I was aiming for. In reply to your first post, I am only aware of one Thompson Twins song - Hold me now - but my favourite Beatles song off the Abbey Road album is ‘Oh Darling’ which also has 6/8 and piano comping (or is it my favourite? Ahhh! So many good ones to choose from!) which is nowadays only receiving the popular acclaim that it deserves. If forum members have not heard that song, please listen to the masterclass that is Paul McCartney’s vocals on that song - something he dares not perform live. Thanks for listening! Andrew
The coolest intro I've heard in a long time. I was pleasantly surprised that it's a waltz, and a good one at that. Enjoyed my listen a lot!
Thanks B.D.! I’m never quite sure the difference between 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8, but, yeah, one of those! I am glad you liked the intro. Originally it had the full band underneath it, but at close to 5 minutes, this was one of the choices in my remix to create some difference in texture, inspired as I mentioned in my OP by the vocal intro to My Completeness by Aussie band Thirsty Merc. Thanks for listening! Andrew
Hi, Andrew. Cool intro! I like the pared-back backing. With retro piano vocal doubling, it's got a touch of John Lennon to it. It works for me. Nice! And, yes - AI can be super-irritatingly boot licking.
Thanks David - glad you liked the intro - I wasn’t hesitant about it, but did wonder how it would go down. Andrew
Great work! I esp like the dah-dah-dah-dah rhythm of the piano and the pace that it gave it. I agree with others that the intro is really cool, but doesn't seem connected to the rest--maybe you made 2 different songs in one--perhaps consider splitting it off and developing it separately--it's so nice! Guitar work is really good. And so nicely produced. Thanks for posting, I enjoyed it!
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