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.
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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
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. ...
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.
Originally Posted by rsdean
You have an amazing ability to create these pop wonders. This is an awesome song and performance. …
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.
Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
... A good story of life well told (and sung) in a slightly mysterious way. Interesting (and I mean that in a positive way)
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.
Originally Posted by John Walradt
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!
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.
Originally Posted by TuneMonger
Good song. I liked the subject matter, a worthy topic if ever there was one. Enjoyed my listen.
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
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!!
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 ❤
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