A House That Catches Your Light

A few years ago my family had the experience of designing and building our own house. We had a contractor but did a ton of work ourselves - it was about the most exhausting and exhilarating year of this old timer`s life.This song is an attempt to capture some of those feelings.

Key=Db , Tempo 100, Length (m:s)=3:36
8 bar intro, 78 bar chorus, from bar 9 to bar 86. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _STOMPIN.STY (Stompin' Train Indie Folk)

RealTracks in style: ~2474:Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1295:Banjo, Rhythm, ModernCountrySync Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: ~598:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Bluegrass Doc Ev 100
RealTracks in style: ~409:Fiddle, Background George Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 624:Fiddle, Soloist George
Loop in Song: House-Techno-Trance\House - crunchy_120_b drums ev16.wav
RealDrums in style: Country Even16
Real Drums ShakerFolk Even16
Real Tracks RT1752 Accordion Rhythmn Pop

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A House That Catches Your Light

come with me
where waves of mountains
fall into fields of green
with a bundle of straw
and a handful of earth
we`ll raise a roof over our dreams

I`ll plane down my edges
you`ll remind me where the end is
bind me with love
when my back breaks
and though the roof may leak
and the hinges creak
the rainbow will not be disgraced
will not be disgraced

we`ll build a dream house a bird house
a blood sweat and tears house
where swallows rest from their flight
we`ll cook and carouse there
when nothings stirring but the mouse dear
we`ll make love `til the roosters start to fight
in a house that catches your light
a house that catches your light

come with me
where waves of mountains
fall into fields of green
with a bundle of straw
and a handful of earth
we`ll raise a roof over our dreams

sometimes I`ll get discouraged
try to quit in a flourish
step outside watch the thunder roll
but like the genie in his tomb
I`ve already seen these rooms
you will deck with the colours of your soul
the colours of your soul

we`ll build a dream house a bird house
a blood sweat and tears house
where swallows rest from their flight
we`ll cook and carouse there
when nothings stirring but the mouse dear
we`ll make love `til the roosters start to fight
in a house that catches your light
a house that catches your light


© Robert Cordrey Nov.2016

"with a bundle of straw
and a handful of earth
we`ll raise a roof over our dreams"


"we`ll make love `til the roosters start to fight
in a house that catches your light"


A few of the good lines - amongst many... this might be my favorite write of yours, Robert. It is "poetic", yet "accessible"...

Some of the lines seem to have a few more beats (syllables) than fit comfortably into the musical line - which in this case is, actually, very effective - sort of like "folk rap" - take that further and you might invent a new genre... (the instrumentation speaks to that, as well...)

I like this.

floyd

Robert, you have captured what everyone yearns for here! Love the line about placing a roof over our dreams. Good job! Thanks, Torrey

Love it Robert. Great song, and a really, really, really good title!!

That`s very kind, Floyd... and acutely observed on those extra syllables as well. The verses with internal rhymes came last and when I tried singing them it was a bit of a mouthful & I almost decided to give the song a reggae style...maybe if there`s a 2nd version in future.

Robert

Torrey,

Thank you for that- glad you liked it.
It sure is a cool feeling to see something you`ve held for years as an idea grow walls and a roof... have to pinch yourself when you`re finally walking around inside.

Robert

David,

Thank you, you`ve made my day. When I wrote the title line I knew it summed up what I wanted to say ... and wondered if listeners would "get it".

Robert

Greg,

Your keen observations are always much appreciated - if they chime with Floyd`s, all the better!
Many thanks,

Robert

Hi Robert,

Wow! You've pulled out all the stops on this one. It's a terrific listen. The opening refrain for each verse really captured my imagination!


What stunning imagery you've created with a mere 29 words. When I say these words aloud, they seem to roll like quicksilver... it's a really captivating effect. Wonderful writing!

Regards,
Noel

Robert, I too endorse the comments made above by others.

This is really beautiful writing, and the arrangement is quite masterful.

An excellent delivery, no question.

Hello, Robert

Beautiful song with good melody and nice vocal.
The start of the A melody is especially pleasant.
Your songs are definitely in direct descent from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best Regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hi Robert

The song title is the ‘kernel of this song’ the ability to write all around it’‘ is fabulous.
Its flexibility it’s the “hook, and I suspect you knew that from the get go.
I just sat and said to myself ,wish I had thought of that.
Over the years having built three myself, at sea, mountain, and finally small holding, always the main criteria was view with light, but for you to so lovingly sought for the light to illuminate your wife and your obvious pride and love in her, was very clever song crafting.
Musically, vocally, all round, you have a very marketable product here
I was similarly moved by song ‘House of Stone and Light ‘ by Martin Page a song who’s lyrical expression and song crafting I rate up there among the best in the world.
You can be very proud of this one

Paddy G

Robert, what a great title for a song. In conjures up all sorts of ideas about what the song will be about before even listening. Great write. Raise a roof over our dreams indeed!

Robert,

Some really exceptional lyrics here... Great delivery as well. Really enjoyed it.

Bob

Awesome tune Robert

Hi Robert,

Love it! I can feel the joy! You have captured your experience well with the feel and lyrics. What a great line, "with a bundle of straw and a handful of earth we`ll raise a roof over our dreams." Thanks for sharing. btw Is it a cob house?

Pauline
PG Music Team

Hi Robert,

Such a nice subject to write a song about. Beautiful house it seems, is it the one in the picture!
Very nice song and chord progression.

Paddy,
Thank you very much!
Your thoughts (and experiences, it seems - four houses built! Oh my, I might be able to go through all that once more but I think that`ll be enough) are very much in line with my own here.
My wife had to be the project manager as were building where I could barely speak the language - looking back at her endurance and good humour throughout I`m still amazed.
I write in a very simple bubble map way, in this case at the centre was " building a bird house", but when the title line came along it moved to the centre and it was a very quick write.
I`d forgotten about that very good Martin Page song - thanks for sending me to listen again.

Robert

Thank you for listening and commenting.
I`m really pleased the arrangement works - its a cool style on its own but I did work on many changes within the framework.

Robert

Noel,

That is most kind - I know you to be a student of lyric writing so it means alot to have your endorsement.
I`m very happy those words worked well as I`d thought so often about the idea for the song but not gone anywhere with it until looking at some of the old photos.

Robert

Thank you, Shigeki!
The verse melody was where I began going from lyrics to song, so I`m happy you liked that part.

Robert

Joanne,
That`s very kind-thanks for your listen!

Robert

Bob,

If you liked the lyrics then I know I`ve hit the spot - thank you!

Robert

Scott,

I appreciate your listens and comments!

Robert

Hi Pauline,
Thank you, I`m happy the feeling came through!
Not a cob house ( although I did use a barn load of straw and many handfuls of earth to line the garden ponds) -just artistic license... AAC blocks and structural steel are harder to fit into verse.

Robert

Beautiful lyrics

you come through as a john Denver sound, arrangement.

And I love John Denver.

Good one.

Thank you!
Yes, its the pictured house and we look back on its many fine and quirky qualities now from a few years not being there... but I guess that`s another song.

Robert

Robert

Enjoyed that!
Well done in your efforts with the house I have always wanted to do that, in my dreams!

Is that picture on Soundcloud, the house? If so wow that's nice!

Alyn

Robert,

You can tell that this song was written "from the heart" having built your own family house.
I agree with Floyd; the lyrics are beautifully written and poetic.

Great work,
Jez

We can certainly relate. We did the same thing 28 years ago but
without a contractor and while we were both working full time. Let's
say it was an interesting experience that mercifully turned out well

Members have already quoted some great lines and we'd join in but
had rather just say that it is a tremendous write.

And your vocal, arrangement and production well support the
strong lyric.

We enjoyed the listen!

J&B

Very authentic americana and awesome lyrics. Enjoyed my listen.

Charlie

+1 to all the kudos.

What a wonderfully written folk song.

Sounds like something Peter Paul and Mary would've done.

Thank you for the listen and like, Colly.
I never really listened to JD apart from his signature song... maybe I should.

Robert

Alyn,

Glad you enjoyed. Yes, is that house - now that we`re no longer there I`m starting to get sentimental about it...and thinking about another kick at the house building can.Its a hard dream to shake!

Robert

Many thanks, Jez!

Charlie,

I`m happy you liked the sound & words -thanks for your listen.

Robert

J&B,

My hat`s off to anyone who`s walked the complete self- build house road... it took me a year to recover from our efforts and several more to start imagining I might go there again.
Thank you for your very kind comments on the song.

Robert

Thank you!

Robert, I especially enjoyed the poetic lyrics. Building a house can be rewarding and stressful at the same time. Not so sure if I want to go down that road again. I enjoyed this fine write. Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the listen - glad you liked it. Yes, I`m going to replay some of the " lows" of the house building experience a few times before I decide to go down that road again.

Robert

Nice! I just love your vocal, you remind me a little of Gordon Lightfoot, not so much the way you sing but the rich tone of your voice.

A well written song, and well mixed too. Enjoyed the listen!

Thanks for that, Dave - especially the Gordon Lightfoot mention as I really like his vocal style.. and will never stop trying to come up with a song as good as his Carefree Highway.

Robert