Hello all

February has begun! I am going to put all my BIAB FAWM songs in this thread so as not to flood the forum.

This year I am hoping to get at least a couple of songs that I can submit to music libraries for film and advertising. So, any constructive criticism is much appreciated as well as your opinion(s) on whether you think any of the songs are worthwhile submitting.

All the songs are available to stream or download from my website

All FAWM 2017 songs



Here is the first song:

A Song to Wake you in the Morning

It is based on a public domain poem by Helen Hoyt
Action Poem
A Song to Wake Your Dear in the Morning

Lyrics

I kiss a lock of your hair:
Do you feel me there,
Sleepy one?

I put a kiss on your brow:
Are you waking now?
sleepy one?

kiss your left eye kiss your right
They are both fastened tight

I kiss you on your nose
Where your sweet breath goes,
Sleepy one!

I put a kiss on each ear:
What is it you hear?
sleepy one!

A kiss for that cheek; kiss for this:
How many kissed will you miss!

la la la.....

I kiss you on the lips I love:
Now You wake and move!
Sleepy one!

la la la.....

Sleepy one,
My kisses are all done.

RealtracksRealTracks in style: ~1137:Bass, Acoustic-Guitar, FolkSwing Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~1143:Ukulele, Strumming FolkSwing Sw 140
RealDrums in style: NashvilleBrushesHillbillySwing: a: Sidestick, Brushesb: Brushes, Stick
RealTracks in style: ~1137:Bass, Acoustic-Guitar, FolkSwing Sw 140
RealDrums in style: NashvilleBrushesHillbillySwing: a: Sidestick, Brushesb: Brushes, Stick

And a midi violin that follows the melody.


edited to add the website page with all the tracks

Josie,

Few artists do la la las as well as you do. I liked that addition to the lyric. The harmony fits very well here.

The Uke chops lend a breakfast table informal feel to the invoked mental image. You are a master at painting colo(u)rful mental imagery and that's the name of the game, after all.

Overall, well done.

Donny

Love it, Josie. Excellent job, and a fun, playful song. Can't wait to hear more of those.

La la la la later,

Bob

Joanne,

You're off to an excellent start - loved it!

Bob

Very cool song

Hi JoanneCooper, Very nice songs! I really enjoyed the harmonies from the vocals. Very easy vibes. Nice work!

Joanne,
I enjoyed the sunny swinging vibe you`ve created for this song ( it reminds me of my favourite version of "Over The Rainbow") and its so instantly singable I could see it working in an ad.
Lovely vocals.
You are off to a good FAWM start!

Robert

Certainly, you are a professional singer, and this song fits the poem very well, and your voice goes well with the la la.

Marty

I commented over at fawm -- well done again. Love the instrumentation choices and your vocals! Words were great, too.

Thanks so much Don, Bob, Scott, another Bob (there are a few on this forum), Joe, Marty and Kevin. Thanks so much for listening an commenting!

You give me the motivation to keep going.

Here is the second one. I don't think I gave myself enough time to become truly comfortable with the melody on this one because it seems to wander all over the place.

It was based on the public domain poem "The Snow Fairy", Claude McKay, 1889 - 1948

Song number 2: The Snow Fairy

Lyrics:

Throughout the day I watched them there,
Fairies were falling, in the cold and the misty air

they, frail snow flakes Made sensual flight
down calm and earthwards towards peace and quiet.
I went to bed and woke with the dawn
To see them all merge Upon the lawn

The sun it shone brightly all through the day,
The flakes by the nightime had all gone away.
That's when my thoughts turned back to you
Who came when flakes through my window flew

Throughout the day I watched them there,
Fairies were falling, in the cold and the misty air


Your hair was disheveled, Your eyes were alight
Brought joy and brought heat all throught the night
You danced and sang Your passion it spread
I made you some room in my very small bed,

I turned down the covers fresh clean and warm,
And laid down beside you Safe here in my arms
You went with Dawn You left with the day,
One lonely actor in one dreamy play.

Throughout the day I watched them there,
Fairies were falling, in the cold and the misty air

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: 533:Bass, Electric, 12-8 Crystal Sw 065
RealTracks in style: 2714:Guitar, Nylon, Background SlowSwingBrent Sw 065
RealTracks in style: ~529:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 065
RealTracks in style: ~526:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Hank Sw 065
RealDrums in style: CountryShuffle128^3-a:Sidestick, Brushes , b:Sidestick, HiHat

I think I missed Robertkc in my previous comment. Thank you for listening Robert and for your
wonderful comments.

Song number 3: Maybe Still (With Elizabeth Petty)

The beautiful poignant lyrics for this one were provided by Elizabeth Petty from the FAWM community. I hae a bit of a cold and have been sneezing all day so my vocals may not be fantastic. Will probably re-record when my cold is gone.

Lyrics:
\
maybe it was never meant to be
maybe it was foolish to believe
maybe it was crazy to let you go
but It is certain what I know now...

I still hold your love in my heart
I still hear your words in my thoughts
I still feel your touch on my skin
I miss you
and that I know ...

maybe it was never the right time
maybe my love was just too blind
maybe it was crazy to let you in
but is certain where I am now

I still hold your love in my heart
I still hear your words in my thoughts
I still feel your touch on my skin
I miss you
and that I know

maybe there is a little chance
that you might come back
maybe I will be waiting
or maybe I will not....

I still hold your love in my heart
I still hear your words in my thoughts
I still feel your touch on my skin
I miss you

very simple arrangement of two guitars and an accordion

Any feedback is always appreciated.

#3 (from fawm)
You are pulling out all the instrumentation. The guitars are beautiful and the accordion sounds pretty good, too. Nice mix and vocals sound good to me (the cold is not holding you back!). Fine harmony in there, too.

What RT is that lead guitar, sounds super. Is that an auto-harmony?

Joanne,
A very pretty melody for these sincere lyrics. The arrangement is perfect - a nice touch bringing in the accordion at the end.
Hang in there and here`s hoping you get well quickly ( wish I could sing so well with a cold!).

Robert

Hi Joanne,

I've just listened to the three songs that you've posted so far. These sound excellent. You've settled on some really great Realtracks to frame both the music and the lyrics. I really enjoyed what I heard.

All the best with the next 11 songs!
Noel

Thank you Kevin for the ongoing support here and on FAWM. It is mainly thanks to you that I am there at all. What a wonderful experience it is turning out to be. The guitar in "Maybe Still" is this one
RealTracks in song: ~2200:Guitar, Nylon, Background CountryBrent Ev 085

And yes, the harmonies in "Maybe Still" are generated. I am finding it is taking me too long to record the harmonies and then trying to line them up with the lead. It is sooooo much easier to generate them...

Thank you once again Robert. My cold seems to be on the mend. Not sneezing so much today.

Thank you Noel for your kind comments. Lets hope I can keep it up for another 10 songs!

Here is the next one. It is a western swing. These fun and quirky lyrics were also written by Elizabeth Petty (in a one hour skirmish...I dont know how she does it!)

ECCENTRIC (with Elizabeth Petty)

Lyrics:

tood in the elevator
argued with myself
people got off
when I began to yell
whispering sniggering
She is flaky as all hell

went to the bowling alley
in my birthday suit
with nothing on
but your bowling shoes
Children laughed, parents said
She is fruity as a loop


they say that I'm eccentric
but they got it wrong
been a little crazy
since you have been gone
so if you hear the rumors
know they are not true
and that I am still crazy...
crazy for you...


walked down the avenue
reciting recipies
ingredients
in minor melodies
students smile neighbors shout
She is batty as can be


they say that I'm eccentric
but they got it wrong
been a little crazy
since you have been gone
so if you hear the rumors
know they are not true
and that I am still crazy...
crazy for you...

I don't give a damn
what some others think
they can call me eccentric
and say I'm on the brink

I'll tell you so you know
it's just a bunch of lies
I am just a blue bull frog (with)
bulgy golf ball eyes

they say that I'm eccentric
but they got it wrong
been a little crazy
since you have been gone
so if you hear the rumors
know they are not true
and that I am still crazy...
crazy for you...

yes I am still crazy...
crazy for you...

yes I'm hopping crazy
crazy for you...

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: ~537:Bass, Acoustic, Pop Sw 165
RealTracks in style: 616:Mandolin, Rhythm Bouncy Sw 165
RealTracks in style: ~812:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Western Swing Sw 165
RealTracks in style: ~373:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 165
RealDrums in Song: Nashville2BeatSw8^01-a:Sidestick , b:Snare, Ride

Really nice work Joanne. I enjoyed this a lot. Excellent production.

You have the most beautiful voice, Joanne....

Hi Joanne,

Gorgeous, this one.
Makes us think of that other famous song "Somewhere over the Rainbow".
Your project sure is getting better and better.

David, Andy, Rob and Anne Marie. Thanks so much for the comments on the last song. The lyrics really were a gift.

Here is song number 5. (On a roll here)

I never thought I would be recording a song at 5:30 in the morning but here I am! I was awake so I thought I would get out of bed a write a song. This one wrote itself. My voice maybe a bit croaky due to the fact that is was very early in the morning to sing!

COME TO ME

Lyrics:
When you feel that you've been searching for
A place you've never been before
Come to me
Come home to me

If you've been down on the bottom
And your spirit's been forgotton
Come to me
Come home to me

When you've grown tired
of chasing after daydreams
When you've grown tired
of all those crazy schemes

chorus
I'll be your home
find me waiting there
Just like that old armchair
Come home to me

(instrumental)

When your concience is difting
And your horizon's always shifting
Come to me
Come home to me


When you've grown tired
of chasing after high thrills
When you've grown tired
of fighting all those windmills


I'll be your home
find me waiting there
Just like that old armchair
Come home to me

Realtracks: Just use the style BRENTS85 as it was with no changes or additions to the instruments. It seems to suit the song pretty well.

Cool! so good, and your voice sounds wonderful.

Kenny

Joanne,

A lovely melody on the chorus and nice sentiment in the lyrics.
5:30 am?!-the FAWM process sounds all consuming- hang in there!

Robert

Nice one, great listening.
Very well sung

Sergio

We've listened to #1 and #2 and will soon listen to the others. As others have
said, "Great start." Your production work over the last couple of years has really
hit the high bar. Everything sounds so nice on our monitors. And as I've said
before we are in awe of you folks who can write this prolifically. Amazing.

J&B

Robert, Sergio, Bud and Janice. Thanks for listening and commenting. I sure am learning a lot!

Bud, I have learned that I am maybe not so prolific with lyrics as I am with the music. BIAB is THE most marvelous tool for songwriting, especially the music side. Sometimes I really feel like I am cheating because it is just such a great help. I am finding that if I get a concept and it has some rhymes and it has some story I can make a song out off it pretty quickly. That is why to get going I used some public domain poems that had all these ingredients and also why I am finding the lyrics by Elizabeth Petty so easy to set to music.

Enough rambling.
Here is song number 6. Another cowrite with Elizabeth.

LOVE WE SHARE (A LOVERS LULLABYE)

Lyrics:
V1
will you pull me in so tight
gaze at me in soft moonlight
show me that you love me
more and more each day

will you kiss me goodnight
whisper that it is alright
hold me like tomorrow
may never ever come

C
yesterday's love
is such a gift
tomorrow's might
not be there
and so tonight
I want to feel
our love..
the love
we share

V2
I will pull you in so tight
gaze at you in soft moonlight
show you that I love you
more and more each day

C
yesterday's love
is such a gift
tomorrow's might
not be there
and so tonight
I want to feel
our love..
the love
we share

B
I'm not afraid
of loving too much
But only that
I've loved enough

Realtracks:
RealTracks in song: ~1121:Bass, Acoustic, CountryWaltz Sw 085
RealTracks in song: ~822:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Country Waltz Sw 085
RealTracks in song: ~824:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Country Waltz Sw 085
MIDI Drums :1 Standard Drum Kit (1)
Supermidi country waltz piano (using Dimension Pro)
Midi piano and Dimension pro that follows the melody

halfway there!!

I quite like this one. Not my usual genre but always good for a change.

DECEMBER

It is based on the public domain poem "December" by Claude McKay, 1889 - 1948
Last night I heard your voice, mother,
The words you sang to me
When I a little barefoot girl
Knelt down against your knee.

As tears rushed from my heart, mother,
And passed beyond its wall,
But though the fountain reached my throat
The drops refused to fall.

Last night I heard your voice, mother,
The words you sang to me
When I, a little barefoot girl,
Knelt down against your knee.

‘Tis ten years since you died, mother,
Just ten dark years of pain,
And oh I only wish that I
Could weep just once again.

Last night I heard your voice, mother,
The words you sang to me
When I, a little barefoot girl,
Knelt down against your knee

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: 2421:Bass, Acoustic, RockabillySlapBoomChicka Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: ~598:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Bluegrass Doc Ev 100
RealTracks in style: ~599:Mandolin, Rhythm Bluegrass Doc Ev 100
RealDrums in style: TambourineTrainEv16: a: Tambourine b: TambourineTrainEv16

Joanne,
Your melody and choice of style fits this poetry perfectly - this is my favourite of your songs this month so far.

Robert

The arrangement and mix sound excellent to me.
Love when your harmonies come in, very nice melody,
Great job all around on this,
Enjoyed

Kenny

A very fine collection of songs, Joanne.

All well sung and all well mixed. And all with your stamp on them.

Come To Me is my favorite (so far).

fj

Robert, Kenny and Floyd. Thanks for the latest comments. Floyd I just knew which one would be your favourite

Here is one with a guest vocalist. Elizabeth Petty posted these lyrics on the FAWM site and said she could see something "Jazzy and sulty". I loved the lyrics but know my limitations. I said I would love to put music to it but my jazzy and sultry skills are sadly lacking.

BUT, I said I know someone who can. So I contacted my old band mate of 20 years ago who lives in Oman and roped her in. Within 24 hours she had come up with the melody and I had two decent vocal records (done on an iphone with no microphone and sent to me via WhatsApp!!). I mixed those iphone recordings in and this is the result. It is certainly different from all my other stuff and I hope you enjoy it.

CAN YOU FEEL

Lyrics:
can you feel.......
the temperature rising
can you feel.......
the ember's red glow
can you feel.......
the fire spark on my skin...
kiss me....
then you'll know....

V2
can you feel........
the ocean waves rising
can you feel.......
the warm river flow
can you feel......
the waterfall coming
touch me......
then you'll know....

C
kiss me
touch me
hold me
I will love you
through this night

kiss me
touch me
hold me
I will love you
always in this life

C
can you feel.....
our love's magic rising
can you feel....
my desire grow
can you feel...
how much I love you
hold me ....
then you'll know

C
kiss me
touch me
hold me
I will love you
through this night

kiss me
touch me
hold me
I will love you
always in this life

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: ~2285:Bass, Acoustic, JazzSwingRonA-B Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~2289:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm JazzSwingKenny Sw 140
RealDrums in Song: JazzSwingLewis^01-a:Brushes, Snare , b:Brushes Swirl, Busy Snare
And a midi sax made from the melody line

'Home to me'.Cruizy! And as comfy as an old arm chair. Cheers.

Hi, Jo !:))


I´d love to wake
up in the morning to
this beautiful tune
of yours !:))


Superb performance as
always !

Cheers
Dani

RichMac and Dani48. Thanks for the latest comments. Rich where ya been?

Song number 9:

HOOK LINE AND SINKER (with Cynthia Wolff)

Cynthia offered me this wonderful set of lyrics and I do hope I have managed to do justice to them. It started out as a folk song but ended up a pop one.

Cynthia said about these lyrics:
A nod to Marcel Duchamp and Beatrice Wood and the Dadaists of the early 20th Century...a bunch of original Boho's who liked to cross dress and sit around talking, smoking ,drinking and making masterpieces...

"The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even" is Duchamp's masterprice and can be viewed at The Tate in London

Lyrics:
Absently sipping absinthe
at the Cabaret Voltaire
i aspire to cold detachment
while you look so debonair...

Beatrice flirting in her black beaded dress
Marcel on the staircase
His lipstick is a mess...

You got me…Hook Line and Sinker
yeah it was….Hook line and sinker oh yeah
You cast a spell and down I fell
ah ha…yeah yeah you cast a spell and down i fell ah ha...

United by emptiness
true confessions we share
I got away with nothing as if you really care…

Discret Detectives
lying in wait
we study one another waiting for our fate

You got me…Hook Line and Sinker yeah it was….Hook line and sinker oh yeah..Hook line and sinker.You cast a spell and down I fell ah ha…yeah yeah you cast a spell and down i fell ah ha

Marcel and Beatrice are really quite the pair
gaze at each other and the brides that are stripped bare.
Looking for questions cause the answers waiting there…
Misjudgement lurking at the bottom of the stair.

You got me….hook line and sinker….yeah hook line and sinker…yeah yeah Hook,line,sinker
you cast a spell and down I fell ah ha yeah yeah you cast a spell and down I feel ah ha..

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: 1827:Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1839:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1831:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopModernGrooveBrightA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1828:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGroove Ev16 075
RealDrums in style: PopModernGrooveSync16^1-a:Snare on 4, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
RT1875:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 085
RT363:Pedal Steel, Background Ev 085
RT1762:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Pop16thsArp Ev16 085

Comments and feedback always much appreciated.

Hi Joanne,

I've been popping in every now and then to hear how FAWM is going for you. I'm now listening to "Hook Line and Sinker" as I type. It's terrific.... a great sound, very creative and really well put together. Your singing is excellent. It sounds like you are thoroughly enjoying performing this.

You've certainly got a good collection of material growing.

Regards,
Noel

Sounding great Joanne!

Hey can you explain the "photo shoot"? That is very interesting! How did you do that?

Hook, Line and Sinker is one fantastic song. I liked everything about this one. Your production work is getting better and better!

Two thumbs up

Joanne,
A very original and interesting lyric and your melody is a great fit. Your vocal chops are sounding back to their best and production nice and simple.
This would make a cool subject for a video.

Robert

Noel, thanks for checking back every now and then. I appreciate it. David, what "photo shoot" are you referring too? Thanks for the comment. Mario, thanks for popping it and robert for your ongoing support. It is not unnoticed.

I seem to have hit a bit of a roadblock and dont seem to be able to put music to these lyrics I wrote. They are based on a story told by Sigrid Rausing on Desert Island Discs. I am posting them in the hope that somebody clever can make a folk or country song out of them...sort of in the style of Emmylou Harris or John Denver. Anyone like to have a go?

Heather and juniper

There once was a field
outside my back door
of heather and Juniper
Council decided
to dig all this up
Replacing it with conifers

Chorus/tag line

In those fields
Those beautiful fields
of heather and juniper

One night after dark
My father woke up
He so hated conifers
He took us with him
To dig up the trees
Planted amongst the juniper

In those fields
Those beautiful fields
of heather and juniper

But when I knelt down
To pull up those trees
Hiding in the juniper
with a lump in my throat
I could not complelte
And left alone the conifers

In those fields
Those beautiful fields
of heather and juniper

bridge
Years have gone past and
One breathless day
I went to the see the juniper
And in that field
Stood tall and stood proud
those beautiful old conifers

In those fields
Those beautiful fields
of heather and juniper

December is, indeed, different but most enjoyable.

Hook Line and Sinker struck us as having great vocal
dynamics. Very powerful.

We will catch up on some of the others. You are amazing!


J&B

Hi Joanne,

Not sure if you're still working on this one. But I sent you a message via Facebook to see if I could help you move it along. Best of luck.

Bob

Bud and Janice. Thanks so much for your comments. Here and on Soundcloud Btw... I think you guys are pretty amazing too!

Bob, thanks for the comment. Bob has beafed up the lyrics for Heather and Juniper and also written the music. I have a melody in mind, just need to "internalize" it before recording.

Here are the next two songs:

ONE IN A MILLION (WITH ARTHUR ROSSI)


These lyrics were written by the very prolific Arthur Rossi. Arthur has written about 70 sets of lyrics so far this FAWM and about 30 of these have been set to music by various FAWM participants!! An absolutely amazing achievement. If ever you are feeling uninspired during FAWM you can go to Arthur's page and pick a lyric that appeals to you and away you go. Thank you Arthur!

Lyrics:
when I got lost
in this big city,
could you supose
that you would meet me
there in all this mess…?

At First it was just
bashful glances,
and then we knew… (well,)
That the chances `
were minute I guess


(Chorus)
One in a million
one in a million
almost impossible
flash in the pan
hopes and wishes
just like helium
once released
Can't be caught again


Our Feelings burst
just like grenades
it seems as if it
were decades
that we haven’t met…

Now it is awkward
to accustom,
You've gotta wife
I’ve a husband,
what is it with us…?

Chorus

bridge
You can ask me "what are the chances",
Dont ask, you will not like my answers,


Chorus * 2

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: 379:Bass, Electric, Country DoubleTime Ev 088
RealTracks in style: 2024:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CountryJohn Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 378:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming DoubleTime Ev 088
RealTracks in song: 2718:Guitar, Nylon, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 085
RealDrums-TambourineEven8ths

The lyrics for this one were written by fellow South African Marthie Nel Hauptfleisch

FALLING IN LOVE

Lyrics:

Oh Why Do I want you like I do
Do Need you like I do
Miss you like I do
Oh When Will I feel your hands again
will I Taste your lips again
Read your eyes again


chorus

If we can make it Through this
Nothing can stop us From falling in love
yes If we make it Through all of this
Nothing will stop us from Falling in love


3)Everytime
You catch me by surprise
Drown my head in highs
Leave me hypnotized


So just tell me one more time
You miss me One more time
Tell me What this is
is Tell me that it's love

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: 366:Bass, Electric, Country Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 1542:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopBelieve Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 1537:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBelieveArp Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: ~369:Pedal Steel, Background Ev 065
RealDrums in Song: NashvilleBrushesCountryPopEv16: a: Sidestick, Brushes b: Brushes
RT1676:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 065
RT1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065
RT2667:Pedal Steel, Background DreamySingleNote Ev 075
RT367:Guitar, Electric, Background Dreamy Ev 065
SuperMidi Synth Pad, PopBelieve Ev16 065
And a MIDI pad that follows the melody line

That is lovely Joanne! Your producer/engineer side really shines and the beautiful vocals let your "Baez side" soar.

Nice!

J&B

Joanne,
A very sweet melody you`ve given to Falling In Love and your crystal clear vocal makes this a keeper.

Robert

Stopping in to listen to the last few...

You did an awesome job on Falling In Love. Beautiful melody. Nice vocal. Good arrangement.

fj

Somehow I missed this one totally.... wow.... love the combination of the children's lullaby lyrics with the reggae music..... so very cool.

What a great song.

Thanks Floyd, Robert, Janice and Bud and Herb for checking back in. I appreciate it. Herb, were you referring to "Song to wake you in the morning"? Just can't pinpoint any reggae in my songs so not sure which one you are referring to.

Nearly on the home run! My FAWM profile has a "cup" on it for reaching the finishing line but there are still two "cheats" (two duplicates) So still going to try and get the last two in before the end of the month.

Here are some lyrics that could be interpreted to be slightly political so may not appeal to all but if anybody would like to set them to music I would really appreciate it (I am starting to run out of steam!). They are Based on the poem "The White House"
by Claude McKay, 1889 - 1948

Your door is shut
against my face,
As sharp as steel
with discontent;
But with courage
And with grace

Chorus
I hold myself
to the letter
of your law
I bear my anger
proudly

The pavement stabs
beneath my feet,
And passion strides
upon the street;
Where boldly shines
your shuttered suit

I search for wisdom
every hour,
inside my body
Low and raw,
And buried deep
I find my power

Chorus
I hold myself
to the letter
of your law
I bear my anger
proudly

Bridge
I keep my heart inviolate
Against the poison of your hate.

Chorus
I hold myself
to the letter
of your law
I bear my anger
proudly

And for my grand finale I am posting THIS ONE. Yes it is a political Hip Hop tune.

THE LETTER OF YOUR LAW

I get the feeling that political songs are not very popular this FAWM but I thought I would finish off with this anyway. Because it is political and is about anger I could not think of anything to do but yell! Hence you do not have the pretty folk song that you may come to expect from me but a rather ugly hip-hop one!. Oh well. My very first HIP HOP song. FAWM is certainly a good place to experiment and BIAB is the most versatile tool for trying out something new.

I will say that I wont be putting it on my FAWM album which will be called "A song to wake you in the morning"!!

It is based on the poem "The White House" by Claude McKay, 1889 - 1948

Lyrics:

Your door is shut against my face,
As sharp as steel with discontent;
But with courage And with grace
I bear my anger proudly

Chorus
I hold myself to the letter of your law
I bear my anger proudly

The pavement stabs beneath my feet,
And passion strides upon the street;
Where boldly shines your shuttered suit
I bear my anger proudly

Chorus
I hold myself to the letter of your law
I bear my anger proudly

I search for wisdom every hour,
inside my body Low and raw,
And buried deep I find my power
I bear my anger proudly


Chorus
I hold myself to the letter of your law
I bear my anger proudly

Real tracks:
****** Song Summary *************
Title: _HOPHORN Demo (All RT with Loop - Hip Hop Beat with Horns)
File:the letter of your law.SGU
Key=F , Tempo 100, Length (m:s)=2:24
No intro. 56 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 56. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _HOPHORN.STY (Hip Hop Beat w/ Horns)

RealTracks in style: 2524:Bass, Electric, FunkHalfNotePulseSync Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 2346:Horn Section, Rhythm, Funk 2-part, Ev 110
RealTracks in style: 2295:Sax, Baritone, Rhythm SlowPop Ev16 065 (1TrackHornSection)
Loop in Song: HipHop\Old School - gangstar_beat_95b drums ev16.wav
*******************

Comments are most welcome but even the odd rotten tomato wont be unexpected!

Joanne,

"The Letter Of Your Law" is really cool! It has some swagger to it and you really deliver the goods - loved it!

Bob

Wow. Very brave. Really stepping out there with this one. Great work on the production, feel, everything. Fine job. Always amazing stuff from you.

Bob

Awesome job, Joanne! Love to hear people stepping a bit outside of their comfort zone and trying something new. Really cool

Joanne,
Plus 1 for your gutsy take on this poem. If anyone could make hiphop sound sweet its you...but yes, you gave us a good gritty version of yourself!
Some interesting voices in the background and a nice production job, under some time constraints as well.

Robert

Than you Will and the Bob brigade (rsdean,Bob Buford and Robert) for taking the time to listen to this experiment. It is appreciated.

CONVERSATION AFTER THIRTY YEARS

So here is number 14. These most haunting lyrics were written by Elizabeth Petty. I just don't know whether they are happy or sad or just plain realistic and I also can't decide if I want to end up this way or if I don't. But I nearly weep everytime I think about them.

Anyway, here is my musical take on them. One person on the FAWM forum said it reminded them of Simon and garfunkel "bookends".

If you listen on headphones you will notice that I panned the versus and the "choruses" to opposite sides to give the feeling of a conversation between two people. I balanced this panning with midi generated lines that follow the line of my vocal. I pitched up the verse midi line and used a violin. For the "chorus" I pitched the midi line down and used a cello. The idea was to give the impression of the versus being sung by a woman and the "choruses" being the mans reply.
Lyrics:
do you think it will stay this warm
from now until the start of spring?
or do you think it's a fluke kind of
bizarre climate change thing?
em
I don't really know.
whatever you believe
I will say that it is so

should we take the dog next time to a
new and different dog groomer?
or do you like the old puppy cut
she got from that lady on Spooner?

I don't really care
do what you think is best
for her and her hair.

did you see that the Bedfords
bought a new car I think it's a Jeep?
or do you think it is a Japanese
look a-like one they bought for cheap?

I don't really think
what the neighbors get
haven't seen their new car yet

did you ever imagine we would be
together for over thirty years?
do you ever remember worrying
that we would lack things to say dear?

Yah it is officially OVER. I have 15 new songs most of which I am very proud of and will be released on iTunes on a new album shortly. Thank you so much to all my collaborators. Liz Petty, Arthur Rossi, Bob Buford, Marthie Hauptfleisch and Cynthia Wolff. You have made this FAWM absolutely fantastic and something to be repeated many more times...

I could NOT resist these wonderful lyrics written by Liz Petty so ended up writing and recording two songs in my last day.

ENOUGH (CEMENT SHOES)

Lyrics:

Enough (Cement Shoes)

V1
working two jobs
raise three children
fighting back the tears
when she is hurting

taking the hits
trying to stay married
ignoring all the pain
that she has carried

PC
and now she has had enough
no... more...strength.... to stay tough....

C
she's got cement shoes on
walking in the water
somebody's mother
somebody's daughter

she's got cement shoes on
treading in the water
its the only option
that life has taught her

and the water drowns her tears...

V2
sitting at home
watch the window
feeling all alone
since she's a widow

missing her kids
knowing that they are busy
waiting for their call
she grows more lonely

PC
and now she has had enough
all... the.. sadness... is too much.....

C
she's got cement shoes on
walking in the water
somebody's mother
somebody's daughter

she's got cement shoes on
treading in the water
its the only option
that life has taught her

and the water drowns her tears....

B
waves of women
broken battered
still crash against a shore
waves of women
empty forgotten
will haunt us evermore



C
they've got cement shoes on
walking in the water
somebody's mother
somebody's daughter

they've got cement shoes on
treading in the water
that is the only option
that life has taught them

and the water drowns their tears....

RealTracks:
RealTracks in style: 1036:Bass, Electric, NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 1035:Banjo, Rhythm NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 1037:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 1038:Guitar, High-Strung Acoustic, Rhythm NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
RealDrums in style: RockNorthernBallad: a: RockNorthernBalladb: RockNorthernBallad
RT2693:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm ModernPop16thsMike Ev16 075
Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085


Okay, I need some rest now........

Joanne
Just listened to a selection of these songs. Excellent work - some really pretty melodies, and vocals abound.
Really well done.
Finished off with the last one Conversation After 30 years which has a lovely haunting sound and melody.

Peter

big congrats on another successful FAWM!! I'll try and get to a couple more of your tunes in the next week. Lots of listening to do, but by mid-March I am ready to slump into the corner (ha, ha)!

Wow!!! That's amazing. What an achievement, congratulations! Go take very well-deserved rest!