Railway Sleeper
I hope you enjoy my latest: musical TripAdvisor for the Asian rail traveller.
As always, comments are very welcome.

Style is _HARPING.STY (Harp and Fingerstyle Boom Chick)

RealTracks in style: 2421:Bass, Acoustic, RockabillySlapBoomChicka Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 2708:Autoharp, Rhythm OldTime Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: 2517:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking BoomChickHighJoe Ev16 110 (Simple)
RealTracks in style: 2518:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking BoomChickJoe Ev16 110 (Simple)
RealDrums in style: TrainBeatBrushes: a: Brushes, Kickb: BusyBrushes, Kick
Loops: thai percussion & saw-uu


Railway Sleeper

another hot day
Hotel same same
I`m an anxious falang
under a whump whump fan
hiding from hawkers in the shade

Mr Ping Pong
seems a little ting tong
speaks exemplary English
shows a boy without blemish
in the station of Hualumphong

am I too old for this
I came to find eastern bliss

take the iron road
as roosters crow
romance rises from the gutter
I call for turn down on the buzzer
taste the sweetest mango

round this spinning scrap heap earth
in the sanctuary of First

I`m a railway sleeper
dreaming of Chiang Mai
I gave my heart to Asia
under monsoon skies

silk veils of rain
cross emerald plains
my past whistles round the bend
temple roofs white birds ascend
the waiter brings a frappe

the buddha`s face
in a market place
children call at the window
sounds like birdsong when the train slows
girls with their clean curved grace

an anonymous man in LL Bean
rides the Orient unseen

I`m a railway sleeper
dreaming of Chiang Mai
I gave my heart to Asia
under monsoon skies
under monsoon skies

© Robert Cordrey Aug.2017

falang=foreigner
ting tong=crazy

I guess to fully understand the lyrics, I would have to know the places and people you write of.
That aside, this is a well crafted song and very original.
The more I listened the more this tune captivated me.
Nicely done.
Rob

Robert
Very original interesting and a touch mysterious.
Nicely done.

Peter

Loved this tune. Loved following the lyrics and you sung the song. Very cool lyric and delivery. Well done.

Thanks,Rob.
I tried to balance the local terms and details with more general travel observations. Glad you were won over as it went along.

Robert


Peter,
I appreciate that- thanks for listening and commenting.
Robert



Scott,
I had so many notes for this song it was tough to scale it back from a full travelogue! I`m happy you were able to follow the trip.

Robert

Wow Robert! You are such a weaver of words! I admire your lyrical abilities! Lovely song that just carries you right along with the train! Thanks, Torrey

I really enjoyed this one, Robert I loved how the lyrics told a story! The arrangement sounded well thought out, and I like the almost "mysterious" quality of the tune, if you will.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Torrey,

I`m so glad you were carried along -many thanks for your support and kind comments!

Robert



Thank you, Deryk
Adding the Thai percussion & bowed instrument was a challenge but I think they did add to the atmosphere I was aiming for.
I`m happy you enjoyed my travelogue!

Robert

Nice tune and lyrics. Nice imagery. Enjoyed my listen.

Charlie

fantastic groove!

feels like I'm on the train with you

interesting lyrics as always, many that I don't fully understand

but find very interesting, you paint great pictures

your harmonies are always very good and well placed

this is a really cool song

enjoyed,

Kenny

Hello Robert,

Beautiful song, I enjoyed listening to this song and the lyrics this morning!

The overall feel of the song is nice. I don't entirely know what the lyrics are referencing, but perhaps that's just because I have yet to experience the joys of travel like you have. Perhaps one day I'll get there!

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Charlie, I appreciate your listen and positive comments.

Robert



Kenny,
If you can picture yourself on that train then I`m happy!
I have a kind of rule I try to observe on the lyrics - its ok to put lines that are abstract or make you go "huh?" if they are next to a cliche or something clear and simple.
Thanks very much for your kind review.

Robert

Thanks, Tyler!



Ember,
I`m glad you enjoyed the song`s feel even if the locale is unfamiliar.
I certainly recommend the better class of Thai trains if you do get over that way... but as the song suggests I`m partial to the pampering!

Robert

Hi Robert,

I think Torrey said this as good as anyone has. Great way with words and blending then with the music. Lived my listen!

Alan

Cool stuff Robert, I've listened to it a few times now over the last few days.

As others I had a hard time understanding some of the lyrics, but it certainly made me listen extra hard!

Did you spend much time in Asia?

A wonderful ride, Robert.

Imaginative. Flying images.

I especially enjoyed your vocal on this. Commanding.

This gave me a sense of Paul Simon's "America".

Cool.

fj

Alan,
Thanks for your listen and positive comments!
Robert

I appreciate you giving this song a few listens... and hope the extra attention made the lyrics clearer!
I`ve now changed one line ( from "shows a boy" to " sells a boy"- sugar coating the dark side of Bangkok maybe added confusion there).
I lived in Thailand for a few years... and probably will again!

Robert



Floyd,
You`ve made my day with that!
I began writing this song with a few listens to Paul Simon`s " The Boy In The Bubble" - the master of "flying images".
So glad you enjoyed the ride.

Robert

Like floyd said "a wonderful ride" and like Torrey said "a weaver of words."

At the risk of redundancy - your imagery is remarkably textured and nuanced.

And speaking of weaver there is always a hint of the unknown or mystery that moves in and out of your compositions. Just enough to let the listener add to the story. I always want to say that a video would work so well with your songs...but then it might spoil that element of the untold.

Listened straight through several times...really nice!

J&B

Thank you for those very kind words, J&B.
Lyrically I`m a big admirer of coming at things more from the angles than head on and I`m happy you found enough mystery here to tempt you into repeat listens!
I often think of video ideas for songs- but my attempts to create something so far only remind me how lttle I know about those skills.

Robert

This is so cool! One of my fav songs from back in the day is Marikesh (sp?) Express and this sounds like you were there with your own take on it. Great sounds and story. As was already said "wonderful ride"!

Robert,
this is so nice, and folky, your voice is beautiful for this kind of songs.
Well, actually your voice is beautiful in almost every song ;-)

Rob & Anne-Marie

Hello, Robert

Very beautiful song!
I feel a little bit French Chanson touch in this tune.
Especially at Intro.
This rail is running somewhere in Thai or Vietnam?
By the way, Vietnam was a French colony in the past.
The saw u is a Thai bowed string instrument.
Either way, it is a very nice and relaxing song.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thank you for your listen and comments, Josie.
I haven`t heard that great CSN&Y song in years - going to have a reminder now.

Robert



Rob & Anne-Marie,
Coming from vocalists of your quality that means a great deal, Thank you!

Robert

Shigeki,
The song is about my rail trips in Thailand.
Yes, the saw-u is a couple of strings attached to a coconut & played with a bow. Its normally used in slower tempo music, but I liked the off kilter sound it brought to the song.
Thank you for your listen and kind review!

Robert