The Only Way Is Down

Sounds like the narrator is having a bad day!

Leon - Vocal & Lyric
I sang a bit and played guitar.

The Band
RealTracks in style: ~2484:Bass, Acoustic, Bowed Held Sw 085
RealTracks in style: ~530:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 085
RealTracks in style: ~527:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Hank Sw 085
RealTracks in song: ~1096:Piano, Acoustic, Rehearsal Showtunes Sw 085
RealTracks in song: 2952:Strings, Rhythm JazzBalladPads Sw 060
RealDrums [in style:NashvilleSwing8^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

The Only Way Is Down

Woke up from a dream
Tried to figure out what it might mean
Pretty soon it slipped away
It’s what they do in the light of day

Phone rang - nobody there
Nobody’s footstep on the stair
Nobody’s perfume on my sheets
Nobody’s lipstick on my cheek

Take a walk, try to clear my head
Or maybe stay right here in bed
Sunshine seems like a mockery
Now you’re no longer here with me

Slip beneath the waves without a sound
Seems like the only way is down
Slip beneath the waves without a sound
Seems like the only way is down

Your mother said it wouldn’t last
Darling why do you have to go so fast?
You’ve got your whole life to explore
Why waste it on this troubadour?
 
You were determined, you were fierce
Quickly my amour you did pierce
Your expectations were so high
How could I hope to satisfy?

You pictured Byron in a suit
Love and devotion absolute
While I was drowning in your eyes
You were re-examining your prize

Slip beneath the waves without a sound
Seems like the only way is down
Slip beneath the waves without a sound
Seems like the only way is down
Slip beneath the waves without a sound
Seems like the only way is down


*******************

Peter &Leon,
A bad day indeed - but with Leon`s lyrics you know there`s going to be some humour; there are some good lines here, of course!
Nice clear vocals and your solos capture the dark mood beautifully- I enjoyed feeling the pain!

Robert

Peter & Leon,

A very well written song.

"You pictured Byron in a suit
Love and devotion absolute
While I was drowning in your eyes
You were re-examining your prize

Slip beneath the waves without a sound
Seems like the only way is down..."

Just a few of the lines worth a quote...

A good production. Good mix. Good vocal. Nice outro guitar!

The drop at 2:50 is nice!

A 5 minute song that seems more like 3. That is "good everything".

fj

very nice!

I'm hearing the Nashville Skyline Dylan vocal sound in places

I like the lyrics a lot, strong write

Your mother said it wouldn’t last
Darling why do you have to go so fast?
You’ve got your whole life to explore
Why waste it on this troubadour?

talk about great lyrics, how many of us heard this
I certainly did except they didn't call me a troubadour!

enjoyed the heck out of it guys,

Kenny

Like the melancholy guitar solo and the wave sound, very fitting for the song. The reflections and feelings of a love now gone so relatable for many. Good work guys.

LOVED the guitar on this one Peter, Shades of the Shadows and Lou Reed. Enjoyed my listen.

Thanks Robert appreciate the comments about the lyrics, it's certainly good to be handed such quality words to work with.

Peter

WOW this is fantastic. Love that axe of yours, great tone! The mix was excellent with a great choice of instruments. The vocals were perfect but the lyrics took it over the top for me.

Excellent work here.

Peter & Leon,

Loved it. Great lyrics, delivery and production.

Bob

Very different song Peter and Leon. Loved the intro. Super vocal and lyric. Harmonies were good as well. Excellent guitar work

Nice write...
You delivered the lyrics very well...
I loved the guitar & the sound effects...
Top notch work!

Yeah, I like this!

Peter, you set the mood perfectly with that guitar intro. Nice processing on Leon's vocal, a bit more reverb than you usually use? Sounds great whatever you did.

Very good writing, I always enjoy Leons lyrics. And nice note choices for the solo, especially liked the outro solo.

Good way to start off 2019!

"You pictured Byron in a suit
Love and devotion absolute
While I was drowning in your eyes
You were re-examining your prize"

Great lines and of course with Bud's name being Byron we have to quote it

There is so much to like here...the wind chimes and waves are very nice touches for the intro and outro.

The edge of mystery in the lyric is just right -- not too much or too little.

The lead vocal, unison vocals and harmony vocals add nicely to the build.

And of course the guitar is, as always, a perfect complement to the melody.

Oh, and the bowed bass was cool addition.

Lastly, but not "leastly," the mix does a wonderful job of packing it all in an excellent sounding production.

Kudos guys!

J&B

These lyrics are SO Dylan man! I would love to do a cover of this with just an acoustic to show you what I mean. Seriously. P.M. if you bite.

It would sound EXACTLY like him. And people give me the Dylan thing. NO--THIS is Dylan.



Good job!

Haunting melancholy ballad, sounds bit like Nick Cave's murder ballad but there is no murder here… at least there is some drowning Great lyrics anyway, a nice simple arrangement, strings appear at the right moment and the solo fits well. Interpretation is perfect.

Janne

Thanks floyd appreciate the comments and glad you liked the lyric.
Peter

Thanks for the nice comments.
Peter

"PeterF"...

"The Only Way Is Down" sounds like the kind of song that could cause someone to call a suicide prevention hotline! As "Robertkc" noted, "a bad day, indeed".

I am constantly amazed at how many variations of failed romantic relationships there have been in songs. You would think that after thousands of years of songwriters pining away about unrequited love and wounded hearts that we'd just run out of ideas. But then comes Leon, re-imagining the downside of love relationships as though it had happened to him for the first time:

"Woke up from a dream
Tried to figure out what it might mean
Pretty soon it slipped away
It’s what they do in the light of day..."

"Sunshine seems like a mockery..."

"While I was drowning in your eyes..."

This song is an unassailable, bedrock-strong example of why words and music "go together" so fantastically well, just by using a little lyrical imagination to dress all-to-familiar emotions in new, attractive clothing that causes us to look, again, at what we thought we'd seen and understood already.

"PeterF", you sing like a man who's been walking alone, all night long, trying to understand what in the hell went wrong. I'm glad to see you branching out, vocally speaking.

The RealTracks maintain an air of despair that matches that of the lyrics. The song is downbeat, all right, but still supremely listenable because of the new pair of eyes the lyrics give us, to "see".

LOREN

Dear Peter,

a very nice sad song with great lyrics - I think many of us can relate... Again an awesome guitar solo; how the heck do you manage to get that great sound...?

Cheers,

Stefan

Thanks Joanne.

Peter

Appreciate the review Mario.

Peter

Parts of the lyric remind me of Nick cave in Murder Ballad mode.
Cool song - a complete package.

Thanks Bob

Peter

As others have said, outstanding guitar work. It flavors the song well. Haunting instrumentation and lyrics. Fitting production choices for your tune.

Peter & Leon,

I really enjoy all your music but this one really catches me. I've seen Dylan and Lou Reed mentioned and I agree - particularly agree with David's comment about the lyric being a true Dylan effort. All that said, the first thing came to me was Leon Redbone.

Awesome song, delivery and production. What a treat!!!

Alan

Very cool song!!! Love that bass for this song....perfect mood. Melody has the perfect melancholy vibe...kind of a dirge. Guitar solo is great!! Cool lyrics!! Great stuff guys!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Scott

Peter

Thanks Jim - Leon sang and wrote the lyric.

Peter

Thanks Dave

Peter

J&B
Thanks for the kind words and support during the year. Leon & I appreciate it.

Peter

Thanks David - awaiting your version.

Peter

Thanks a lot Janne.

Peter

Thanks Loren for the incredible analysis much appreciated. It was Leon who sang this one so I can't take credit for the vocal.

Peter

Thanks Stefan - I am playing through a Line 6 Helix.

Peter

Thanks a lot.

Peter



Thanks Ray

Peter

Thanks Greg

Peter



Thanks a lot Alan I appreciate all those comments.

Peter

Peter...

Oops! Sorry 'bout that. Guess both'a you will have to sing some more so I can learn to distinguish who's at the mike, and who ain't .

LOREN

Great write - you had me hanging on with the lyrics "Sunshine seems like a mockery..." to see how you'd rhyme it.

Loved the rhymes, some really nice lyrics in there.

Nice guitar solo, too!

All around, well done!

That's a great song Peter! You were very creative putting this together and the instrumentation works well for the mood of the tune! Thanks, Torrey