Many of my early songs were folk style tales inspired by a lifelong reading habit (I`m thankful now we had no tv `til I was hooked on books).
Slowly sorting and rerecording/remixing those songs for a playlist, I felt the need for a title song; here it is.
...and before you ask; I announced a displeasure with our location and desire to leave home to my mother at age 6.
Didn`t get much beyond the garden gate `til later.
The first verse is based on a news report of a gutsier young boy in Eastern Europe somewhere who did get a few miles "round the world" before being apprehended.

Saved By Stories

Style is _FLKSWAG.STY (Folk Swing Acoustic Guitar w/ Ba)

RealTracks in style: ~1136:Bass, Acoustic-Guitar, FolkSwing Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~1679:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~1142:Ukulele, Strumming FolkSwing Sw 110
RealTracks in style: 2440:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking FolkySwing Sw 110
RealTracks in song: 2855:Harmonica, Background CountrySwingJellyRoll Sw 120
RealDrums [in style:JazzBrushes#1: a: JazzBrushes#1b: JazzBrushes#1



Saved By Stories

in his pockets a toy offroader
spare change a banana
he got two buses round the world with no coat

there he slept in a thicket
heard a voice"dinner in 5 minutes"
made for home before someone found his note

by no means discouraged
he read Huck Finn under the covers
his life would be adventures in quotes

some fall headlong into a song
lost in the light on a page
this boy was saved by stories

in his room he built a reading railroad
the tracks of his tomorrows
laid one tall tale at a time

when that train pulled in the station
he`d found his truth in fiction
birds of words took him out the window flying

some fall headlong into a song
movie heroes you played made you brave
this boy was saved by stories

he`s heard eternity can seem long
when he goes throw Treasure Island
Great Expectations into his grave
this boy was saved by stories


© Robert Cordrey April 2019

Absolutely delightful. My childhood in a nutshell.
Cheers.

Well done! As usual, excellent control over all the elements of the song.

There's something special about how you approach songs. All the elements are there, but used in ways that don't fit the "standard template", so I've got to pay attention.

Anyway, nice story, nice song, an enjoyable listen.

Nicely done - but being a Australian English speaker "ba nanne ah" strucks me far more than it ought. "Ba nah na" being the local version.
As with such things the conflict of language/pronunciation spins my head off in other directions and I arrived back for the last three verses.
Nice arrangement and delivery.

Very nice, Robert!

I enjoyed reading the backstory that inspired the always well written lyrics.

"birds of words took him out the window flying", nice!

Track sounds great, I especially like the harmonica.

"his life would be adventures in quotes"

What a great line of many.

Thanks for the insight into the lyric inspiration...fascinating
what you did with it.

Well performed, arranged and mixed also.

As with Dave we really liked the harp.

Excellent listen(s)

J&B

Love a song that comes with a story.
Well done.

Awesome song Robert. Loved the intro and how the song filled in as it went along. Just loved the mix. That harp was a excellent choice for the song. Well done

Good song & good lyrics...
I especially like the lines

"some fall headlong into a song
lost in the light on a page"
and
"birds of words took him out the window flying"

Terrifically vivid images.
Thanks for the listen!

Reading railroad was my favorite little twist of words in this, but plenty of other enjoyable word wranglings existed as well.

When he was 12, my brother and his buddy hitch-hiked from our home in Washington DC to New York city and back (a four day trip) without telling anyone. He got our mother one of those heavy bronze statuettes of the Statue of Liberty. She was so angry, she threw it against the wall and it stuck!

Robert

Lovely piece wistful and engaging. Like others I enjoyed the harp and the story.

Very nice work.

Peter

This is fantastic! Your lyrical approach here is just plain fantastic!
I liked everything about this one.

Super song!

Glad this connected; thanks for listening.



I appreciate that!



I got over how mixed my pronunciations are now ( 50/50 English/American) long ago, being of several continents in this life....good to hear you arrived back in time for the ending!




Thanks Dave- nice to have a folky lighthearted break and use that harp.

Robert

"some fall headlong into a song
movie heroes you played made you brave
this boy was saved by stories"

Nice!

A picturesque lyric, a story well-told.

The BAND works really well to carry the subject.

Another good one, Robert...

fj

Hi Robert,

he`d found his truth in fiction
birds of words took him out the window flying

The way you write your lyrics is so clever and nice. I like that very much in all your songs.
The way you build up your song(s) is probably the same as with your lyrics. At first I thought, where are you going to and then, at a certain moment somewhere in the song, it comes together.
I bet there are a lot of (grand) children around you to give you all that inspiration.

Hans

J&B,
Thank you for that positive review.
As mentioned in the intro, the lyric is meant to give a kind of background to my song stories... a modest oeuvre coming to the internet`s back pages soon!




Thank you Cap`n!



That`s very kind, Scott.



Thanks for listening and commenting, Jim.



Now there`s a song that just about writes itself- love the symbolism!
Glad this song brought that story to mind.








Thank you, Peter!


Robert

Beatiful lighthearted song, flows smoothly, carried by catchy melody and relaxed vocals. A story I can relate to, "his life would be adventures in quotes" - clever writing showing the inspiration and world behind your songs. Although I haven't much read books since childhood, I believe those hundreds I read are still a hidden source in many of my songs.

Janne

Really cool song Robert!! Nothing like a child's imagination is there? Reminds me a bit of a John Stewart song.....Pirates of something. Very well done!! Love the vocal!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Mario!



Floyd,
This song was fun to write: which of my favourite novels to include?
I appreciate your kind comments.




Hans,
I compensated for having no grandkids by becoming a dad again at age 55!
Its very encouraging to know a few listeners connect with my scribbles and warbles.
Thank you.


Robert

I can tell by your lyrics that you're a reader.

Excellent instrumental choices. Nice build in the arrangement!

That was awesome Robert! I admire so much your lyrical ability...wish I had the ability to weave words like you! A great little melody to boot also! Thanks, Torrey!

What a tune! I love the lyricism on this one. It really paints a pictures, and works beautiful with the chosen instrumentation. It makes it really vivid and powerful, and I connected with it immediately.

Thanks for sharing

We were perusing the forum and came back to this.

So even though we already commented we just wanted
to say that we feel you should seriously consider a
book of poetry.

J&B

Hi Robert,

Listening to these lyrics is like wandering around the shelves of a children's library. The imagery is very vivid. As usual, you've painted some excellent word pictures for the listener.

Another fine song for your collection!

All the best,
Noel

Finding truth in fiction. Yep.

Loved the americana band and the harmonica fills. Very easy to sink into this. Your lyrics are ever engaging and the melody of the title line is very strong and still singing in my head. Really nice one, Robert..

Janne,
Yes,those early reads leave a lifelong impression!
Thank you for that kind very review.



Greg,
Well I know that guy`s excellent songs, but had forgotten his name- thanks for the reminder!




Thanks for your listen.


Robert

Thank you Torrey!



Deryk,
Its good to know the story came through- thanks for your comments.



J&B,
I always think I`m too lazy a writer to be a poet..songwriting is way more forgiving!
Thanks for having another visit with this.





Hi Noel,
A nice description and a positive review: thank you!



Tangmo,
I`m glad you enjoyed this... and can relate to that punch line!


Robert

Hi Rob,

that's really beautiful. Love your vocals a lot. Good write, too. Very nice backtrack !!!! Really enjoyed my listen.

Cheers,

Stefan

PS: Congrats on being among the award winners!

Robert,
A very enjoyable outsider folk tune. There is a lot to learn from your music, your lyrics and your vocals. And stories you tell!

P.S. Forgive me if the word "outsider" does not sit well with you, I mean it in a good way.

Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Robert,

This is the genre you are best at.
Comfort is transmitted.
The second chord is ingenious.
It is very effective.
Your vocals are narrative and wonderful as usual.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Stefan,
Thank you for digging back for this and your positive comments.



On the contrary, Misha, I`ll happily wear the "outsider folk"tag!
Thanks for your review.




Shigeki,

Thank you for those kind comments!

Robert