Everything Fades In The End

I haven't posted any new songs for a quite some time, because I've been stuck with this song. Originally I wrote the chorus already over two years ago. The lyrics of the chorus were partly based on words of a terminal care worker about dying. But I had only some vague ideas for the verses and because I felt the chorus was one of the best things I have written, I couldn't touch it until I have something equally good... but nothing happened.. Then at the start of this year I decided to finish it by force, just to get back to songwriting and then go on with other songs. But it wasn't that easy, lyrics just didn't pour out. Maybe my brain is just too old or I'm trying too much to reach perfection by overthinking each word for many days...

I was hoping to write verses with simple chord progression and simple lyrics, but I just couldn't, not my style Finally I got finished something I was partly satisfied. Ideas are still not very clear, but at least I have a half-finished song I can work on later if the true inspiration finally strikes. But I can promise that the next song will be a lighter one

I used the style _FLYHIGH.STY (Fly High Ethereal Country Ballad) as the basis of the arrangement, it sounds really great, great combination of instruments and fits the mood of my vision perfectly. I added several other instruments, especially the solo guitarist is another fantastic RT.

RealDrums:NashvilleEven16^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat
366:Bass, Electric, Country Ev 065
1602:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16 Ev16 065
3159:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsBrentFX Ev16 060
3344:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HazyBallad ev16 070

Additional RTs:
3196:Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopBalladBrent Ev 065
2953: Strings, Rhythm JazzBalladPads Sw060 (Held)
3064: Vocal Oohs, Rhythm Pop3-part Ev 085
2540: Pedal Steel, Background ModernCountryDream 16ths

Vocals by me

Mixed in Cakewalk by BandLab

Lyrics:

A flower beautiful
shadows others at its base
they all reach for the light
time of noble right
to feel precious for a day
in the shimmering of grace.
The fragile stem of hope
can't stand the weight of gloom
many numb the ache and
many let it break
everyone gets pruned
the most exposed are those who bloom.

Everything fades in the end
peacefully withers
finally to ease from all
the worldly torment
it's a solemn moment
when the total silence falls.

Noisy shivery
is the first dawn of the cry
few are bubbly birds
most are hardly heard
accept the role of lullabies
the final feeble sigh.
The fetters of the flesh
won't give a cheerful choice
escapist's serenade
shake shackles in the shade
any jingle with some joy
has the reaper's vintage voice.

Everything fades...

The light of the lantern doesn't glow
no ashes in the blow
no sorrow in the snow
just infinity is present
the absence has no end
passed the school of life
promoted to relent.

Everything fades...

Suffering shapes a hardy shriveled plant
prepares to face the time engulfing barren stream of sand
rewards the struggle with a void to strand.
------
Janne

Nice minor-tinged verse, really nice harmony on the chorus. The arrangement works well, including the guitar solo at the end. Nice match between the lyrics and the melody.

Good write as well! I'm glad you got it to a point where you can release it - it's a good song. As you said, now it's just a matter of refinement. Or you can just leave it "As Is" and move on.

Small nit: There's a voice at 4:23 that's probably not supposed to be there.

You said you'd written the chorus two years. This reminds me very much of a lyric I'd written 20 years ago that I could never work out in a way I was happy with. Maybe - like you - I can revisit it and come up with something that works!

Good work!

Hi Janne,

I'm glad you are back in the forum with your new song. A very nice and -in a way- reflective song.

"just infinity is present
the absence has no end"

So nicely said, but also a bit desperate...
I'd rather think we're the ones that fade away, but hopefully we'll leave something tangible behind (?)
But I agree that the chorus is the strongest part in your song, not for the lyrics, but for the melody and performance.
Very good!
Your struggle with this song was (a tiny bit) comparable with my lyrics about 'Emily', although it took me a much shorter time to complete the song.

Hans

Janne glad to hear from you. This is an excellent song. Super vocal loved the chord progressions. Well done..

It's always fun to hear about what goes into a new song. The writing on this one was very poetic and had rich imagery. Thanks for sharing!

Good to see you with a new song, Janne!

Good writing and I loved the changes and groove.

Nice!

Thanks Dave for your generous feedback I'm glad to hear that the elements of the song worked for you and that I can move on

I couldn't find the voice you mentioned, maybe it is too high for my hearing. Or probably it is just my bad accent.

I recommend you to try to work with the 20 year old lyric, couple of intensive days of thinking may wake up your inspiration. If not, then you can forget it for another 20 years Well, in my case the problem was that I couldn't connect with the feeling I had two years ago (also my original vision was mixed with the words of another person affected the lost feeling).

Janne

Vaer hilset Janne
I very much enjoyed listening to your song.
I would agree with your self assessment of overthinking the verse. IMO it needs less words and less melody which would provide the Ying and Yang to make that wonderful chorus really stand out. To quote Enzo Ferrari "you pay for the engine, the rest you get for free". Of course Enzo was talking cars but even such music giants as John Lennon followed this philosophy. Methinks that I am not suggesting anything that you don't know already.
Med venlig hilsen.
Gary.

Interesting and creative lyrics, all wrapped in a haunting melody.

Well done.

Janne,
Good to hear from you!
I see what you said about choruses. They are indeed special.
Perhaps you overthinked verses a little? I mean, do not get me wrong. Personally I think your lyrics are one of your best.
Especially things like:

"escapist's serenade
shake shackles in the shade"

"everyone gets pruned
the most exposed are those who bloom."

Only once I had a tune that I could not finish for a year+. I tried many variants of lyrics and style approaches. I finally forced finished it, so I think I know in part how you feel now:)
Leave options open, perhaps one day it will come to you in different form and you decide to re-do it. Still, solid music composition and vocals. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Oh, you are so right, Janne. That chorus is terrific. You did a great job matching it to fine verses. The lyrics are quite special. So well done. Sometimes when things cook this long, they don't taste as well, but you managed to bring out the best flavor.

Thanks Hans for your kind words And thanks for quoting that part, it contains the cruelest emotion of the song - I think most of us have had that feeling many times - that you'll (or someone dear) be non-existing to the end of time and beyond. It may not be true, but as a feeling it is desperate, as you said.

I tried to avoid mentioning that we (animals or living things) leave something behind, because that is also something that is going to fade away, in the end.

Life is a struggle, but struggling with our songs is more like a challenge and usually quite rewarding when finally finished.

Janne

Terrific melody and arrangement Jann,
Well done grappling with such a sensitive topic.

Janne,
A thoughtful, dark-tinged write I can relate to.Even in places where there`s some tension and complication in the verse prosody they give pause to consider- as the subject deserves!
The chorus is,as others have said, strongly melodic and memorable.
Your songs always have a sophistication that identifies the "jannesan"style; very enjoyable and interesting music.

Robert

Janne, I would not change a thing. I like it as is. Nice vocal, chord progression, instrumentation, and mix.

This is really a good song.

Janne,

It's a very elaborate song.
The chord progression is great.
The melodies after the B part are especially wonderful.
I think your characteristics are very clear in this tune.
It can only be said that it is a great work you drew with tremendous efforts.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

“Everything fades in the end
peacefully withers
finally to ease from all
the worldly torment
it's a solemn moment
when the total silence falls.”

You have, indeed, written a beautiful chorus and we can both relate to that “solemn moment” with regard to our loved ones’ passing. I (Janice) thought of the moody feel of Steely Dan and agree with you that the RT’s fit the lyric and melody perfectly. Bud also has had some of those lyric ideas that just couldn’t seem to find their way to a completed song.

"the fragile stem of hope
can't stand the weight of gloom
many numb the ache and
many let it break
everyone gets pruned
the most exposed are those who bloom."

This also is a standout for us. You are a poet, Janne.

We're glad you finished this!

J&B

Hi Janne
A poignant write with some highly poetic lines and yes, the chorus is lovely. Well done. I can certainly relate to the struggle to complete a lyric when inspiration just won't come. That can be very frustrating. It's good that you persevered with this one.
Regards,
Leon

Janne

You've done an wonderful job and indeed the chorus is exceptional.

Nice production and overall sound, melodic and engaging. Superb instrumental choices especially the guitars.

Excellent.

Peter

Thanks Scott, nice to be back, I appreciate your kind comment

Janne

Thanks Ember for your very nice comment I'm glad you find it poetic - although I had troubles with the message, at least I was able to be creative on the use of words.

Janne

Thanks Dave for your positive words

Janne

Beautiful song Janne, especially the chorus section! Wonderful use of melodic textures chord changes! I know it's hard to set a song aside that you know is good while trying to work on something else. I'm glad for you that you didn't give up on it! Take care, T

Thanks Gary very much for your listen and the nice comment You are right about Ying/Yang, good advice, but it is not easy to follow - I would need an editor who would decide which parts to leave out when I cannot choose between several favorite lines

Janne

BTW thanks for the nice Finnish words and wonderful words about my country in your reply to my comment on your fine song Marty the Frog This time, you used language I'm not sure whether it is Norwegian or something else, but not my language

Thanks VT for your nice words

Janne

Thanks Misha for your very positive feedback And I agree with you about overthinking, although without overthinking, I wouldn't have written those lines you are quoting, they are my favorite ones also. But I know they are bit lacking on the (peacefully) fading theme, at least in the second verse where I couldn't focus on it. But you are probably right, one day something else might come to me

Janne

Thanks Marty for your kind words I'm glad you liked also the verses. Time was a good cook in this case, I hope she stews more tasty ones from the cookbook of my unfinished songs

Janne

Thanks Ray for your nice feedback I'm glad to hear I handled the subject with care.

Janne

Thanks Robert, I appreciate your insightful feedback It is always very rewarding to hear that I have written something people can relate to, for some reason, it seems to be the case especially with my darker songs. Sophistication - I like that word, it is something I'm quite often reaching for in my songs. I'm glad you are able to understand my sometimes strange thoughts and intentions.

Janne

Thanks Mario for your kind comment I can now relax and not to worry about this song anymore, because you like it as it is

Janne

Thanks Shigeki Adachi for listening, enjoying and appreciating my work I'm glad that my long and troublesome work with the song has paid off and it didn't sound too unfinished in your ears. And nice to know that you found the chord progression great instead of too complex.

Janne

Thanks Janice and Bud for your very pleasing review And thanks for calling me a poet, that is a really big honor for a non-native English speaker. The "solemn moment" is something I quoted from an interview, so not exactly my words, but yes something we can relate to. Thanks also for mentioning Steely Dan, at least the second time in the context of my song, an honor too

Janne

Janne,

A good write. Interesting lyric and nice melody. The chorus is really nice.

Good tracks, too. A very good sound throughout. Well mixed. Good vocal.

Enjoyed the listen.

fj

Thanks Leon, I appreciate your kind words

Janne

Thanks Peter for your very nice comment Glad you liked the chorus also! Thanks to BIAB for those guitars, excellent RTs, although the multi-thickening feature didn't seem to work correctly with one of them.

Janne

Janne ...

Your music just gets better and better. This is a wonderful song. And yes ... the chorus is outstanding. And your vocal is excellent. I loved the unusual chord progression.

Your mixes are always excellent but this one is simply superb. A full, rich sound that's very nice to listen to. Excellent work!!!

Take care ...

Alan

Thanks Torrey for your kind and supportive comment I'm glad also you liked the chorus.

Janne

Thanks Floyd, always pleasure to get kind comment from you

Janne

Thanks Alan very much for you heart-warming comment I feel that I don't deserve all those big words - I didn't spend much time on my vocals and mix because I had so much to do with the lyrics and chords... but of course I'm very happy to hear that they worked well.

Janne

Hi jannesan,

really liked your well thought out and well written lyrics. The range of chords you have chosen is not easy for the vocal, but you have adapted perfectly to it. Your guitar solo is perfect. Your voice is well posed especially with the semitones and the deep value of the words sung. Well done.

kindly regards
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash

Thanks Derochette for your very pleasing comment I'm especially glad what you said about my vocals, although the thanks should go also to Melodyne which is a true miraculous savior for my voice.

Janne

Always love your melodies Janne!! They go in directions which are unusual but work very well.....a bit like Todd Rundgren, someone I've always been a big fan of! Truly a lovely song!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Greg for your rewarding feedback I'm glad that my unusual melodies didn't scare you. And thanks for mentioning Todd Rundgren, I'm not familiar with his song, but I'm surely going to do it now.

Janne

Well done! I'm happy to see that you were able to finish your song and hope to hear more soon.

Thanks Lawrence, I appreciate your feedback I have couple of songs under work, one needs just vocals and one was written recently, so you can expect to hear something new soon

Janne

Beautiful melody and the chorus is magnetic. Love the instrumentation. It fits well with the melody.

Thanks Mr. Storm for your beautiful words, they warm my heart

Janne