https://soundcloud.com/andyshearer-1/stretched-to-the-limit-featuring-rhiannah-warm-vocalRhiannah is a singer from Bangor in Northern Ireland, and she contacted me over 5 years ago in response to my request for collaboration on this exact song that I had just written.
The lyrics are quite personal and mark a difficult period in my life, which made it difficult for me to sing the song myself, so I was happy to give someone else the opportunity to do it.
I was lucky enough to get three singers to provide me with a vocal track, and each provided their own highly personalised interpretation, but it was Rhiannah's that stood out for me. The raw emotion in her voice perfectly mirrored the emotions that I was trying to express in the lyrics.
So Rhiannah provided the vocal and I provided piano, acoustic guitar, bass, strings, mixing and production. The result can be heard at:
https://youtu.be/SVOm18d-2NwBecause of the fact that the 2015 recording has recently been getting a fair amount of airplay on various internet radio stations, it occurred to me to have a go at re-recording the song with a slightly different flavour, and so I began experimenting with BIAB and was pleasantly surprised when I tried it with the PORTAGE.STY. I think that the country ballad style suits Rhiannah's voice very well.
So, apart from the strings that were used in the previous recording, and a different vocal take, here is the new version which includes the following REALTRACKS:
518: Bass,Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
2691: Guitar, Electric, Soloist CountryBalladBrentSimple Ev 085
RealDrums=NashvilleEven8^2=a:Sidestick, HiHat, b:Snare, HiHat
362: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
365: Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085
LYRICS:
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How can I tell you just how I feel
I've hit rock bottom and that's a deal
Caught in a circle, I'm spiralling down
I'm on a street corner of an unfamiliar town
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And I'm stretched to the limit
And I'm pushed to the brink
Little by little
Just watch me sink
And I'm stretched to the limit
I'm breaking this link
Cos' I ain't got an answer and no time to think
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I'm here in the shadows. Out on a limb
Sleep deprived and balanced on a rim (oh yeah)
Hold out your hand. Please pull me in
I need your sweet love to save my skin
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Cos I'm stretched to the limit
I'm pushed to the brink
Little by little
You just stand by and watch me sink
And I'm stretched to the limit
Think it's time I broke our link
You ain't got an answer
We just don't wanna think
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I'm drowning in self pity and I'm choking on self doubt
Please throw me a line. Try and fish me out
I'm like a small bird. A bird's got a broken wing
Your love can heal me. Make me sing again
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Cos I'm stretched to the limit
And I'm pushed to the brink
Little by little
I can see you standing there
Standing there and watching me sink
Yes I'm stretched to the limit
Now I'm gonna break our link
Cos we ain't got an answer
And the time has run out to think
No more time to think
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